Prevalence of suspected abuse of non-institutionalized older people treated in primary care. PRESENCIA study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of suspected abuse of non-institutionalised elderly people and the associated variables. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study in patients aged 65 years or older, non-institutionalised, consecutively selected in primary care (PC). The EASI questionnaires (Suspected Elderly Abuse Index), the EAI questionnaire (Suspected Abuse Index in patients with cognitive impairment), the Barthel index, and the EUROQOL-5D questionnaire were used with patients, and the CASE questionnaire and the Zarit test were used with caregivers. Socio-demographic, health, and quality of life variables were analysed in all patients. RESULTS: Eight hundred four patients were included, mean age 78.9±7.9 years, 58.3% women. The prevalence of suspected abuse was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.1%-13.9%). Suspected abuse was more frequent in women than in men (14.4% vs. 7.1%; odds ratio (OR)=1.97; 95% CI=1.1-3.4; p=0.016) and in those who lived with two or more people compared to those who lived alone (18.4% vs. 7.3%; OR=2.42; 95% CI=1.1-5.0; p=0.017). Among older patients, the lower their dependency, the lower the prevalence of suspected abuse (30.0% in highly dependent vs. 8.7% in non-dependent: p-trend=0.006); and the better the perceived health status, the lower the prevalence of suspected abuse (29.6% in poor health status vs. 6.9% in optimal health status; p-trend=<0.001). Among caregivers, the prevalence of suspected abuse was 20.4% (95% CI=12.8%-28.0%). A trend of higher prevalence of suspected abuse could be observed with higher scores on the CASE questionnaire (56.3% at high risk and 9.6% with no risk of abuse; p-trend=0.007). In the case of the ZARIT questionnaire with scores below 47, the prevalence of suspected abuse was 9.1%, and for scores above 55, it was 52.6% (p-trend<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the PRESENCIA study show that approximately 1 in 10 patients aged ≥65 meet the criteria for suspected abuse. The probability of abuse increases in women, in patients with greater dependency and in patients with poorer perceived health status. Caregivers with greater overload and greater risk presented a greater suspicion of elder abuse.

[Factors associated with the optimum simultaneous control of diabetes, arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in the diabetic population. BPC Diabetes study]. / Factores asociados al control óptimo simultáneo de la diabetes, hipertensión arterial e hipercolesterolemia en la población diabética. Estudio BPC diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To know the degree of simultaneous optimal control of diabetes (DM), high blood pressure (BP) and hypercholesterolemia and determine the associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study in diabetic patients 18 years aged or older selected consecutively in primary care centers (PC). Patient data were obtained through access to electronical clinical history. Clinical and analytical variables of interest were registered. Good metabolic control was considered as HbA1c < 7%, good blood pressure control (PA) as values < 140/80 mmHg and good LDL cholesterol control (c-LDL) as values < 100 mg/dL. Bivariate analysis was performed and odds ratio were calculated in a logistic regression model. The study was approved by the San Carlos Clinical Hospital's Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CREC), in Madrid. RESULTS: 1420 patients (55.8% male), with an average (SD) age of 70.6 (10.8) years were included. 75.9% were hypertensive patients, and 69.1% dyslipemic. HbA1c values were 6.9 (1.2) %, sistolic BP 135.0 (16.8) mmHg, diastolic BP 75.9 (10.6) mmHg and LDL-cholesterol 93.7 (32.8) mg/dL. Good metabolic control of DM was achieved at 63.0% (95% CI: 60.4-65.5), good control of HTA at 42.6% (95% CI: 40.0-45.2) and good LDL cholesterol control in 61.1% (95% IC: 58.4-63.7) of patients. Good simultaneous control of the three cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) was reached at 16.1% (95% CI: 14.2-18.1). A positive and independent association (p<0.05) was observed between good simultaneous control of CVRF with age (OR: 1.017) and with personal history of cardiovascular disease (OR: 1.596). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that a small proportion, less than two out of 10 patients, meet the good control goals recommended by clinical practice guidelines. We found important differences between patients with and without cardiovascular disease.

