Search

It remains unknown whether the type of aerosol generating device is affecting efficacy and safety among non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) adults. The proposal of this network meta-analysis (NMA) is to evaluate effectiveness and safety of inhaled antibiotics administered via dry powder inhaler (DPI) and via nebulizers (SVN) among adult patients with NCFB. Inclusion criteria were randomized-controlled trials, adults (≥18 years) with NCFB, and inhaled antibiotics administered via DPI as intervention. Search strategy was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from 2000 to 2019. Sixteen trials (2870 patients) were included. Three trials (all ciprofloxacin) used DPIs and thirteen used SVN (three ciprofloxacin). Both DPI and SVN devices achieved similar safety outcomes (adverse events, antibiotic discontinuation, severe adverse events, and bronchospasm). Administration of ciprofloxacin via DPI significantly improved time to first exacerbation (87 days, 95% CI 34.3-139.7) and quality of life (MD −7.52; 95% CI −13.06 to −1.98) when compared with via SVN. No other significant differences were documented in clinical efficacy (at least one exacerbation, FEV% predicted) and microbiologic response (bacterial eradication, emergence of new potential pathogens, and emergence of antimicrobial resistance) when comparing devices. Our NMA documented that time to first exacerbation and quality of life, were more favorable for DPIs. Decisions on the choice of devices should incorporate these findings plus other criteria, such as simplicity, costs or maintenance requirements.

Online alcohol screening may be helpful in preventing alcohol use disorders. We assessed psychometric properties of an online version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) among Spanish university students. We used a longitudinal online survey (the UNIVERSAL project) of first-year students (18-24 years old) in five universities, including the AUDIT, as part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative. A reappraisal interview was carried out with the Timeline Followback (TLFB) for alcohol consumption categories and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for alcohol use disorder. Reliability, construct validity and diagnostic accuracy were assessed. Results: 287 students (75% women) completed the MINI, of whom 242 also completed the TLFB. AUDIT's Cronbach's alpha was 0.82. The confirmatory factor analysis for the one-factor solution of the AUDIT showed a good fit to the data. Significant AUDIT score differences were observed by TLFB categories and by MINI disorders. Areas under the curve (AUC) were very large for dependence (AUC = 0.96) and adequate for consumption categories (AUC > 0.7). AUDIT cut-off points of 6/8 (women/men) for moderate-risk drinking and 13 for alcohol dependence showed sensitivity/specificity of 76.2%/78.9% and 56%/97.5%, respectively. The online version of the AUDIT is useful for detecting alcohol consumption categories and alcohol dependence in Spanish university students.

BACKGROUND: Research efforts to measure the concept of healthy ageing have been diverse and limited to specific populations. This diversity limits the potential to compare healthy ageing across countries and/or populations. In this study, we developed a novel measurement scale of healthy ageing using worldwide cohorts. METHODS: In the Ageing Trajectories of Health-Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project, data from 16 international cohorts were harmonized. Using ATHLOS data, an item response theory (IRT) model was used to develop a scale with 41 items related to health and functioning. Measurement heterogeneity due to intra-dataset specificities was detected, applying differential item functioning via a logistic regression framework. The model accounted for specificities in model parameters by introducing cohort-specific parameters that rescaled scores to the main scale, using an equating procedure. Final scores were estimated for all individuals and converted to T-scores with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. RESULTS: A common scale was created for 343 915 individuals above 18 years of age from 16 studies. The scale showed solid evidence of concurrent validity regarding various sociodemographic, life and health factors, and convergent validity with healthy life expectancy (r = 0.81) and gross domestic product (r = 0.58). Survival curves showed that the scale could also be predictive of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The ATHLOS scale, due to its reliability and global representativeness, has the potential to contribute to worldwide research on healthy ageing.

Objetivo: Evaluar el estado de salud de hombres y mujeres inmigrantes extracomunitarios residentes en el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (Cataluña, España) e identificar determinantes sociales de la salud desde una perspectiva de género. Método: Análisis transversal de una cohorte de familias inmigrantes reclutadas en Badalona y Santa Coloma de Gramenet (cohorte PELFI). En 2015-2016, 167 inmigrantes respondieron al cuestionario epidemiológico basal y al instrumento EuroQol de cinco dimensiones (EQ-5D) que mide el estado de salud. Para identificar determinantes de la salud se construyeron modelos Tobit con el índice EQ-5D. Resultados: Las mujeres declararon una peor salud percibida (p = 0,005). Tener una enfermedad diagnosticada se asoció con una peor percepción de la salud en los hombres (p < 0,05). El tiempo de estancia y las cargas familiares, en especial la doble jornada de trabajo, empeoraron la salud percibida de las mujeres. En el modelo ajustado por variables demográficas y determinantes sociales, la situación administrativa estable (−0.136; p = 0,015) y el apoyo social (0,182; p = 0,02) se asociaron con el índice EQ-5D en ambos sexos. Estar ocupado se asoció a mejor salud en los hombres. Conclusiones: Las personas inmigrantes extracomunitarias residentes en el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona son una población vulnerable y presentan desigualdades en salud por sexo. El apoyo social y la ocupación son factores clave de su estado de salud. Las intervenciones para reducir las vulnerabilidades y desigualdades en salud de las personas inmigrantes deberían promover su inclusión y cohesión social, e incorporar la perspectiva de género., Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the health status of immigrant men and women from non-EU countries living in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) and to identify the social determinants of health from a gender perspective. Method: Cross-sectional analysis from a cohort of immigrant families recruited in Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramenet, in Spain (PELFI cohort). In 2015–2016, 167 immigrants answered the baseline epidemiological questionnaire and the 5-level EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D) which measures health status. To identify health determinants, Tobit models were constructed to the EQ-5D index. Results: Women rated poorer self-perceived health (p = 0.005). To be diagnosed with and illness was only associated with poor self-perceived health among men (p < 0.05). Length of residence, domestic work, and especially double workload deteriorated women's health. After adjusting models by demographics and social determinants, permanent administrative status (−0.136; p = 0.015) and social support (0.182; p = 0.02) were associated with health status in both sexes. To have a job was associated with better health only in men. Conclusions: Non-EU immigrants living in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona are a socially vulnerable group of population and present inequalities in health by sex. Social support and occupation are key factors of their health status. Interventions to reduce immigrant vulnerabilities and inequalities in health should promote their social inclusion and cohesion from a gender perspective.