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Objetivo: Analizar si el hambre durante la Guerra Civil española y la inmediata posguerra influyó sobre la mortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica de las personas que nacieron en este período, según lo planteado en la hipótesis de Barker acerca de la posible programación fetal de enfermedades de la edad adulta. Métodos: Con los datos de mortalidad por edad y sexo por cardiopatía isquémica en el período 1990-2002, se calcularon las tasas anuales de mortalidad específicas y las tasas ajustadas por edad, por el método directo. Mediante análisis de regresión de Poisson se analizó el efecto de la edad, el período y la cohorte anual de nacimiento (1918-1957). Resultados: Durante el período de estudio, la mortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica ha disminuido un promedio anual de -2,3% en ambos sexos y para todas las edades. En el descenso de mortalidad están presentes los efectos cohorte y período (p < 0,001); se observa un incremento del riesgo para todas las edades y ambos sexos en las muertes correspondientes a personas nacidas durante los años reconocidos como de mayor escasez alimentaria de la Guerra Civil y la inmediata posguerra (1937, 1940, 1943 y 1945). Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos al estudiar anualmente la mortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica son compatibles con la hipótesis de Barker sobre el efecto del estrés alimentario durante el embarazo en la génesis de diversas enfermedades en el adulto. La Guerra Civil española, además de costes humanos, económicos y políticos, puede haber tenido consecuencias negativas para la salud de los nacidos en esas cohortes.Objective: To determine whether the famine experienced during the Spanish civil war and immediate postwar period influenced mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in persons born in this period, following the lines of Barker's hypothesis on fetal programming of chronic diseases in adult life. Methods: Using CHD mortality data by age and sex for 1990-2002, annual and age-adjusted rates were calculated by the direct method. Poisson regressions were used to estimate period, age and cohort effects by year of birth (1918-1957). Results: During the study period, CHD mortality fell by a yearly average of -2.3% in both sexes and in all ages yearly. This trend was influenced by both cohort and period effects (p < 0.001); an increased risk was observed for both sexes and in all ages in the deaths corresponding to persons born during the war and postwar years when the famine was most intense (1937, 1940, 1943 and 1945). Conclusions: The results obtained by studying yearly CHD mortality are compatible with those expected by Barker's hypothesis of the effect of nutritional stress during pregnancy. In addition to its human, economic and political costs, the Spanish civil war could also have had negative consequences for the health of persons born in this period.

