Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatits C Virus Coinfection in Spain: Elimination Is Feasible, but the Burden of Residual Cirrhosis Will Be Significant.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV-Abs) and active HCV infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Spain in 2016 and compared the results with those of similar studies performed in 2002, 2009, and 2015. METHODS: The study was performed in 43 centers during October-November 2016. The sample was estimated for an accuracy of 2% and selected by proportional allocation and simple random sampling. During 2016, criteria for therapy based on direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) were at least significant liver fibrosis, severe extrahepatic manifestations of HCV, and high risk of HCV transmissibility. RESULTS: The reference population and the sample size were 38904 and 1588 patients, respectively. The prevalence of HCV-Abs in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 60.8%, 50.2%, 37.7%, and 34.6%, respectively (P trend <.001, from 2002 to 2015). The prevalence of active HCV in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 54.0%, 34.0%, 22.1%, and 11.7%, respectively (P trend <.001). The anti-HCV treatment uptake in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 23.0%, 48.0%, 59.3%, and 74.7%, respectively (P trend <.001). In 2016, HCV-related cirrhosis was present in 7.6% of all HIV-infected individuals, 15.0% of patients with active HCV, and 31.5% of patients who cleared HCV after anti-HCV therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that with universal access to DAA-based therapy and continued efforts in prevention and screening, it will be possible to eliminate active HCV among HIV-infected individuals in Spain in the short term. However, the burden of HCV-related cirrhosis will continue to be significant among HIV-infected individuals.

Psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's Disease: a longitudinal study by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi) in Catalonia, Spain.

OBJECTIVES: Psychotropic drugs are usually prescribed to deal with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, especially when nonpharmacologic approaches are not available or have limited efficacy. Poor outcomes and serious adverse events of the drugs used must be addressed, and risk-benefit ratios need to be considered. The aim of this longitudinal study was to describe the evolution of dispensation of psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to identify the associated demographic and clinical variables. METHODS: Longitudinal study using 698 cases with AD included in the Registry of Dementias of Girona in 2007 and 2008 and followed up during 3 years. Drugs were categorized according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to detect the variables associated with the use of antipsychotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anxiolytics, and hypnotics. RESULTS: Of the patients, 51.2% consumed antipsychotics at least once during the three years of the study, whereas 73.3% and 58.2% consumed SSRIs and anxiolytics, respectively; 32.8% used hypnotics. Antipsychotic use was associated with a diagnosis of AD with delusions) [odds ratio (OR) = 5.7] and with increased behavior disorders (OR = 1.2). Patients with AD with depressed mood were more likely to be treated with SSRIs (OR = 3.1), while being a woman was associated with increased dispensation of anxiolytics (OR = 1.9) and SSRIs (OR = 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of psychotropic drugs by the patients with AD registered in the Registry of Dementias of Girona is very high. Despite all the described adverse effects and recommendations of caution in their use, antipsychotics still are extensively used.

The Balanced Scorecard as a management tool for assessing and monitoring strategy implementation in health care organizations.

Both prior literature and reported managerial practices have claimed that the Balanced Scorecard is a management tool that can help organizations to effectively implement strategies. In this article, we examine some of the contributions, dilemmas, and limitations of Balanced Scorecards in health care organizations. First, we describe the evolution of Balanced Scorecards from multidimensional performance measurement systems to causal representations of formulated strategies, and analyze the applicability of Balanced Scorecards in health care settings. Next, we discuss several issues under debate regarding Balanced Scorecard adoption in health care organizations. We distinguish between issues related to the design of Balanced Scorecards and those related to the use of these tools. We conclude that the Balanced Scorecard has the potential to contribute to the implementation of strategies through the strategically-oriented performance measurement systems embedded within it. However, effective adoption requires the adaptation of the generic instrument to the specific realities of health care organizations. Full English text available from:www.revespcardiol.org.

Use of antidementia drugs in frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical evidence indicates that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are not efficacious to treat frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The British Association for Psychopharmacology recommends avoiding the use of AChEI and memantine in patients with FTLD. METHODS: Cross-sectional design using 1092 cases with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 64 cases with FTLD registered by the Registry of Dementias of Girona. Bivariate analyses were performed, and binary logistic regressions were used to detect variables associated with antidementia drugs consumption. RESULTS: The AChEIs were consumed by 57.6% and 42.2% of the patients with AD and FTLD, respectively. Memantine was used by 17.2% and 10.9% of patients with AD and FTLD, respectively. Binary logistic regressions yielded no associations with antidementia drugs consumption. CONCLUSIONS: There is a discrepancy regarding clinical practice and the recommendations based upon clinical evidence. The increased central nervous system drug use detected in FTLD requires multicentric studies aiming at finding the best means to treat these patients.

Body mass index and outcome in patients with coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral artery disease: findings from the FRENA registry.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with established arterial disease remains controversial. METHODS: FRENA is an ongoing, observational registry of consecutive outpatients with coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral artery disease (PAD). We examined the prognostic importance of accepted BMI categories on outcome among patients in the FRENA registry. RESULTS: In April 2008, 2274 patients (mean age, 66 years) had been enrolled, of whom 14 (0.6%) were underweight; 533 (23%) normal; 1051 (46%) overweight; and 676 (30%) were obese. Over a mean follow-up of 14 months, the incidence of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or critical limb ischemia) per 100 patient-years was: 7.1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-35]; 11 (95% CI: 8.4-14); 6.9 (95% CI: 5.6-8.5); and 8.5 (95% CI: 6.6-11), respectively. Their cardiovascular mortality was: 7.1 (95% CI: 0.4-35); 4.1 (95% CI: 5.9-11); 1.3 (95% CI: 0.9-2.3); and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.4-3.5), respectively. On multivariate analysis, the hazard ratio for cardiovascular mortality was: 2.2 (95% CI: 0.3-17); 1.0 (reference); 0.37 (95% CI: 0.20-0.69); and 0.37 (95% CI: 0.18-0.73), respectively. Survival benefit was only found in patients with CAD or PAD. Weight loss had little influence on outcome. CONCLUSION: Patients with CAD or PAD (not those with cerebrovascular disease) have an inverse correlation between BMI and cardiovascular mortality, even after adjusting for confounding variables.

[Mortality of gastric cancer in Catalonia, Spain: geographical distribution and time trends from 1986 to 2000]. / Mortalidad por cáncer de estómago en Cataluña: distribución geográfica y evolución temporal entre 1986 y 2000.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to describe the time trends and the changes in the spatial distribution of stomach cancer mortality by gender, in Catalonia, Spain, in the period 1986-2000. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The mortality data comes from the Mortality Register for Catalonia at the Health Department and the population data from the Institute of Statistics for Catalonia. To analyze time trends, a Poisson regression model was adjusted for each gender. To analyze the geographical distribution, a Bayesian hierarchical model was used. RESULTS: During the period 1986-2000 the number of deaths from stomach cancer was 8,627 for males and 5,831 for females. During this period the estimated decrease in mortality was 3.13% for males and 3.91% for females. The spatial analysis showed the lowest mortality risk areas along the coast while the mortality risk increased toward the zones in the interior. This geographical pattern is very similar for both sexes but in the lasts years of the period it has been fading. CONCLUSIONS: The time trends and the geographical pattern of stomach cancer mortality in Catalonia is similar for both sexes and it is consistent with the trends observed in other developed countries. This suggests a relationship with improved food habits and a better accessibility to health care in the areas of higher risk.