Health Systems in Transition

Health systems in transition

Portugal

Regarding diet, 70.8% of the population eats fruit every day. Eating fruit was

less frequent among those aged 15–24 years and more frequent among those

older than 45. The average number of portions eaten daily was 2.3 and was

higher among those aged 55–64 years and among those with higher education.

Women eat daily more vegetables and salads than men (60.7% versus 48.8%).

That proportion was higher among those aged 55–74 years and lower among

those aged 15–24 years. People with higher education consume on average

more portions of vegetables and salads (2.0) than the average population (1.8)

(INE/INSA, 2016).

In 2014, 20.0% of the Portuguese population aged 15 years or older were

smokers, with a higher prevalence among men (27.8% versus 13.2%). Comparing

with the previous Health Survey (2005/2006), the proportion of former smokers

increased from 16.0% to 21.7%, while the proportion of regular smokers was

reduced from 20.9% to 20.0% (INE/INSA, 2016).

Regarding alcohol consumption, the results from the National Health

Survey show that 70.0% of the population aged 15 years or older consumed

alcohol at least once in the previous year, and 34.5% drank daily. Analysing the

data by sex and amount of consumption, the survey found that 44.7% of men

consumed six or more drinks in a single episode in the previous 12 months.

That proportion was higher among men less than 35 years old, particularly

among those aged 25–34 years. For every woman, 2.9 men consume alcohol

daily (INE/INSA, 2016).

More recently, the preliminary results of the National Health Survey with

Physical Examination were issued. The National Health Survey with Physical

Examination was conducted in 2015 and was the first health survey including

a physical examination (blood tests, weight measures, etc.), having examined

4911 individuals aged 25–74 years. The prevalence of high blood pressure

found in this survey was 36.0%, whereas the prevalence of obesity was 28.7%,

and the prevalence of diabetes was 9.8% (INSA, 2016). Men were more

affected than women by high blood pressure (39.6% versus 32.7%), diabetes

(12.1% versus 7.7%) and overweight (45.4% versus 33.1%), whereas obesity was

more prevalent among women (32.1% versus 24.9%) (INSA, 2016). Overall,

these results show higher prevalences than those reported by the 2014 National

Health Survey.

Additionally, the National Health Survey with Physical Examination also

found that 79.3% and 73.3% of respondents consumed fruits and vegetables

daily, respectively. Lack of physical activity in free time affected 44.8% of the

population, while 39.7% of men engaged in physical activity at least once a