Aunque los apósitos de cura en ambiente (CAH) húmedo se han utilizado predominantemente en heridas crónicas, ello no es óbice para que su uso en heridas agudas permita solucionar algunos problemas, como el conseguir un ambiente óptimo que facilite la migración epitelial, así como una adecuada protección de las heridas y una correcta gestión del exudado. Es por ello que, dentro del marco del estudio AURIGA-04, nos planteamos la realización de un estudio prospectivo observacional,abierto y multicéntrico, de medidas repetidas en una cohorte de pacientes que presentan heridas agudas de diversa etiología en el que se incluyeron pacientes con heridas traumáticas, quirúrgicas o quemaduras tratados por profesionales de Atención Primaria, con el objetivo de generar evidencias acerca de la utilización de apósitos de CAH, en concreto, de la gama de apósitos hidrocelulares Allevyn®, en el tratamiento de heridas agudas. Se consideraron como criterios de exclusión heridas con signos clínicos de infección. Solo se incluyó una lesión por paciente. En el caso de los pacientes con heridas agudas, la muestra a estudio quedó compuesta por 61 pacientes con una edad media de 71,1 años; 36 casos corresponden a mujeres (60%). El estado general de salud de la muestra era bueno en un 49,1% de los casos y prácticamente la totalidad de los pacientes presentaba pluripatología. Un 10% de los pacientes consumía fármacos que podían interferir en la cicatrización y un 6% presentaba malnutrición. El 67,2% de las lesiones eran heridas traumáticas, el 24,6% quirúrgicas y un 8,2% quemaduras. Un 37% de las lesiones fueron clasificadas como superficiales y el 63% restante como profundas. Presentaban 64 días de evolución previa a su inclusión en el estudio y una superficie media de 23,34 cm². Los pacientes permanecieron en el estudio un promedio de 43,6 días, con una cadencia de cambios de apósito cada 2,7 días. Durante el estudio cicatrizaron el 63,9% de las heridas, en un promedio de 40,9 días. La superficie inicial de las lesiones mostró una reducción significativa a lo largo del seguimiento (inicial: 23,34 cm², final: 4,27 cm², p ≤ 0,001). En los modelos de regresión de Cox, sólo resultó estadísticamente significativa la edad del paciente, en el grupo de lesiones traumáticas (RR: -0,03, p= 0,039). Durante el período de seguimiento, un 80,3% de los pacientes fue tratado en combinación con Intrasite Conformable®, Iruxol Mono® o la combinación de ambos productos. Los profesionales que realizaron las curas con Allevyn® valoraron muy favorablemente su manejo durante todo el estudio; así, en más del 96% de los cambios se consideró fácil de colocar, en el 100% indoloro y también en el 100% de fácil retirada. A la vista de los resultados, los apósitos de CAH y, en concreto, la gama de apósitos Allevyn®, tienen una clara aplicación en el caso de las heridas agudas, permitiendo un óptimo abordaje local de las lesiones, proporcionando unos nivelesóptimos de humedad, pH y temperatura para las células implicadas en el proceso de cicatrización. Así, se promueve la formación de tejido de granulación y facilita la epitelización, además de proteger la herida ante traumatismos y gérmenes.Although moist environment dressings have mainly been used for chronic wounds, they can also be used on acute wounds in order to achieve an optimum atmosphere that facilitates epithelial migration, providing adequate protection for the wounds as well as good exudate management. Hence, as part of the AURIGA- 04 study, an observational study was carried out at different centres, involving repeated measures on a group of patients who presented diverse acute wounds, including patients with traumatic wounds, surgical wounds or burns treated by primary care professionals. The aim of this study was to find evidence about the use of moist environment dressings, specifically the Allevyn® range of hydrocellular dressings, in the treatment of acute wounds. The exclusion criterion considered was if the wounds had clinical signs of infection. Only one wound was included per patient. In the case of patients with acute wounds, the study sample was made up of 61 patients with an average age of 71.1; 36 cases were women (60%). The patient's general state of health was good in 49.1% of cases and practically all the patients presented multiple pathologies. 10% of the patients were taking medication that could interfere with the healing process and 6% of the patients presented signs of malnutrition. 67.2% of the wounds were traumatic in origin, 24.6% were surgical and 8.2% were burns. 37% of the wounds were classified as superficial and the remaining 63% were deep. The wounds had been present for 64 days before the patient's inclusion in the study and the average surface area was 23.34 cm². The patients remained in the study programme for an average of 43.6 days and their dressings were changed every 2.7 days. During the study, 63.9% of the wounds healed in an average of 40.9 days. The initial surface area of the wounds was reduced significantly over the monitoring period (initial: 23.34 cm², final: 4.27 cm², p ≤ 0.001). When Cox regression models were applied, the age of the patient was only statistically significant in the group with traumatic wounds (RR: -0.03, p= 0.039). During the monitoring period, 80.3% of the patients were also treated with Intrasite Conformable®, Iruxol Mono® or a combination of both products. The professionals that treated the wounds with Allevyn® rated the product very highly throughout the study; in over 96% of dressing changes, they were assessed as very easy to apply, 100% painless and also 100% easy to remove. Given these results, moist environment dressings, particularly the Allevyn® range of dressings, have a clear application in the case of acute wounds, permitting optimum local treatment of the wounds, providing optimum levels of moisture, pH and temperature for the cells involved in the healing process. Thus the formation of granulation tissue is promoted and epithelisation is facilitated. Furthermore, the wound is also protected from traumas and germs.

