[Chronic communicable and non-communicable pathology and skin pathology of the migrant patient]. / Enfermedad crónica transmisible y no transmisible, y enfermedad cutánea del paciente migrante.

The care of migrant patients includes initial screening and lifelong monitoring, highlighting the importance of preventing and tracking chronic, communicable and non-communicable diseases. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and obesity varies by ethnicity, influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle, and socio-economic status. Preventive measures, health promotion, and risk factor identification are crucial. Chronic communicable diseases may manifest years after transmission, underscoring the necessity of primary care screening, especially for populations from endemic or high-risk areas. Imported skin lesions are a common reason for consultation among migrant and traveller patients. Their ethiology is varied, ranging from common conditions such as scabies, mycoses, and urticaria to tropical dermatoses like filariasis and leprosy.

[Effectiveness of the clinical assistant in the control of hypertensive and diabetic patients in primary care]. / Efectividad del asistente clínico en el control de pacientes hipertensos y diabéticos en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the incorporation of the clinical assistant in improving the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in a primary care center. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study (pre-post), with a control group, with a 1-year follow-up. SETTING: Primary care center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients between the ages of 18 and 85 with a diagnosis of diabetes type 2 and/or hypertension were selected. INTERVENTION: Incorporation of the figure of the clinical assistant, previously trained. The latter contacted the patient to explain their role and obtain informed consent, assessed compliance with the protocols, and when they were incomplete and/or detected warning signs, referred the patient directly to medicine and/or nursing. RESULTS: Three thousand and sixty-four patients participated, 30.74% assigned to the intervention group. Fifty percent were women. The mean age was 68.5 years (SD 11.07). 93.59% of diabetic patients in the intervention group had at least one determination of glycosylated hemoglobin compared to 86.83% in the control group (p=0.003). Fundus and diabetic foot screening was significantly higher in the intervention group (94.31% and 85.41% vs. 83.49% and 72.38%). 88.43% of the patients in the intervention group had registered blood pressure figures compared to 62.06% of the patients in the control group (p<0.05). There were not statistically significant differences in the control of blood pressure between the patients with recorded measures (p=0.478). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical assistants can facilitate the implementation and compliance with chronic diseases protocols, and in the long run improve the degree of control of these patients and the quality of care.

Body composition and phase angle by bioimpedance in patients with MAFLD. / Análisis de la composición corporal y ángulo de fase por bioimpedancia en pacientes con MAFLD.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of the body components and phase angle (PhA) of patients with MAFLD according to those different to fibrosis and hepatic steatosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational and descriptive study in a cohort of 585 volunteers from our center with MAFLD criteria. The risk of liver fibrosis was determined by APRI, NAFLD score and FIB-4; at an indeterminate and high risk of fibrosis, a transient elastography (Fibroscan®) were realized. Bioimpedance body composition analysis (SECA®) was performed. Patients with ET and SECA® registry were included. Bioimpedance body composition analysis (SECA®) was performed. Patients with ET and SECA® registry were included. RESULTS: 125 participants (21.4%) were evaluated, age 53.9±13.9 years, 62.1% women, BMI 33.2±5.8kg/m2. The SECA® analysis showed mean fat mass of 42%±7.32 and muscle mass 21.18kg±6.6. The PhA was 5.1±0.69, in women 4.92±0.62 and men 5.41±0.70. PhA in patients without fibrosis was 5.091 vs with fibrosis 5.121 (P=.813). In advanced fibrosis, it reported a low value compared to the rest of the groups (P=.031). The PhA in S3 was higher compared to S1 and S2 (5.3 vs 4.82, 4.81) (P=.027). CONCLUSIONS: In MAFLD, the PhA was lower than the healthy Mexican population. In patients without fibrosis and severe steatosis, PhA rises proportionally to the increase in fat mass and BMI and in advanced liver fibrosis, PhA decreases.

