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Maternal pertussis vaccination during the third trimester of pregnancy was implemented in 2015 in Spain, reaching a national coverage of 84% in 2019. In this ecological study, we investigated whether there was a change in the disease severity for pertussis in infants upon introduction of prenatal pertussis vaccination. We performed a time-trend analysis of infant pertussis hospitalizations during 2005–2019 in Spain using national register data. Annual hospitalization rates per 100,000 population and the mean length of hospitalization were calculated for infants < 3 months of age (target group benefiting from the prenatal vaccination) and a reference group aged 3–11 months. We compared overall rates and annual percent changes of the above variables in both groups for the time period before (2005–2014) and after vaccination introduction (2015–2019), using segmented Poisson regression. During the pre-vaccination period, infants aged 0–2 months had a 5-times higher rate of pertussis hospitalization and spent on average 50 % longer in hospital than the reference group. After the maternal vaccination introduction, the hospitalization rate decreased more rapidly in infants aged 0–2 months than in infants aged 3–11 months: annual reduction of 34 % (95 % CI: 31–38) versus 26 % (95 % CI: 21–31) in the hospitalization rate and 13 % (95 % CI: 11–15) versus 6 % (95 % CI: 2–9) in the mean hospital stay, respectively. In 2019, the mean hospital stay for pertussis was about 4.5 days in both groups. Maternal pertussis vaccination in Spain led to a reduction in disease severity in the target group as compared to older infants, highlighting the need for increased efforts on educating healthcare professionals on the importance of maternal vaccinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71% of deaths worldwide and individual behaviours such as sedentariness play an important role on their development and management. However, the detrimental effect of daily sitting on multiple NCDs has rarely been studied. This study sought (i) to investigate the association between sitting time and main NCDs and multimorbidity in the population of Catalonia and (ii) to explore the effect of physical activity as a modifier of the associations between sitting time and health outcomes. Methods Cross-sectional data from the 2016 National Health Survey of Catalonia were analyzed, and multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for socio-demographics and individual risk factors (tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, body mass index) was used to estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association between sitting time and NCDs. Results A total of 3320 people ≥15 years old were included in the study. Sitting more than 5 h/day was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.21–2.97), respiratory disease (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.30) and multimorbidity (OR 2.80, 95% CI: 1.53–5.15). Sitting more than 3 h/day was also associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity (OR 2.26, 95% CI: 1.23–4.16). Physical activity did not modify the associations between sitting time and any of the outcomes. Conclusions Daily sitting time might be an independent risk factor for some NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and multimorbidity, independently of the level risk of physical inactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the spatial and temporal spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus under containment measures in three European countries based on fits to data of the early outbreak. Using data from Spain and Italy, we estimate an age dependent infection fatality ratio for SARS-CoV-2, as well as risks of hospitalization and intensive care admission. We use them in a model that simulates the dynamics of the virus using an age structured, spatially detailed agent based approach, that explicitly incorporates governmental interventions and changes in mobility and contact patterns occurred during the COVID-19 outbreak in each country. Our simulations reproduce several of the features of its spatio-temporal spread in the three countries studied. They show that containment measures combined with high density are responsible for the containment of cases within densely populated areas, and that spread to less densely populated areas occurred during the late stages of the first wave. The capability to reproduce observed features of the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 makes this model a potential candidate for forecasting the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in other settings, and we recommend its application in low and lower-middle income countries which remain understudied. Author summary: First detected in China in December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus rapidly spread around the world causing a major pandemic and over 300,000 deaths by the end of May 2020. In response to the pandemic, many governments issued measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus and limiting the expected number of deaths. Our goal is to have a model capable of reproducing the observed spatial and temporal spread of the virus, based on the estimate of a limited number of local parameters. We present a detailed model capable of reproducing the spread of the disease in three selected countries. We use a description of the population subdivided in age groups, high resolution population maps, and household structures: we take into account the measures imposed by government and their consequences on the social and mobility patterns of the population. Based on data from Spain and Italy, we estimate hospitalisation and death risks, as well as the infection fatality ratio of the disease. The resulting model has a handful of parameters that need to be estimated and has thus the potential to be used in different contexts, in particular in middle and low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material deprivation has recently affected households with worrying pressure. In order to evaluate the degree of this affliction, we build categories of deprivation with increasing intensity, using the 2014–2018 EU-SILC cross-sectional data for households in Spanish regions. We explore household characteristics and regional heterogeneity associated with the relative risk ratios of falling into such categories. Moreover, the paper assesses whether two axes of the European Structural and Investment Funds (specifically, those allocated to the objective of social inclusion and sustainable and quality employment) matter at weakening such risks. Only social inclusion funds are strongly associated with a lower relative risk of material deprivation. This might be due to a regional misalignment and/or to an inefficient use of the funds. • We created several indicators of material deprivation in Spain. • We check if the European Structural Funds decrease the likelihood of being materially deprived. • Only social inclusion funds are associated with a lower relative risk of material deprivation. • Funds for sustainable and quality employment do not have any effect. • Misalignment in the allocation and/or inefficient use of Structural funds is detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Daily Sitting Time and Its Association With Non-communicable Diseases and Multimorbidity in Catalonia" in an issue is presented.