Introducción: El estudio ATHAC recoge datos sobre heridas agudas y crónicas que son candidatas a un tratamiento a base de apósitos grasos neutros como la gama URGOTUL. Objetivos: Describir las características de las heridas, describir los tratamiento aplicados a estas heridas y explorar las opiniones de los profesionales de enfermería y los pacientes sobre los tratamientos en términos de aplicabilidad, adaptabilidad y confort para el paciente. Material y métodos: 1.500 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio de acuerdo al tipo de herida y a los tratamientos en uso. Se recogieron datos a partir de dos cuestionarios: uno para el paciente y otro para la enfermera responsable de sus cuidados. Las enfermeras recogieron los datos en el primer día de inclusión y los pacientes respondían al cuestionario 1 mes más tarde o antes si la herida había cicatrizado. Las variables recogidas por la enfermera fueron: datos sociodemográficos, etiología de las lesiones, características y localización de las heridas, aspectos y opiniones sobre el tratamiento. A los pacientes se les preguntó por la duración del tratamiento, el estado de la lesión en el momento de contestar y desde su punto de vista, así como su opinión sobre el dolor, satisfacción general y aceptabilidad. Se llevaron a cabo análisis descriptivos uni y bivariados. Para cada paciente, si tenía más de una lesión, se recogieron datos de la lesión de mayor tamaño. Resultados: Finalmente, se estudiaron 1.432 pacientes con una o más lesiones (420 tenían más de una lesión). El 60,4% eran mujeres y la edad media fue de 66 ± 19 años. En el caso de las heridas crónicas (657 lesiones) predominaron las úlceras venosas (47%) y las úlceras por presión (23%). En las heridas agudas (775 lesiones), la mayoría fueron traumáticas (41%) y quemaduras (32,5%). La principal localización en todas las lesiones fueron los miembros inferiores (57,4% en heridas crónicas y 39% en agudas). El 84,4% de los casos indicó presentar algún tipo de dolor previo al comienzo de este estudio. Al finalizar el estudio, un porcentaje menor del 20% indicó presentar algún tipo de dolor. El 72% de las heridas agudas y el 35% de las crónicas, como refieren los pacientes, había cicatrizado al finalizar el estudio (en un tiempo medio de entre 20- 40 días). El 54% de las heridas crónicas evoluciona favorablemente y el 26% de las agudas. Más del 80% de las heridas estudiadas fueron tratadas con la gama URGOTUL. Conclusión: URGOTUL es una buena opción para el tratamiento de este tipo de heridas, especialmente para las heridas agudas, en relación a su carácter atraumático y a su capacidad de cicatrización, así como la buena aceptación y satisfacción de los pacientes.Introduction: The ATHAC survey collected data on acute or chronic wounds that were candidates for a treatment with grassy dressings like URGOTUL. Aims: To describe the wound’s characteristics, to describe treatments applied to these wounds and to Explore Nurses’ and patients’ opinion about the treatments in terms of applicability, adaptability and patient comfort. Methods: 1,500 patients were included in the study according to wound types and treatments. Data were collected with nurses and patient questionnaires. Nurses collected data the first day of inclusion and patients respond one month after or when wounds healed. Variables collected by nurses were: demographic, aetiology, characteristics and location of the wound, aspects and opinions of the treatment. Patients were asked about duration of treatments, wound state from their point of view and opinions about pain, satisfaction and acceptability. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analysis were conducted. For each patient was selected the biggest wound for data collection. Results: Finally, 1432 patients with one or more lesions were studied (420 had more than one). 60,4% were women and the mean age was 66. Chronic wounds, mainly, were venous leg ulcer (47%) and pressure ulcers (23%). In acute wounds, were traumatic (41%) and burns (32,5%). The main location was inferior extremities (57,4% in chronic and 39% in acute). 49% of cases reported moderate to high spontaneous pain previous to this study. At the end, only 20-30% reported pain (during the study, in more than 80% the dressing used was Urgotul). 72% of acute wounds and 35% of chronic wounds, as referred by patients, were healed when finished the study (between 20-40 days of treatment). Conclusion: Urgotul is a good option for atraumatic treatment of this type of lesions, mainly for acute wounds, since more of them had healed in an acceptable time with a good patient satisfaction.

Safety culture is one of the requirements for preventing the occurrence of adverse effects. However, this has not been studied in the field of cardiology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety culture in a cardiology unit that has implemented and certified an integrated quality and risk management system for patient safety., Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 2 consecutive years, with all staff completing the Spanish version of the questionnaire, "Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture" of the "Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality", with 42 items grouped into 12 dimensions. The percentage of positive responses in each dimension in 2014 and 2015 were compared, as well as national data and United States data, following the established rules., Results: The overall assessment out of a possible 5, was 4.5 in 2014 and 4.7 in 2015. Seven dimensions were identified as strengths. The worst rated were: staffing, management support and teamwork between units. The comparison showed superiority in all dimensions compared to national data, and in 8 of them compared to American data., Conclusions: The safety culture in a Cardiology Unit with an integrated quality and risk management patient safety system is high, and higher than nationally in all its dimensions and in most of them compared to the United States., (Copyright © 2017 Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Many patients who undergo phlebo-toxic treatment eventually require central vein access ways and of these accesses, the most common one used among oncology patients due to its advantages is a subcutaneous reservoir. The objective of this study was to verify the concordance among samples obtained from a subcutaneous reservoir using the rejection technique, and those obtained when using a direct puncture technique. This study included 22 patients who were carriers of a subcutaneous reservoir and who visited outpatient services during March and April in 2006. The study authors obtained simultaneous samples from subcutaneous reservoirs and from peripheral veins. These parameters were compared by means of an intra-class correlation coefficient. Only hematology parameters, that is leucocytes, hematocrits, hemoglobin and platelets, showed an adequate concordance.