[Risk factors for COVID-19 severe complications comparing three major epidemiological waves: An approach from primary health care in Mexico]. / Factores de riesgo para complicaciones graves de COVID-19, comparando tres olas epidemiológicas. Un enfoque desde la atención primaria en México.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the association between chronic noncommunicable diseases and age with hospitalization, death and severe clinical outcomes for COVID-19 in confirmed cases within the mexican population, comparing the first three epidemiological waves of the pandemic in Mexico. DESIGN: We performed an analysis using Mexico's Government Epidemiological Surveillance System database for COVID-19. EMPLACEMENT: Mexico's Epidemiological Surveillance System for Respiratory Diseases. PARTICIPANTS: Mexican population confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 registered on Mexico's Epidemiological Surveillance System for Respiratory Diseases. PRIMARY MEASUREMENTS: The analysed severe outcomes were hospitalization, pneumonia, use of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission and death. The association (odds ratio) between the outcomes and clinical variables was evaluated, comparing the three epidemiological waves in Mexico. RESULTS: Age over 65 is associated with a higher ratio of hospitalization and pneumonia, independent of the effect of chronic comorbidities. There is an interaction between age and obesity, which is associated with hospitalization, pneumonia and highly associated with death. These findings were consistent throughout the three epidemiological waves. CONCLUSION: Obesity, COPD and diabetes in interaction with age, are associated with worse clinical outcomes and, more importantly, death in patients with COVID-19.

[Barriers and facilitators of the EfiKroniK exercise program for people with chronic diseases in Primary Care]. / Barreras y facilitadores del programa de ejercicio EfiKroniK para pacientes con enfermedad crónica en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: Explore patients' perceptions during a supervised exercise program and detect the barriers and facilitators that influence exercise adherence after the supervision period. DESIGN: A qualitative observational study with three focus groups as the main data collection technique was conducted. SITE: Primary Health centers of Bizkaia. PARTICIPANTS: Out of the 175 randomized patients in the hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial, a sample of 19 patients from the intervention group were included in the qualitative study (12 advanced-stage onco-haematological patients and seven with severe mental disorders). METHODS: Content analysis of the generated transcripts was performed by combining a deductive approach, based on the domains of the PRACTIS theoretical framework, and an inductive one, based on the postulates of the Grounded Theory. RESULTS: The data analysis showed that participants were satisfied with the EfiKroniK program and that the main identified benefits were discovery of the benefits of physical exercise, the psychological and emotional management of the disease, the benefits from peer communication and emotional support, and the break from routine of their illness. Participants decreased the levels of physical exercise at the end of the supervision6 due to the confluence of several barriers. CONCLUSION: A supervised exercise program carried out in Primary Care contributed to the improvement of the quality of life as well as the emotional and social well-being of patients with advanced-stage diseases. Our study identified potential barriers and facilitators associated with exercise participation and its continuity, however, it is necessary to encourage inter-sectoral coordination within the socio-health system to promote integrated and continuous care for chronic patients.

Efficacy of the Mechanistic Score and COVID-19 Mortality Risk scales to assess the risk of mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases are associated with a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of the Mechanistic Score and COVID-19 Mortality Risk scales for assessing the risk of mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. METHODS: Comparative, observational, retrospective study. The mortality rate of COVID-19-positive patients was assessed by comparing both scales, according to information obtained from the records of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a specialty hospital. RESULTS: Two-hundred and twenty-one patients were evaluated, out of whom 61% were men and 39% were women; 89% had comorbidity: obesity (88%), hypertension (40%), diabetes mellitus (31%) and cancer (6%). At discharge, 65% survived. The COVID-19 Mortality Risk scale showed a sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 88% for predicting mortality risk. In patients with low risk, the Mechanistic Score showed a sensitivity and specificity of 24 and 97%, respectively; in cases with mild risk, 44 and 97%; with moderate risk, 57 and 77%; with high risk, 95 and 91%; and with remarkably high risk, 100 and 100%. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 Mortality Risk scale has higher efficacy than the Mechanistic Score for assessing mortality risk in patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las enfermedades crónicas se asocian a riesgo mayor de mortalidad por COVID-19. OBJETIVO: Comparar la eficacia de las escalas Mechanistic Score y COVID-19 Mortality Risk para evaluar el riesgo de mortalidad en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19. MÉTODOS: Estudio comparativo, observacional, retrospectivo. Se valoró la tasa de mortalidad de los pacientes positivos a COVID-19, mediante la comparación de las dos escalas, de acuerdo con información de los expedientes de pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 en un hospital de especialidades. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 221 pacientes, 61 % hombres y 39 % mujeres; 89 % presentó alguna comorbilidad: obesidad (88 %), hipertensión (40 %), diabetes mellitus (31 %) y cáncer (6 %). Al egreso, 65 % sobrevivió. La escala COVID-19 Mortality Risk presentó sensibilidad de 79 % y especificidad de 88 % para predecir riesgo de mortalidad. Respecto al riesgo bajo, Mechanistic Score presentó sensibilidad y especificidad de 24 y 97 %, respectivamente; 44 y 97 % respecto al riesgo leve, 57 y 77 % en el riesgo moderado, 95 y 91 % en el riesgo alto y 100 y 100 % en el riesgo muy alto. CONCLUSIÓN: La escala COVID-19 Mortality Risk presenta eficacia mayor que Mechanistic Score para evaluar el riesgo de mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19.

