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Las encuestas seroepidemiológicas se definen como los estudios seroepidemiológicos desarrollados en muestras poblacionales con el fin de investigar el nivel de protección inmunitario frente a enfermedades vacunables y no vacunables. En este trabajo se presenta la metodología y aplicabilidad de las encuestas seroepidemiológicas, y se discute la problemática de los estudios seroepidemiológicos en la población inmigrante. Las encuestas seroepidemiológicas se deben desarrollar en muestras representativas de la población, determinando el tamaño muestral según el error muestral y la precisión que se desea obtener para los parámetros poblacionales. Es necesario desarrollar un cuestionario adecuado para recoger la información sociodemográfica y médica de todos las personas participantes. Las técnicas serológicas deben ser sensibles y específicas. Las encuestas seroepidemiológicas se pueden utilizar para determinar el nivel inmunitario en diferentes grupos poblacionales y detectar las variables sociodemográficas y médicas que se asocian con la inmunidad, la vacunación y las enfermedades infecciosas.

Most of the complications and deaths related to seasonal flu occur in the elderly population (≥65 years) with comorbidities, and the influenza vaccine is the most effective way to prevent them. Immunization is less effective in older adults due to immunosenescence. MF59-adjuvanted vaccines, designed to improve the magnitude, persistence and amplitude of the immune response in elderly people, have been used in clinical practice since 1997 in their trivalent formulation and, since 2020, in their tetravalent formulation. Data from various studies show that these vaccines are not only safe for all age groups, with a reactogenicity profile similar to that of the conventional vaccine, but also that they are especially effective in boosting the immune response in the population aged 65 or over by increasing antibody titers after vaccination and significantly reducing the risk of hospital admission. Adjuvanted vaccines have been shown to provide cross-protection against heterologous strains and to be as effective as the high-dose vaccine in the population aged 65 or over. In this review, the scientific evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of the MF59-adjuvanted vaccine in real clinical practice in people ≥65 years of age is analyzed through a narrative and descriptive review of the literature with data from clinical trials, observational studies and systematic reviews or meta-analysis., (©The Author 2023. Published by Sociedad Española de Quimioterapia. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).)

Seroepidemiological surveys can be defined as seroepidemiological studies carried out in population samples to investigate immunity levels against vaccinable and not vaccinable diseases. The objective of this paper is to present the methodology and applicability of serological surveys. Problems related to seroepidemiological surveys in immigrant population are also discussed. Seroepideniological surveys should be developed in representative samples of the population, determining the sample size taking into account the sample error and precision that should be obtained for population parameters. It is necessary to develop an adequate questionnaire to collect sociodemographical and medical information from all participants. Serological tests should sensitive and specific. Seroepidemiological surveys can be used assess immunity levels in different population groups, and to detect sociodemographical and medical variables associated with the immunity, vaccination and infectious diseases.

Background and Objective: To evaluate the immunity level achieved with oral polio vaccine in schoolchildren aged 6-12 years of Catalonia (Spain)., Subjects and Method: The prevalence of antibodies against poliovirus 1, 2 and 3 was investigated using the neutralizing technique in a representative (n = 197) sample of schoolchildren aged 6-12 years of Catalonia (Spain) obtained in 2001., Results: The prevalence of antibodies was 94.4% for poliovirus 1; 98.5% for poliovirus 2, y 73.1% for poliovirus 3. 93.4% of serum samples had antibodies against poliovirus 1 and 2; 70.6% against poliovirus 1 and 3, and 69.5% against poliovirus 1, 2 and 3. The prevalence of antibodies was similar in different socio-demographic groups. Schoolchildren who had been vaccinated (5 doses) had a higher level of antibodies against poliovirus 3 than those who had not completed vaccination (4 or less doses): 75.4% vs 50.0% (p < 0.05). The prevalence of antibodies against poliovirus 1 and 2 was similar in schoolchildren completing and not completing vaccination., Conclusions: Results obtained in this study show that 26.9% of schoolchildren aged 6-12 years do not have an adequate immunity level against poliovirus 3 with the oral polio vaccine, being it necessary to develop an immunization program using the inactivated polio vaccine.

Background: To evaluate the impact in Catalonia and the agreement between the qualitative (NCEP-II) and quantitative criteria proposed by the Health Ministry for the lipid-lowering drug therapy among individuais without coronary artery disease., Methods: Both qualitative (NCEP-II) and quantitative methods were used in individuals without coronary artery disease studied in a random sample of adult populations in Catalonia (n = 304) aged >/= 16 years. Patients with a LDL-cholesterol levels >/= l90 mg/dl or 160-189 mg/dl plus at least two risk factors fulfilled the qualitative criteria for the lipid-lowering drug therapy; patients with a risk >/= 20% in 10 years fulfilled the quantitative criteria. The agreement between both qualitative and quantitative criteria was evaluated by means of the Kappa index., Results: 20% of males and 20.1% of females, and 24% of males and 33.1% of females fulfilled the qualitative and quantitative criteria for lipid-lowering drug therapy, respectively. A low (Kappa = 0.30) and a moderate (Kappa = 0.44) agreement was observed among males and females, respectively, regarding qualitative and quantitative criteria. Increased serum cholesterol was the determinant risk factor for fulfilling qualitative criteria (ORadj) y whereas age, increased blood pressure and increased serum cholesterol were determinants for fulfilling the quantitative criteria., Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed a low agreement between qualitative and quantitative criteria proposed by the report of the Ministry of Health Report to lower cholesterol levels by means of drug therapy among healthy people. Clear and unequivocal criteria to decide what persons are candidates for cholesterol-lowering drug therapy should be developed.