Objective: To determine whether the famine experienced during the Spanish civil war and immediate postwar period influenced mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in persons born in this period, following the lines of Barker's hypothesis on fetal programming of chronic diseases in adult life., Methods: Using CHD mortality data by age and sex for 1990-2002, annual and age-adjusted rates were calculated by the direct method. Poisson regressions were used to estimate period, age and cohort effects by year of birth (1918-1957)., Results: During the study period, CHD mortality fell by a yearly average of -2.3% in both sexes and in all ages yearly. This trend was influenced by both cohort and period effects (p<0.001); an increased risk was observed for both sexes and in all ages in the deaths corresponding to persons born during the war and postwar years when the famine was most intense (1937, 1940, 1943 and 1945)., Conclusions: The results obtained by studying yearly CHD mortality are compatible with those expected by Barker's hypothesis of the effect of nutritional stress during pregnancy. In addition to its human, economic and political costs, the Spanish civil war could also have had negative consequences for the health of persons born in this period.

The objective of this study was to analyze the application and usefulness of a range of Allevyn trademark hydro-cellular dressings during cicatrisation and in the control of exudation and other various characteristics of chronic lesions in real clinical conditions where patients were treated by primary health care professionals. In this study, 441 patients having chronic wounds, either bed sores or leg ulcers, were studied, health care professionals applied a planned program of measures repeated during 20 dressing changes or until cicatrisation was completed if this happened during this interval. The sample population was comprised of elderly patients, the majority of whom were women whose general health could be classified from medium to poor. These patients suffered from these types of wounds: 63% had bed sores, 27.2% had varicose ulcers and 9.8% had leg ulcers caused by another etiology such as mixed ulcers, arterial ulcers or diabetic foot. On average, these lesions were characterized by an evolutionary period of 6.1 months and had a 30.43 square centimetre surface area at the start of the study. 126 lesions, or 28.8%, cicatrized on average of 47.3 days. Among the 315 lesions which had not cicatrized by the end of 20 dressing changes, 90.5% showed evidence of improvement. During the study these lesions showed a significant reduction in their surface area, as well as a significant improvement at the edges of these lesions and the peri-ulceral skin. The health personnel which carried out the treatment using these dressings gave a very favorable evaluation for their use. At the end of this study, in comparison with other dressings previous used, this study showed that in 43.43% of the cases an Allevyn dressing was deemed better in terms of ease in application, in 51.79% of the cases an Allevyn dressing was better in terms of absorption and in 43.23% of the cases an Allevyn dressing was better during removal.

Introduction: A lack of treatment compliance, resistances and non-advanced stages of the disease are the reasons why not all HIV-infected patients benefit from the demonstrated efficacy of antiretroviral drug combinations--with the consequent important increase in costs. A prospective cohort follow-up study is conducted to analyze the distribution of antiretroviral pharmaceutical expenditure in a district hospital, and the possibilities for improving its efficiency., Material and Methods: The study comprised 128 HIV-infected patients seen for 12 consecutive weeks (September to November, 2004). The characteristics of previous follow-up were analyzed, and the patients were divided into groups according to the course over the following weeks and the results of prescribed treatment: group 1 (effective treatment), group 2 (ineffective treatment), and group 3 (treatment dropout). Based on the prescription history, corroborated with drug retrieval and the acquisition costs (FARMASYS software), the cost of antiretroviral medication was calculated for each of the 108 patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS version 11.5 statistical package, and considering statistical significance for p < 0.05., Results: The cost generated by the 108 patients included during the study period who received HAART was 232,366 euros, with an average of 2,151 euros per patient and 19,363 euros per day of consultation. The distribution of patients and of the costs generated by the above defined groups was as follows: group 1: 79 patients (80.6%); group 2: 11 patients (10.6%); group 3: 18 patients (8.8%). In the group 1 patients, 15.2% of the antiretroviral expenditure corresponded to patients who had started therapy with a CD4+ count of > 350 cells/ml, while 45% had > 350 cells/ml at the present time, and 25.9% had > 500 cells/ml. Previous medication dropout was identified as a predictor of new dropouts and treatment failures., Comment: While the cost generated by antiretroviral medication is high, 19.4% is administered to patients who do not benefit from such treatment due to a lack of efficacy or dropouts, and in another 40-60% of cases the need for such treatment could be subject to consideration in view of the good immune status of the patients.