Gut microbes and health. / Microbiota intestinal y salud.

The human body is populated by myriads of microorganisms throughout its surface and in the cavities connected to the outside. The microbial colonisers of the intestine (microbiota) are a functional and non-expendable part of the human organism: they provide genes (microbiome) and additional functions to the resources of our species and participate in multiple physiological processes (somatic development, nutrition, immunity, etc.). Some chronic non-communicable diseases of developed society (atopias, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory diseases, cancer and some behaviour disorders) are associated with dysbiosis: loss of species richness in the intestinal microbiota and deviation from the ancestral microbial environment. Changes in the vertical transmission of the microbiome, the use of antiseptics and antibiotics, and dietary habits in industrialised society appear to be at the origin of dysbiosis. Generating and maintaining diversity in the microbiota is a new clinical target for health promotion and disease prevention.

[Mobile applications to improve drug adherence: Review and quality analysis]. / Aplicaciones móviles para mejorar la adherencia a la medicación: revisión y análisis de calidad.

OBJECTIVE: To review the mobile apps in the Spanish market to improve adherence to medications and evaluate their characteristics and quality to identify high-quality applications. METHOD: A review was carried out following a stepwise procedure similar to a systematic review of the scientific literature. Apple Apps Store and Google Play Store mobile application digital distribution platforms. Applications aimed at supporting self-management of treatment, which generate reminders, in Spanish, updated in the last 2 years and free. We evaluate the applications according to a set of characteristics considered desirable and the quality with the Mobile App Rating Scale tool. RESULTS: Out of 708 applications, 3 applications were selected. The Medisafe and Mytherapy applications had 89% and 78% of the desirable characteristics, respectively. Sergio Licea's application only had 56%. The highest global quality score was obtained by the MyTherapy application (3.79/5, IQR: 3-4), followed by Medisafe (3.72/5, (IQR: 3-4) and, finally, Sergio Licea (2.87/5, IQR: 2-4). The quality assessment coincides with the user assessment. There are many available applications, however, most did not meet the selection criteria. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic stepwise process was able to identify the quality application to be tested in a future study that will provide evidence on the use of a multicomponent intervention to improve medication adherence.

[Health care for patients with multimorbidity. The perception of professionals]. / La atención sanitaria a pacientes con multimorbilidad. La percepción de los profesionales.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceptions of health professionals about the characteristics of health care for patients with multimorbidity. DESIGN: Qualitative study of phenomenological trajectory made between January and September 2015 through 3 group interviews and 15 individual interviews. LOCATION: Aragonese Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: Medical and nursing professionals of the Aragon Health Service belonging to various services: Internal Medicine, Primary Care, Emergency and Management. A pharmacist was also included. METHODS: A non-probabilistic intentional sampling was carried out that allowed for the selection of professionals in terms of discourse representation criteria, allowing to know and interpret the phenomenon studied in depth, in its different visions. We interviewed health professionals with different profiles who knew in depth the characteristics of care provided to patients with multimorbidity. The interviews were recorded, transcribed literally and interpreted, through the social analysis of the discourse. RESULTS: Professional culture oriented to individual pathologies, lack of coordination among professionals, high prevalence of multi-prescriptions, Clinical Practice Guidelines oriented to individual pathologies and specialist training focused on individual diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Both the professional culture and the organization of the healthcare system have been oriented towards the attention to individual pathologies, which results in the difficulty to offer a more integrated care to patients with multimorbidity.