Background: We assessed the cost-effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for hypertension to prevent coronary heart disease and stroke in Catalonia (Spain)., Methods: Cost-effectiveness was measured as the cost in Spanish Ptas per life year gained (LYG) in 1998 in individuals aged 40 to 69 years with moderate/severe hypertension (>= 105 mmHg) and mild hypertension (95-104 mmHg). We evaluated hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic), propranolol (-blocker), nifedipine (calcium antagonist), captopril (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor) and prazosin (*-adrenergic blocker)., Results: Cost-effectiveness ranged from 706,100 to 446,780 ptas. per LYG in men and from 635,100 to 810,270 ptas. per LYG in women with moderate/severe hypertension and from 108,770 to 682,460 ptas. per LYG in men and from 101,000 to 12,699,000 ptas. per LYG in women with mild hypertension. Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis showed that hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol were the most cost-effective treatments in individuals with moderate/severe hypertension while hydrochlorothiazide and nifedipine were most cost-effective in those with mild hypertension., Conclusion: In this study, greatest-to-lowest cost-effectiveness of assessed treatments was as follows: hydrochlorohiazide, propranolol, nifedipine, prazosin and captopril in moderate/severe hypertension and hydrochlorothiazide, nifedipine, propranolol, prazosin and captopril in mild hypertension.

Background: The cost-effectiveness of hypolipemiant treatment with lovastatine (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 g/day), cholestyramine (12 and 24 g/day), cholestipol (10 and 20 g/day) and gemfibrocyl (1.2 g/day) was estimated in individuals presenting hypercholesterolemia (> 200 mg/dl or 5.17 mmol/l) following dietetic treatment., Methods: The cost-effectiveness relationship was measured in terms of cost per year of life gained comparing the net cost of the program with its effectiveness for each treatment studied. The net cost of the program was calculated taking the costs associated with hypolipemiant treatment into account and subtracting the estimated reduction of the costs of coronary heart disease attributed to the prevention program. The Framingham equation and the information concerning to the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and life expectancy according to age and sex in the Catalonian (Spain) population were used to estimate the effectiveness., Results: The lesser to greater cost per year of life gained is lovastatine-0.02, cholestyramine-12, cholestipol-12, lovastatine-0.04, gemfibrocyl, cholestyramine-24, cholestipol-10, lovastatine-0.08 and cholestipol-20. In males from 45-49 years of age with cholesterol concentration of 300 mg/dl (7.76 mmol/l) the costs per year of life gained were 3.4 millions for lovastatine-0.02, 4.6 for cholestyramine-12, 4.8 for lovastatine-0.04, 5.4 for gemfibrocyl, 6.5 for cholestyramine-24, 7.8 for cholestipol-10, 8.1 for lovastatine 0.08 and 11.6 for cholestipol-20. In women the cost-effectiveness were 11.6, 15.4, 17.7, 21.3, 25.4, 25.9 and 37.1, respectively. The cost-effectiveness for the most effective treatments was less than 5 million of pesetas per year of life gained in males presenting a cholesterol concentration higher than 300 mg/dl (7.76 mmol/l) and those under the age of 65 years. In women the cost-effectiveness was lower than 10 million of pesetas per year of life gained in those presenting more than 340 mg/dl (8.79 mmol/l) under the age of 65 years., Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the administration of lovastatine at 0.02 g/day is the most effective hypolipemiant treatment in preventing coronary heart disease.

Background: Pneumococcal vaccine is an effective preventive measure against pneumococcal infections. Cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination of 5 or more years aged population of Catalonia has been evaluated in this study., Methods: Cost-effectiveness has been estimated in terms of net cost per life-year gained (LYG) and net cost per quality adjusted life year gained (QALY). To calculate the net program cost, a cost of 1200 pesetas ($ 10) per individual has been assumed and averted disease cost in hospital and primary health care have been calculated., Results: Pneumococcal vaccination could obtain 3,360 LYGs and 6,463 QALYs in the population of Catalonia. The program cost has been estimated at 2,800 million pesetas. Cost-effectiveness in million pesetas is 10.1 per LYG and 4.3 QALY in the age group from 5 to 24; 4.2 per LYG and 1.9 per QALY in the age group from 25 to 44; 1.0 per LYG and 0.5 per QALY in the age group from 45 to 44, and it is negative (benefits > costs) in the age group of 65 years old and over., Conclusions: Pneumococcal vaccination is cost-effective in individuals aged 65 or more, and has a favourable ratio in those aged from 45 to 64.