The consumption of medicinal herbs is one of the most important topics in alternative and complementary medicine. The widespread use of these substances among the general population gives rise to the possibility of therapeutic or toxic effects in patients seeking conventional medical assistance. To determine the frequency of medicinal herb use, the species consumed and the profile of medicinal herb consumers among patients with gastrointestinal disorders, patients attending the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of the Francesc de Borja district hospital (Gandía, Spain) over a 5-month period were interviewed and 539 valid questionnaires were obtained. A total of 34.7% of the interviewees had taken medicinal herbs at some time and 26.9% had used them in the last year. Self-prescription was reported by 67.1%. Medicinal herbs were mainly obtained in the pharmacy or herbalist's (74.7%). The results of medicinal herb therapy were considered good or excellent by 80.3% of the interviewees, average by 18.6% and poor by 1.1%. In the univariate analysis, medicinal herb consumption was positively associated with female sex (p < 0.001), a university education (p < 0.05), consumption of psychotropic drugs (p < 0.005), use of trencar l'enfit (TE, a common practice of magic medicine in Valencia) (p < 0.001), functional gastrointestinal disorders (p < 0.005) and a diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal disorder (p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the variables that remained statistically significant were female sex (p < 0.005), university education (p < 0.01), use of TE and a diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal disorder. Fifty-seven botanical varieties were used. The most frequent varieties were Santolina chamaecyparissus (18.8%), Tilia platyphyllos (6.5%), Thymus vulgaris (6%), Equisetum ramosissimum (4.7%), Mentha pulegium (4.4%) and Valeriana officinalis (4.4%). The results show that consumption of medicinal herbs is frequent among patients attending the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of a district hospital. The probable profile of those showing maximum consumption is: female sex, university education, lower gastrointestinal disorder, functional gastrointestinal disorder, psychotropic drug consumption and use of TE.

Decision making is constant in all aspects of the nursing field, including management, professional development, investigation and assistance. But, What can be stated about the mechanisms and procedures which lead us to adopt a decision? By means of the considerations taken into account, and bearing in mind that in our country there are no research articles which deal with decision making in nursing, the authors make a bibliographical review which contributes to a critical discussion about this topic and which brings to bear elements of reflection for decision making in daily nursing practice. First, the authors deal with the origins and the evolution of decision making models in clinical practice so that they may later analyze decision making in nursing.

Objective: To determine the incidence of psychiatric morbidity (PM) in the area, and the associated demographic and socio-economic factors., Design: Observational non-longitudinal study., Setting: The population of a Basic Health Area., Participants: Simple random sample of persons over 15 years old, selected from municipal census lists, accurate at 00.4. Initial sample: 697 cases. Excluded: deceased (11) changed address (112) serious mental incapacity (7) and refusal to take part (64). Final sample: 503 cases., Measurements and Main Results: Answering of the General Health Questionnaire of 28 items (GHQ-28) and a questionnaire with study variables, between October 1990 and November 1991. 99 cases answered by post, and 404 via home visit. A GHQ-28 score greater or equal to 7 was considered positive. The incidence of GHQ-28 positive values in the population was found to be 0.35 (IC-0.31-0.39) and that of PM was found to be 0.38 (IC: 0.31-0.44). A link was observed with educational level (OR = 2.0277; p = 0.0174) and with sex (OR = 1.76 40; p = 0.172). There were no differences between those who answered by post or at home (p = 0.21) nor between those answering at different times of the year (p = 0.78)., Conclusions: There was a high incidence of PM in persons older than 15 in our health area. This incidence is associated in a significant way with level of education (higher amongst lower levels) and with sex (higher amongst women). These factors can be considered as risk markers which can help us to detect sufferers from this type of illness.

The study of the determinants of disease-related lifestyles may be relevant for better understanding the potential of health policies. In the present work, results of the analysis of the Elche Healthy Cities Interview Survey prevalence of some disease related lifestyles (physical activity level, cigarette consumption, and alcohol intake) are presented according to economic level as measured by monthly family income, 573 people randomly selected from the town rolls were interviewed at home. No associations were found between economic level and alcohol intake or present smoking status. But, trying to stop smoking and regular exercise were more frequent behaviors in higher economic groups. The ratio of prevalence of regular exercise was 1.73 in favor of the highest economic levels. The gradient found was statistically significant (chi 2 for trend = 17.4, p less than 0.01). The results may be of relevance when implementing health policies to overcome inequalities in health: "unequal interventions" may be more adequate.