[Adjusted morbidity groups: Characteristics and comorbidities in patients with chronic conditions according to their risk level in Primary Care]. / Grupos de morbilidad ajustados: características y comorbilidades de los pacientes crónicos según nivel de riesgo en Atención Primaria.

AIMS: To describe the characteristics of patients with chronic conditions according to their risk levels assigned by the adjusted morbidity groups (AMG). To analyse the factors associated with a high risk level and to study their effect. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study with an analytical focus. LOCATION: Primary care (PC), Madrid Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: Population of 18,107 patients stratified by their risk levels with the AMG in the computerised clinical records of Madrid PC. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The variables studied were: socio-demographic, clinical-nursing care and use of services. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Of the 18,107 patients, 9,866(54.4%) were identified as chronic patients, with 444 (4.5%) stratified as high risk, 1784 (18,1%) as medium risk, and 7,638 (77.4%) as low risk. The high risk patients, compared with medium and low risk, had an older mean age [77.8 (SD=12.9), 72.1 (SD=12.9), 50.6 (SD=19.4)], lower percentage of women (52.3%, 65%, 61.1%), a higher number of chronic diseases [6.7 (SD=2.4), 4.3 (SD=1.5), 1.9 (SD=1.1)], polymedication (79.1%, 43.3%, 6.2%), and contact with PC [33.9 (28), 21.4 (17.3), 7.9 (9.9)] (P<.01). In the multivariate analysis, the high risk level was independently related to age>65 [1.43 (1.03-1.99), male gender (OR=3.46, 95% CI=2.64-4.52), immobility (OR=6.33, 95% CI=4.40-9.11), number of chronic conditions (OR=2.60, 95% CI=2.41-2.81), and PC contact>7 times (OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.36-2.80)] (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the population is classified by the AMG as a chronic, and it is stratified into 3 risk levels that show differences in gender, age, functional impairment, need for care, morbidity, complexity, and use of Primary Care services. Age>65, male gender, immobility, number of chronic conditions, and contact with PC>7 times were the factors associated with high risk.

[Patients' assessment of their chronic illness care]. / Evaluación de los cuidados recibidos por pacientes con enfermedades crónicas.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the care received by chronic patients from their point of view and objectify the factors related with a better assessment of care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study realized between September 2014 and April 2015. LOCATION: Nine Health Centers of Navarra (6 urban and 3 rural), Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Sampling opportunity of 196 patients aged over 65years presenting at least one chronic disease. MAIN MEASURES: Outcome variable: Evaluation of the care received through the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) test (score 1 to 5, higher values indicate better perception about quality of care). Explanatory variables: quality of life employing the EQ5D instrument, Katz index and Gijón's socio-family evaluation scale. Other variables studied were: sex, age, education, Charlson index and number of chronic diseases. The association between the PACIC numerical value with the rest of the variables was calculated. RESULTS: The assessment of the care received according to the PACIC was higher with more chronic diseases (rho: 0.196; p=0.006), with less autonomy (mild or no disability: mean 2.9; SD: 0.6 vs. moderate or severe disability: mean 3.3; SD: 0.2; P=.003), in those with worse quality of life (EQ5D5L Index value rho: -0.227; P=.001. EQ VAS rho: -0.145; P=.043), and in those with a more favorable social situation (rho: -0.167; P=.022). CONCLUSIONS: The perception of chronic patients about the received care is better with an increased number of chronic diseases and with less autonomy and quality of life. The social environment influences the care perception of the patient, being this worse in environments with higher social risk.

[Multimorbidity in general practice and the Ariadne principles. A person-centred approach]. / Multimorbilidad en medicina de familia y los principios Ariadne. Un enfoque centrado en la persona.

