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Urban regeneration programmes are interventions meant to enhance the wellbeing of residents in deprived areas, although empirical evidence reports mixed results. We evaluated the health impact of a participatory and neighbourhood-wide urban regeneration programme, Pla de Barris 2016–2020, in Barcelona. A pre-post with a comparison group study design. Using data from a cross-sectional survey performed in 2016 and 2021. The health outcomes analysed were mental health, alcohol and psychotropic drug use, perceived health status, physical activity and obesity. Depending on the investment, two intervention groups were defined: moderate- and high-intensity intervention groups. The analysis combined difference-in-difference estimation with an inverse weighting derived from a propensity score to reduce potential biases. The impact of the intervention in percentages and its confidence interval were estimated with a linear probability model with clustered adjusted errors. The intervention had a positive impact on health outcomes in women in the high-intensity intervention group: a reduction of 15.5% in the relative frequency of those experiencing poor mental health, and of 21.7% in the relative frequency of those with poor self-perceived health; and an increase of 13.7% in the relative frequency of those doing physical activity. No positive impact was observed for men, but an increase of 10.3% in the relative frequency of those using psychotropic drugs in the high-intensity intervention group. This study shows positive short-term effects of the urban regeneration programme Pla de Barris 2016–2020 on health outcomes in women in the high-intensity intervention group. These results can guide future interventions in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the framework of the Urban Innovative Actions program of the European Commission, in 2020, 11 primary schools in Barcelona were transformed into climate shelters by implementing green, blue, and grey measures. Schoolyards were also opened to the local community to be used during non-school periods. Here we present the study protocol of a mixed-method approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions in terms of improving environmental quality and health for users. We evaluated school level through the following: (1) quantitative pre-post quasi-experimental study, and (2) qualitative evaluation. The quantitative study included measures of (a) environmental variables (collected via low-cost and non-low-cost sensors), (b) students' health and well-being (collected via health questionnaires, attention levels test, and systematic observations), and (c) teachers' health and well-being (collected via thermal comfort measurements and health questionnaires). The qualitative methods evaluated the perceptions about the effects of the interventions among students (using Photovoice) and teachers (through focus groups). The impact of the interventions was assessed at community level during summer non-school periods through a spontaneous ethnographic approach. Data collection started in August 2019 and ended in July 2022. The evaluation provides the opportunity to identify those solutions that worked and those that need to be improved for future experiences, as well as improve the evaluation methodology and replication for these kinds of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Acute ischemic cardioembolic stroke (CS) is a clinical condition with a high risk of death, and can lead to dependence, recurrence, and dementia. Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated gender differences and female-specific clinical data and early outcomes in 602 women diagnosed with CS from a total of 4600 consecutive acute stroke patients in a single-center hospital stroke registry over 24 years. A comparative analysis was performed in women and men in terms of demographics, cerebrovascular risk factors, clinical data, and early outcomes. Results: In a multivariate analysis, age, hypertension, valvular heart disease, obesity, and internal capsule location were independent variables associated with CS in women. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was similar, but the group of women had a greater presence of neurological deficits and a higher percentage of severe limitation at hospital discharge. After the multivariate analysis, age, altered consciousness, limb weakness, and neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, cardiac and peripheral vascular complications were independent predictors related to early mortality in women. Conclusions: Women with CS showed a differential demographic and clinical profile and worse early outcomes than men. Advanced age, impaired consciousness, and medical complications were predictors of stroke severity in women with CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vertigo is an uncommon symptom among acute stroke victims. Knowledge about the clinical profile, the brain location, and the early outcome in stroke patients with cerebrovascular diseases and vertigo remains limited. Objectives: In this study, the effects of vertigo on cerebral topography and early prognosis in cerebrovascular diseases were investigated. Methods: A comparative analysis in terms of demographics, risk factors, clinical characteristics, stroke subtypes, cerebral and vascular topography, and early outcome was performed between patients with presence or absence of vertigo on a sample of 3743 consecutive acute stroke patients available from a 24-year ongoing single-center hospital-based stroke registry. Results: Vertigo was present in 147 patients (3.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that variables independently associated with vertigo were: location in the cerebellum (OR 5.59, CI 95% 3.24–9.64), nausea or vomiting (OR 4.48, CI 95% 2.95–6.82), medulla (OR 2.87, CI 95% 1.31–6.30), pons (OR 2.39, CI 95% 1.26–4.51), basilar artery (OR 2.36, CI 95% 1.33–4.17), ataxia (OR 2.33, CI 95% 1.41–3.85), and headache (OR 2.31, CI 95% 1.53–3.49). Conclusion: The study confirmed that the presence of vertigo was not related with increased in-hospital mortality or poor prognosis at hospital discharge. Vertigo is mainly related to non-lacunar vertebrobasilar stroke with topographic localization in the cerebellum and/or brainstem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty is a serious social problem with well-known adverse health consequences. This problem has been addressed mainly through improvements in the energy efficiency of housing. Still, little is known about the effects of information-based measures on energy poverty and their impacts on health. A quasi-experimental study was implemented to assess the effectiveness of an energy-counseling home visit intervention targeting the vulnerable population in a southern European city, Barcelona, in alleviating energy poverty and improving health. The intervention had beneficial impacts on keeping homes at an adequate indoor temperature and reducing primary care visits. No effects were found on self-perceived health or self-reported anxiety and depression. After the intervention, participants reported a decrease in arrears on utility bills, but less pronounced than in the comparison group. In conclusion, the study showed that information-based measures lead to psychosocial gains and reduced healthcare use. Nevertheless, the impact of these measures could be enhanced by combining them with policies and programmes that address the structural determinants of energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]