[Lessons learnt from COVID-19 surveillance. Urgent need for a new public health surveillance. SESPAS Report 2022]. / Lecciones de la vigilancia de la COVID-19. Necesidad urgente de una nueva vigilancia en salud pública. Informe SESPAS 2022.

In this article we provide the most important epidemiological aspects in the first phases of the pandemic and some preliminary reflections from the Coordinating Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies, the unit that has coordinated surveillance at the national level. COVID-19 has brought to light the weaknesses in the surveillance system and how difficult it is to manage a health crisis in the absence of a robust public health structure. The commitment of public health professionals during this epidemic has made up for the lack of resources in many occasions, and has evidenced the need to incorporate new professional profiles to surveillance teams. The need to rapidly adapt has achieved an improvement in existing systems and the development of new tools and new systems. These need to turn into structural changes that improve the quality of surveillance, decreasing territorial gaps and ensuring a better and coordinated response to future health crises. It is urgent to incorporate tools for process automation and to grant timely availability of data. To that end, public health and epidemiological surveillance must participate in the process of digital development within the National Health System. Profound changes are needed in public health surveillance, which has to be integrated in all healthcare levels. It is also important to strengthen the capacity for analysis by promoting alliances and joint actions. During this alert, the importance of coordination in public health in a decentralized country has been evident. At international level, it is necessary to review the tools to share data to coordinate an alert from the early stages.

[The impact of COVID-19 on sick leave of the persons working in nursing homes in Spain. Usefulness of sick leave for the surveillance of the pandemic evolution.] / El impacto de la Covid-19 en la incapacidad temporal de las personas que trabajan en centros socio-sanitarios en España. Utilidad de la incapacidad temporal para el seguimiento de la evolución de la pandemia.

OBJECTIVE: The nursing homes represented high-risk settings for SARS-CoV-2 infection, both for residents and for the employees. The COVID-19 impact on long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is evaluated, measured through the employees sick leave (SL). The pandemic evolution in the general population aged between 16 and 65 years was analyzed together with the sick leave to assess the latter as a complementary indicator of the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. METHODS: A descriptive study of all sick leave processes due to COVID-19 recorded between February 15th 2020 and May 1st 2021 in nursing homes was carried out. The close contact sick leave/infection sick leave ratios, the 100,000 affiliated/occupied sick leave rates were computed and compared with the COVID-19 cases cumulative incidence notified to the National Network of epidemiological Surveillance (RENAVE). RESULTS: 261.892 SL processes were recorded. The close contact sick leave/infection sick leave median ratio in nursing homes was 1.8 (Interquartile range, ICR: 1.1-3.3), with values lower than 1 at certain periods. The infection sick leaves were higher in number and ratio and prior to the cases recorded in RENAVE. The sick leave ratio ranged between 81.679/100.000 occupied in nursing homes with medical care and 4.895/100.000 in other residential facilities. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed the dramatic impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes and the inequalities characterizing this impact. They also confirmed the potential use of sick leave as an alternative source for epidemiological and public health surveillance, especially now, when the transition of the COVID-19 surveillance to a system not including universal individual surveillance is being discussed.