Background: Restaurant-based interventions can be an enjoyable way to encourage healthier eating choices by all members of a family. Thus, the principal aims of this study were a) to promote healthy diets by increasing healthy food offerings and b) to increase the number of foods offered specifically as gluten-free and lactose-free and to inform patrons by including nutritional and allergen information that complies with Regulation 1169/2011 regarding the food served in restaurants, takeaways and snack bars.Methods: A restaurant-based intervention was implemented at 16 food establishments at 2 resorts (the Cambrils Park Resort and Camping Sangulí, Spain, from 2014 to 2015) based on the following 4 components: 1) providing nutritional and allergen analyses of the offered dishes, 2) increasing the number of healthy food choices, 3) identifying menu items associated with allergies and intolerance, and 4) training staff on healthy eating and allergens. Customer satisfaction regarding food aspects was assessed using surveys (10-point scale).Results: Both resorts significantly increased their offerings of healthy dishes (28.6% to 44.7%; P = 0.003) and desserts with fruit (20% to 51.3%; P = 0.013), thus obtaining the Spanish Government's Mediterranean Diet certification. Additionally, both resorts obtained Catalan Celiac Association certification. Moreover, both resorts significantly increased their percentages of gluten-free dishes (2.1% to 50.5%; P < 0.001) and lactose-free dishes (5.5% to 37.5%; P < 0.001) after the intervention. Customer satisfaction increased (mean ± standard deviation) from 6.9 ± 1.6 to 8.5 ± 1.5 (P < 0.001).Conclusion: This restaurant-based intervention expanded the number of healthy and allergen-free foods offered in a family-oriented holiday resort environment to encourage healthy food choices, resulting in increased customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The satellite Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) erythemal daily dose (EDD) product is validated through an inter-comparison with ground-based measurements at 14 ground-based stations distributed worldwide between 43°N and 64°S in 5 different countries of both hemispheres: Argentina, Australia, Italy, Israel, and Spain. The results show that OMI data overestimate ground-based EDD measurements except in stations with high surface albedo (e.g., covered by snow), in agreement with the results reported by previous studies. The average differences between satellite and ground-based data reached a maximum of ~25% for all-sky cases. When cloudless conditions are selected, removing intra-daily changes in cloudiness, the agreement improves; although average differences between 10 and 20% still appear for seven low-albedo stations. The influences of ozone and aerosol on the observed differences show opposite trends: viz., high ozone column values result in a decrease whereas high turbidity conditions produce an increase in the differences. A correction factor based on the aerosol absorbing optical thickness was applied to correct for this effect, which is not considered in the OMI algorithm. After applying this correction, the agreement between OMI and ground-based EDD measurements improves and the difference between them falls below 20% for more than 90% of the cases at 8 stations. A dependence on station altitude is also noted for both all-sky and clear-sky cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Context: Improving quality of death (QOD) is a key goal in palliative care (PC). To our knowledge, no instruments to measure QOD have been validated in Spanish.Objectives: The goals of this study were to validate the Spanish version of the quality of dying and death (QODD) questionnaire and to develop and validate a shortened version of this instrument by phone interview.Methods: We enrolled caregivers (CGs) of consecutive deceased cancer patients who participated in a single PC clinic. CGs were contacted by phone between 4 and 12 weeks after patients' death and completed the Spanish QODD (QODD-ESP). A question assessing quality of life during last week of life was included. A 12-item QODD (QODD-ESP-12) was developed. Reliability, convergent validity, and construct validity were estimated for both versions.Results: About 150 (50%) of 302 CGs completed the QODD-ESP. Patient's mean age (SD) was 67 (14); 71 (47%) were females, and 131 (87%) died at home. CGs' mean age (SD) was 51 (13); 128 (85%) were females. Mean QODD-ESP score was 69 (range 35-96). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.322, not supporting the use of factorial analysis to assess the existence of an underlying construct. Mean QODD-ESP-12 score was 69 (range 31-97). Correlation with last week quality of life was 0.306 (P < 0.01). Confirmatory factorial analysis of QODD-ESP-12 showed that data fitted well Downey's four factors; Chi-square test = 6.32 (degrees of freedom = 60), P = 0.394 comparative fit index = 0.988; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.987, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.016 (95% CI 0-0.052).Conclusion: QODD-ESP-12 is a reliable and valid instrument with good psychometric properties and can be used to assess QOD in a Spanish-speaking cancer PC population by phone interview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]