Projecting Health Outcomes for Portuguese Ageing Population: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Objectives: To project health outcomes for the period 2011-2031, in the Portuguese population aged 65 years and over, considering the expected changes in its demographic and educational structure. Methods: Demographic projections were produced using the multistate cohort component method. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate current differences in health outcomes, using data from the Portuguese Health Survey. Such differences were applied to the projection results, in order to project the prevalence of "poor" self-reported health status, functional limitations and disability. Results: Our results point to a future improvement in the considered health outcomes. The prevalence of "poor" self-reported health status, functional limitations and disability will decrease in both genders, but will continue to be higher among women than men. Discussion: Beyond age and gender, other determinants of health, like education, should be considered when studying the possible evolution of health outcomes in an ageing population.

Ageing and Long-Term Informal Care: The Reality of Two Countries in Europe: Denmark and Portugal

“…Studies conducted in recent years in Portugal show that in the Portuguese context, there is a high prevalence of informal care provided by caregivers belonging to the household [ 5 , 9 , 11 ] and that this harms caregivers’ mental health, especially or caregivers older than 50 years, with reported depressive symptoms and low economic and social resources in accessing mental health care [ 9 ].…”

“…The Portuguese sociodemographic reality demonstrates the European trend of the increase in the population’s ageing index, especially in recent years [ 4 ]. Ageing is associated with a high rate of total dependence, especially concerning dependence for activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), with repercussions in the scope of long-term informal care [ 5 ].…”