OBJETIVO: Los centros sociosanitarios representaron entornos de alto riesgo de contagio por SARS-CoV-2, tanto para los residentes como para las personas trabajadoras. Se evaluó el impacto en términos de incapacidad temporal (IT) por COVID-19 en las personas que trabajan en centros sociosanitarios y se comparó con la evolución de la pandemia en la población general de 16 a 65 años, para valorar la utilidad de la IT como indicador complementario de la epidemia por SARS-CoV-2. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de todos los procesos de incapacidad temporal por COVID-19 registrados entre el 15 de febrero de 2020 y el 1 de mayo de 2021 en establecimientos residenciales. Se obtuvieron las ratios de incapacidad temporal por contacto estrecho /incapacidad temporal por infección, las tasas de incapacidad temporal por 100.000 afiliados/ocupados y se compararon con la incidencia acumulada de casos COVID-19 notificados a la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE). RESULTADOS: Se registraron 261.892 procesos de incapacidad temporal. La mediana de la ratio de incapacidad temporal por contacto estrecho /incapacidad temporal por infección en residencias fue de 1,8 (Rango intercuartílico, RIC: 1,1-3,3), con valores menores a 1 en periodos. Las IT por infección fueron superiores en número, tasa y anteriores en el tiempo a los casos registrados en RENAVE. Por tipo de residencia, la tasa de incapacidad temporal osciló entre 81.679/100.000 ocupados en asistencia en establecimientos residenciales con cuidados sanitaros y 4.895/100.000 en otros establecimientos residenciales. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados confirmaron el enorme impacto que tuvo la COVID-19 en los centros sociosanitarios y la desigualdad que ha caracterizado este impacto. Apoyan también la posible utilización de la incapacidad temporal como fuente de información alternativa para la vigilancia epidemiológica y de salud pública, lo cual resulta de especial interés en este momento en el que se está planteando una transición en la vigilancia del COVID-19 hacia un sistema que ya no incluya una vigilancia individualizada universal.

[COVID-19 outbreaks in occupational settings in Spain, one year of follow-up (June 2020-June 2021).] / Brotes de COVID-19 en el ámbito laboral en España, un año de seguimiento (junio 2020-junio 2021).

COVID-19 outbreak surveillance in Spain was established with the main objective of characterizing outbreaks and the settings in which they occurred, in order to identify those population groups at highest risk to support them with the implementation of preventive and control measures. Between June 2020 and June 2021, 55,824 outbreaks were reported, with 414,882 cases in all settings. About 12.5% were reported in an occupational setting and within this, most of them were identified in the industry and building sectors. The outbreaks that had a greater impact were those that took place both in agriculture and in the meat industry, where there is a higher risk of exposure due to living and working conditions. Outbreaks in the catering and home care sectors were also frequent. Since the beginning, there was coordination between all stakeholders involved in the management of the pandemic, in order to implement prevention and control measures, as well as social protection measures. In addition, special actions were implemented in the most vulnerable sectors. Despite the work carried out, the presence of outbreaks in these sectors continues, although they are smaller than the previous pandemic phase. Due to this, there is needed to continue strengthening the inter-sectoral coordination structures and mechanisms to ensure the implementation of those measures that contribute to the containment of the pandemic.

La vigilancia de brotes COVID-19 en España se estableció con el objetivo de caracterizar los brotes y los ámbitos en los que ocurrían, con el propósito de identificar aquellos grupos de población con mayor riesgo para apoyar la toma de medidas de prevención y control. Entre junio de 2020 y junio de 2021 se comunicaron 55.824 brotes con 414.882 casos en todos los ámbitos. Alrededor del 12,5% de brotes y casos asociados fueron comunicados en el ámbito laboral y dentro de éste, la mayoría se identificó en los sectores de la industria y construcción, si bien, entre los brotes que han tenido un mayor impacto se encuentran aquellos producidos en el sector agrícola y en la industria de la carne, donde existe un mayor riesgo de exposición debido a las condiciones de vida y trabajo. También destacaron los brotes en el sector de la restauración y hostelería, y cuidados a domicilio. Desde el inicio hubo una coordinación entre las administraciones implicadas en la gestión de la pandemia para poner en marcha las medidas de prevención y control, así como las de protección social. Además, se llevaron a cabo medidas especiales en sectores de mayor vulnerabilidad. A pesar del trabajo realizado, los brotes en estos sectores continúan ocurriendo, si bien son de menor tamaño, por lo que se deben continuar fortaleciendo las estructuras y mecanismos de coordinación intersectoriales para la aplicación de las medidas que contribuyen además de la contención de la pandemia, a mantener activo el tejido productivo.

Incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a multicenter cohort of HIV-positive patients in Spain 2004-2011: increasing rates of HCV diagnosis but not of HCV seroconversions.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe rates and risk factors of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) diagnoses, follow-up HCV testing and HCV seroconversion from 2004-2011 in a cohort of HIV-positive persons in Spain. METHODS: CoRIS is a multicentre, open and prospective cohort recruiting adult HIV-positive patients naïve to antiretroviral therapy. We analysed patients with at least one negative and one follow-up HCV serology. Incidence Rates (IR) were calculated and multivariate Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted Rates Ratios (aIRR). RESULTS: Of 2112 subjects, 53 HCV diagnoses were observed, IR = 0.93/100 py (95%CI: 0.7-1.2). IR increased from 0.88 in 2004-05 to 1.36 in 2010-11 (aIRR = 1.55; 95%CI: 0.37-6.55). In men who have sex with men (MSM) from 0.76 to 1.10 (aIRR = 1.45; 95%CI: 0.31-6.82); in heterosexual (HTX) subjects from 1.19 to 1.28 (aIRR = 1.08; 95%CI: 0.11-10.24). HCV seroconversion rates decreased from 1.77 to 0.65 (aIRR = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.12-1.11); in MSM from 1.06 to 0.49 (aIRR = 0.46; 95%CI: 0.09-2.31); in HTX from 2.55 to 0.59 (aIRR = 0.23; 95%CI: 0.06-0.98). HCV infection risk was higher for injecting drug users (IDU) compared to HTX (aIRR = 9.63;95%CI: 2.9-32.2); among MSM, for subjects aged 40-50 compared to 30 or less (IRR = 3.21; 95%CI: 1.7-6.2); and among HTX, for female sex (aIRR = 2.35; 95%CI: 1.03-5.34) and <200 CD4-count (aIRR = 2.39; 95%CI: 0.83-6.89). CONCLUSION: We report increases in HCV diagnoses rates which seem secondary to intensification of HCV follow-up testing but not to rises in HCV infection rates. HCV IR is higher in IDU. In MSM, HCV IR increases with age. Among HTX, HCV IR is higher in women and in subjects with impaired immunological situation.

[Analysis of complaints in primary care using statistical process control]. / Análisis de las reclamaciones en atención primaria mediante el control estadístico de procesos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze patient complaints in a Primary Health Care District (PHCD) using statistical process control methods compared to multivariate methods, as regards their results and feasibility of application in this context. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study based on an aggregate analysis of administrative complaints. SETTING: Complaints received between January 2005 and August 2008 in the Customer Management Department in the 3rd PHCD Management Office, Madrid Health Services. Complaints are registered through Itrack, a computer software tool used throughout the whole Community of Madrid. MAIN VARIABLES: Total number of complaints, complaints sorted by Reason and Primary Health Care Team (PHCT), total number of patient visits (including visits on demand, appointment visits and home visits) and visits by PHCT and per month and year. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multivariate analysis and control charts were used. RESULTS: 44-month time series with a mean of 76 complaints per month, an increasing trend in the first three years and decreasing during summer months. Poisson regression detected an excess of complaints in 8 out of the 44 months in the series. The control chart detected the same 8 months plus two additional ones. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical process control can be useful for detecting an excess of complaints in a PHCD and enables comparisons to be made between different PHC teams. As it is a simple technique, it can be used for ongoing monitoring of customer perceived quality.

Lung cancer mortality in towns near paper, pulp and board industries in Spain: a point source pollution study.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to ascertain whether there might be excess lung cancer mortality among the population residing in the vicinity of Spanish paper and board industries which report their emissions to the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER). METHODS: This was an ecological study that modelled the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for lung cancer in 8073 Spanish towns over the period 1994-2003. Population exposure to industrial pollution was estimated on the basis of distance from town of residence to pollution source. An exploratory, near-versus-far analysis was conducted, using mixed Poisson regression models and an analysis of the effect of municipal proximity within a 50-kilometre radius of each of the 18 installations. RESULTS: Results varied for the different facilities. In two instances there was an increasing mortality gradient with proximity to the installation, though this was exclusively observed among men. CONCLUSION: The study of cancer mortality in areas surrounding pollutant foci is a useful tool for environmental surveillance, and serves to highlight areas of interest susceptible to being investigated by ad hoc studies. Despite present limitations, recognition is therefore due to the advance represented by publication of the EPER and the study of pollutant foci.