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Copyright © Ordem dos Médicos 2017, Introduction: In Portugal, the National Network of Continuing Integrated Care’s mission is to take care of new health and social needs. The aim of the study was to know the disease burden and disability of the elderly (75 and over) cared by the integrated continuing care teams. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out in a sample of 230 participants, from 25 teams randomly selected in the region of Lisbon and Tagus Valley. Data were collected at the patient’s home trough caregiver’s interviewing. The variables studied were: socio-demographic; disability determinants; degree (Barthel’s scale) and duration of disability; morbidity (diagnoses, number and Charlson index). Results: The study population had: on average 84 years; low or no scholar degree level (88.7%); on average 9.5 problems per person and a Charlson index of 8.48; disability over 42 months (severe in 65.2%). The most frequent disability-determinants were: dementia, stroke and femur fracture. The most frequent diagnoses were: osteoarthritis, hypertension and dementia. Discussion: The results revealed a high disease burden (Charlson of 8.48) and disability. Although the diagnoses were those expected and comparable with the literature, their coexistence was universal, averaging 9.5 per person, affecting different organs/systems. Multimorbidity, coupled with severe disability, leads to clinical and organizational-care challenges, as well as the need for other population base studies. Conclusion: The population cared by the integrated continuing care teams is at risk: elderly, with low scholar degree level, with a high disease-burden and disability, Introdução: Em Portugal, a Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados tem como missão dar resposta às novas necessidades de saúde e sociais. Definiu-se como objetivo do estudo conhecer a carga de doença e de dependência dos idosos (75 e mais anos) ao cuidado das equipas de cuidados continuados integrados. Material e Métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal, numa amostra de 230 participantes, distribuídos por 25 equipas na região de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, aleatoriamente selecionadas. A colheita de dados decorreu no domicílio dos doentes por entrevista ao cuidador. As variáveis estudadas foram: sociodemográficas; determinantes de incapacidade; grau (escala de Barthel) e duração de dependência; morbilidade (diagnósticos, número e índice de Charlson). Resultados: A população em estudo tinha: em média, 84 anos; baixa escolaridade (88,7%); dependência durante 42 meses, grave em 65,2%; em média, 9,5 diagnósticos por pessoa e um índice de Charlson de 8,48. Os determinantes de incapacidade mais frequentes foram: demência, acidente vascular cerebral e fratura do fémur. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram: osteoartrose, hipertensão e demência. Discussão: Os resultados revelaram uma elevada carga de doença (Charlson de 8,48) e de dependência. Apesar dos diagnósticos serem os esperados e comparáveis com os dados da literatura, a coexistência de dois ou mais foi universal, em média 9,5 por pessoa, afetando diferentes aparelhos/sistemas. A multimorbilidade, a par duma elevada dependência, acarreta desafios clínicos e organizacionais, bem como a necessidade de estudos populacionais. Conclusão: A população ao cuidado das equipas de cuidados continuados integrados é de risco: idosa, com baixa escolaridade, com elevada carga de doença e de dependência.

Copyright © Ordem dos Médicos 2020, Introduction: As populations live longer, they also aim to live better. A crucial step for this is to improve the understanding about older adults’ physical and psychological health. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to characterise the Portuguese population over 65 regarding nutritional status, cognitive function, functional status, symptoms of depression, and loneliness, by sex and age groups. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study including a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and over. Trained interviewers collected data face-to-face on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health status, nutritional status, cognitive function, functional status for activities of daily living, symptoms of depression, and loneliness feelings. Complex sample procedures were used in the statistical analysis. Results: Overall, 1120 community-dwellers (49.0% women, 21.3% aged ≥ 85) participated in the study. The estimated prevalence of risk of malnutrition was 16.4% (95% confidence interval: 13.3 – 19.9), while 17.7% (95% confidence interval: 12.8 – 23.9) were cognitively impaired, and 28.5% (95% confidence interval: 23.7 – 33.8) presented limitations to perform daily living activities. Moreover, 23.5% (95% confidence interval: 19.7 – 27.7) presented symptoms of depression and 13.6% (95% confidence interval: 10.6 – 17.1) reported loneliness feelings. These conditions were more prevalent among women, and generally more frequent in the oldest individuals (≥ 85). Discussion: Risk of malnutrition, cognitive impairment, functional limitations, depression and loneliness were moderately frequent, which may justify screening and preventive actions at a community level. Conclusion: This study contributed to a national characterisation of the health of older adults, that may inform policies and interventions targeted at the needs of the Portuguese aging population., The project PEN-3S (136SI5) was granted by the Public Health Initiatives Programme (PT06), financed by EEA Grants Financial Mechanism 2009–2014. TM is supported by a PhD Scholarship (SFRH/ BD/117884/2016) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through national funds (MCTES).