[Analysis of the level of compliance to the clinical practice guidelines recommendations for the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic vascular complications in type2 diabetes in Primary Care]. / Análisis del grado de cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de las guías de práctica clínica para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de las complicaciones crónicas vasculares en la diabetes tipo 2 en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of compliance to the clinical practice guidelines (CPG) recommendations for the diagnosis and monitoring of the main chronic vascular complications of patients with type2 diabetes (DM2) in Primary Care (PC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients aged 18years and over and consecutively selected in PC. Patient data were obtained by direct interview and access to the computerised history, and recording the clinical and analytical variables of interest. The determination and recording of urine microalbumin (MALB), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), foot examination (pulse palpation, monofilament or tuning fork), and electrocardiogram (ECG), if performed annually, and the eye fundus (FO) every two years. RESULTS: A total of 1,420 patients were included, of which 55.8% were male. The mean age (SD) was 70.6 (10.8) years and the mean onset of the diabetes was 9.3 (6.2) years. The mean BMI (kg /m2) was 30.1 (5.4) in females and 29.5 (4.7) in males (P=.023), and a mean HbA1c (%) of 6.9 (1.2). Good metabolic control of DM was achieved in 63.0% (95%CI: 60.4-65.5). In the last two years, 976 (68.7%; 95%CI: 66.2-71.1) patients had an eye fundus examination. The urine microalbumin had been performed on 1,228 patients (86.5%; 95%CI: 84.6-88.2). The mean glomerular filtration rate was performed on 1,391 patients (98.0%; 95%CI: 97.1-98.6), the foot pulses examination on 626 (44.1%; 95%CI: 41.5-46.7), and the neurological examination on 473 patients (33.3%; 95%CI: 30.8-35.8). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that the presence of retinopathy or neuropathy is not explored in a significant percentage of patients with DM2. Only seven out of ten patients have been screened for retinopathy, one in three had a neurological examination, and only one in four have all the scans recommended by the CPG.

[Montelukast: new therapeutic option in patients with nasal polyps associated to respiratory allergic disease]. / Montelukast: nueva opción terapéutica en pacientes con poliposis nasal asociada a enfermedad alérgica respiratoria.

BACKGROUND: The physiopathogenic mechanism of nasal polyposis is unknown. Chemical mediators found in nasal polyposis are: histamine, serotonin, leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, LTB4), norepinephrine and possibly prostaglandin D2. Leukotrienes that mediate bronchoconstriction as well as chemical mediators of inflammation are observed in the nasal disease associated to polyposis. HYPOTHESIS: Antileukotrienes might play a significant role in controlling polyposis and symptoms due to sinonasal disease. They represent an alternative to conventional treatments with oral steroids as well as to operations in the long-term control. OBJECTIVE: This study is a one year investigation that evaluates the important role of leukotriene receptor antagonists on nasal polyposis, with or without association to any allergic disease. Likewise, it compares its use with the conventional therapy used in the above mentioned disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 30 patients, 12 men (40%) and 18 women (60%), with ages between 16-45 years old. The mean age was of 20.7 years. Systematic assessments were made at the beginning of the study, as well as in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth month. Objective assessments, computed axial tomography of paranasal sinuses, allergological tests, nasal and bronchial symptoms evaluation, and interleukines, eosinophils, and immunoglobulin determinations were made. RESULTS: There was an improvement of nasal symptoms in the patients of group 1 (montelukast plus beclomethasone). They included the respiratory ones (p < 0.05), the nasal washing cells (p < 0.05), and the peak flow (p < 0.05) at the third, sixth, and twelfth months, respectively. There was no significant difference with the improvement obtained in the patients of group 3 (surgery-montelukast-beclomethasone) (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in group 2 regarding the baseline in the studied variables (p > 0.05).

[Allergic fungal sinusitis: recent developments]. / Sinusitis alérgica micótica: conceptos actuales.

Allergic fungal sinusitis is a recently reported disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Since the first reports by Lamb et al and Katzenstein there has been controversy about its diagnosis and treatment. Recently diagnostic criteria have been suggested. To our judgement they have a high degree of specificity. Allergy to fungi elements is essential. Currently surgical treatment consist in an adequate ventilation of the nose and paranasal sinuses followed by the use of oral and topical steroids. Immunotherapy is controversial and more prospective studies are needed to evaluate its possible use.

Bronchocentric granulomatosis as a first clinical manifestation in an adult patient with p67phox deficiency.

We report on a case of adult chronic granulomatous disease which first manifested as a pulmonary mass, and was histologically diagnosed as bronchocentric granulomatosis associated with aspergillosis in a patient with a deficiency of p67phox and a low oxidative response. Antifungal treatment was required for clinical resolution.