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Abstract: Background and aims: The evidence about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid intake on coronary heart disease (CHD) is not consistent. We thus aimed to assess the relation between dietary intake of total omega-3 fatty acids (from plant and marine foods) and marine polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on the risk of CHD in the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Methods and results: The analysis included 41,091 men and women aged 20–69 years, recruited from 1992 to1996 and followed-up until December 2004. Omega-3 fatty acid intake was estimated from a validated dietary questionnaire. Only participants with definite incident CHD event were considered as cases. Cox regression models were used to assess the association between the intake of total omega-3 fatty acids, EPA or DHA and CHD. A total of 609 participants (79% men) had a definite CHD event. Mean intakes of total omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA were very similar in the cases and in the cohort, both in men and women. In the multivariate adjusted model, omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA were not related to incident CHD in either men or women. The hazard ratios (HR) for omega-3 were 1.23 in men (95% CI 0.94–15.9, p = 0.20); and 0.77 in women (95% CI 0.46–1.30, p = 0.76). Conclusion: In the Spanish EPIC cohort, with a relatively high intake of fish, no association was found between EPA, DHA and total omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of CHD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: This study provides estimates of population-based relative survival in Spain for nine major cancers and reports results on cancer survival by region, gender and age group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study was conducted to assess time trend shifts of leading causes of death and their partial contributions over the years 1975–2016 in Spain. A longitudinal ecological epidemiologic design was conducted to analyse linear trend period shifts using joinpoint regression as the annual percentage of change (APC) in the period 1975–2016. The partial contributions were illustrated as the rate ratio of a singular-cause to their major-cause shift periods. HIV/AIDS shaped the increasing trend period of infectious diseases in 1989–1995 (APC = 25.3, P < 0.05) and the decreasing trend in 1995–1999 and 1999–2016. Lung cancer fell gradually from 1994 in men (−0.4, P < 0.05); however, in women, the condition continued increasing from 1990 (P < 0.05). Dementia types influenced mental and neurological disease drifts. The recent trend for circulatory periods (1980–2016) was mainly modulated by cardiac ischaemia, with increased partial contributions (25%, 32% and 30%). Traffic accidents defined the descending tendency of external causes. Spain showed a Western pattern in descended rates, including non-decreasing trends in mental and neurological diseases, pancreatic cancer, drug abuse and suicide. Trend shifts and partial contributions illustrated targets for further mortality reduction. Image 1 • The partial contributions of singular death causes allowed understanding mortality trends of their major causes of death. • Research on trend shifts of death causes is a toll for epidemiological surveillance and health policy tackling. • Mortality has been descending in Spain, except in mental and neurological diseases, and pancreatic cancer, drug abuse and suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a virus-related malignancy which most frequently arises in skin' though visceral sites can also be involved. Infection with Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV or HHV-8) is required for development of KS. Nowadays' most cases worldwide occur in persons who are immunosuppressed' usually because of HIV infection or as a result of therapy to combat rejection of a transplanted organ' but classic Kaposi sarcoma is predominantly a disease of the elderly without apparent immunosuppression. We analyzed 2667 KS incident cases diagnosed during 1995-2002 and registered by 75 population-based European cancer registries contributing to the RARECARE project. Total crude and age-standardized incidence rate was 0.3 per 100'000 per year with an estimated 1642 new cases per year in the EU27 countries. Age-standardized incidence rate was 0.8 per 100'000 in Southern Europe but below 0.3 per 100'000 in all other regions. The elevated rate in southern Europe was attributable to a combination of classic Kaposi sarcoma in some Mediterranean countries and the relatively high incidence of AIDS in several countries. Five-year relative survival for 2000-2002 by the period method was 75%. More than 10'000 persons were estimated to be alive in Europe at the beginning of 2008 with a past diagnosis of KS. The aetiological link with suppressed immunity means that many people alive following diagnosis of KS suffer comorbidity from a pre-existing condition. While KS is a rare cancer' it has a relatively good prognosis and so the number of people affected by it is quite large. Thus it provides a notable example of the importance of networking in diagnosis' therapy and research for rare cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between tobacco use and lung cancer and other tumours has been confirmed by a large number of studies. In Spain, the prevalence of smoking has been declining since 1978. This study describes lung, bladder and laryngeal cancer mortality and incidence rates and their trends in Spain. Mortality data were furnished by the National Statistics Institute (2001–07) and incidence data by population-based cancer registries (1975–2004). Changes in rates were calculated using Poisson regression models, which enable trend changes to be estimated. In the case of lung cancer, mortality rates decreased among men [annual percentage change (APC) –1.3%] though not among women (APC 3.5%), whereas incidence rates increased in both sexes, overall and adjusted for registry, by 0.75% among men and 3.2% among women. Bladder cancer mortality rates decreased among men (APC –1.2%) and women (APC –0.8%), yet incidence rates increased across the sexes. While laryngeal cancer mortality rates decreased among men (APC –5.5%) and women (APC –0.03%) alike, incidence rates decreased (–1.28%) among men but not among women (3.95%). A decrease in male versus female mortality due to tobacco-related tumours is evident in Spain. Incidence rates are beginning to reflect the progressive cessation of smoking that has been observed among men rather than women. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Attenuation of the epidemic increase in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) incidence has recently been reported in the USA and Nordic European countries. After two decades of steadily increasing NHL, this study sought to ascertain whether a similar stabilisation might have taken place in Spain in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: A western lifestyle, characterised by low rates of energy expenditure and a high-energy diet rich in animal protein, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, is associated with high incidence of prostate cancer in men. A high-energy nutritional status results in insulin/IGF signalling in cells, which in turn stimulates synthesis of fatty acids. We investigated whether the genetic variability of the genes belonging to the fatty acid synthesis pathway is related to prostate cancer risk in 815 prostate cancer cases and 1266 controls from the European Prospective Investigation on Cancer (EPIC). Using a tagging approach and selecting 252 SNPs in 22 genes, we covered all the common genetic variation of this pathway. None of the SNPs reached statistical significance after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Common SNPs in the fatty acid synthase pathway are not major contributors to prostate cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to measure of serum levels of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (p,p′-DDT), p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl dichlorethylene (p,p′-DDE), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in healthy adults in Spain. Furthermore, we also analyzed these levels according to dietary, other lifestyle factors and anthropometric characteristics. We measured the concentrations of such organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in serum samples collected during 1992–1996 from 953 subjects aged 35–64years, they were residents of five Spanish regions, they were randomly selected from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. OCPs were determined by means of gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The most frequent compound found in serum was p,p′-DDE, present in 98% of the samples, followed by HCB and β-HCH, found in 89% and 77% of samples, respectively, while p,p′-DDT could be measured only in 26% of subjects. The geometric means of serum concentrations (ng/g lipid) were 822 for p,p′-DDE, 167 for β-HCH, and 379 for HCB. The concentrations of all OCPs were positively associated with age and body mass index, and decreased along the period of blood collection. No association was found between OCPs levels and dietary factors. The concentrations of p,p′-DDE and β-HCB were higher in Murcia, one of southern regions, most likely associated with intensive past use of pesticides related to agricultural practices, while higher levels of HCB were found in Navarra, located in the north, maybe due to industrial use rather than agricultural application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: PurposeWe assessed changes in smoking behavior and its related factors among healthy adults from five regions in Spain.: MethodsThe smoking status at recruitment and after 3 years was compared in 14,288 men and 23,983 women aged 35 to 64 years. The pattern of smoking and several lifestyle factors were investigated as potential predictors of subsequent changes in smoking habits.: ResultsAmong current smokers at baseline the age-adjusted rates of cessation per 1000 person-years were 57.4 for men and 43.2 for women. Among former smokers at baseline the relapse rates were 37.6 and 48.8 per 1000 person-years for men and women, respectively. The initiation rate per 1000 person-years among men who had never smoked was 12.5 and 2.7 for women. Higher amount currently smoked and longer time since quitting were strong predictors of lower rates of cessation and relapse, respectively, while age was associated with lower initiation rates in women. Increased alcohol consumption was related to low cessation and high relapse and initiation rates, mainly among men, while more educated women had higher cessation and initiation rates.: ConclusionsThe current pattern of changes in smoking behavior in Spanish populations aged 35 to 64 years results in rather small prevalence reduction. Additional efforts should be made to promote successful cessation and prevent initiation to reduce the tobacco burden in Spain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: During recent decades, an increase in the incidence of certain oesophago-gastric cancer subtypes has been reported in some countries. This study sought to analyse oesophageal and gastric cancer incidence trends in Spain by sex, site and morphology for the period 1980–2004. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Some years ago, Spain registered a much lower colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rate than did other European countries but the rates have since converged. This study sought to compare time trends for CRC incidence and mortality, identify change-points in these trends and thereby update available information in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]