Multimorbidity, defined as the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions in one same individual, has negative consequences for people suffering from it and it poses a real challenge for health systems. In primary care, where most of these patients are attended, the clinical management of multimorbidity can be a complex task due, among others, to the high volume of clinical information that needs to be handled, the scarce scientific evidence available to approach multimorbidity, and the need for coordination among multiple health providers to guarantee continuity of care. Moreover, the adequate implementation of the care plan in these patients requires a process of shared decision making between patient and physician. One of the available tools to support this process, which is specifically directed to patients with multimorbidity in primary care, is described in the present article: the Ariadne principles.

[Cross-sectional study of informal caregiver burden and the determinants related to the care of dependent persons]. / Estudio observacional transversal de la sobrecarga en cuidadoras informales y los determinantes relacionados con la atención a las personas dependientes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the burden of informal carers of dependent people and to identify related variables. DESIGN: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study. LOCATION: Primary Health Care in the southern area of Pontevedra. PARTICIPANTS: 97 caregivers of dependent persons. KEY MEASUREMENTS: We collected socioeconomic data and health conditions from caregivers and dependent persons, time spent on the daily care and caregiver burden (Zarit abbreviate) through a personal interview. Besides the description of the sample-including their burden level-, a contrast mean was used to identify characteristics that influenced in punctuation of Zarit scale. A logistic regression was used to analyse characteristics that increase the likelihood to experiment burden. RESULTS: 61.9% of caregivers are subject to intense burden. The item on the scale which contributes most to the caregiver burden is the lack of time for oneself, followed by the negative effects of interpersonal relationships. Contrast means shows that degree of relationship, number of care hours, caregiver health and aggressiveness of dependent persons produce significant differences in Zarit scale. Physic and psychological health of caregivers and aggressiveness of dependent persons is associated with the likelihood of developing caregiver burden. CONCLUSIONS: Informal caregivers of dependent persons show a high level of burden, both related to their characteristics and those of the dependent persons. Caregiver burden rethinks the need for public policies focused on dependence to adopt an integrative caregiver-dependent vision.

[Psychosocial strategies to strengthen the coping with Parkinson's disease: Perspectives from patients, family carers and healthcare professionals]. / Estrategias psicosociales para fortalecer el afrontamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson: perspectiva de pacientes, familiares y profesionales sociosanitarios.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the main psychosocial aspects which have influence on the coping with the disease in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their family carers. DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative study which constitutes the second phase of a mixed-methods project. SETTING: Multicenter study carried out in Navarre in 2014 in collaboration with Primary Care of Navarre Service of Health-Osasunbidea, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Navarre Association of Parkinson's patients. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 21 participants: 9 people with PD, 7 family carers and 5 healthcare professionals. METHOD: Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Focus groups were conducted until a suitable saturation data was achieved. Transcriptions were analysed by 2 researchers through a content analysis. RESULTS: Three aspects that affected how patients and family carers coped with PD were identified: features of the clinical practice; family environment, and disease's acceptance. Taking account of these findings, some strategies which could foster these aspects from primary healthcare are suggested in order to improve the adjustment to the disease in patients and family carers. CONCLUSIONS: The healthcare in people with PD should have an integral approach that tackle the symptoms control in patients and also deal with psychosocial aspects that influence on the coping with the disease, in patients and family carers.

Scoping review: strategies of providing care for children with chronic health conditions in low- and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and review strategies of providing care for children living with chronic health conditions in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and Cochrane EPOC databases for papers evaluating strategies of providing care for children with chronic health conditions in low- or middle-income countries. Data were systematically extracted using a standardised data charting form, and analysed according to Arksey and O'Malley's 'descriptive analytical method' for scoping reviews. RESULTS: Our search identified 71 papers addressing eight chronic conditions; two chronic communicable diseases (HIV and TB) accounted for the majority of papers (n = 37, 52%). Nine (13%) papers reported the use of a package of care provision strategies (mostly related to HIV and/or TB in sub-Saharan Africa). Most papers addressed a narrow aspect of clinical care provision, such as patient education (n = 23) or task-shifting (n = 15). Few papers addressed the strategies for providing care at the community (n = 10, 15%) or policy (n = 6, 9%) level. Low-income countries were under-represented (n = 24, 34%), almost exclusively involving HIV interventions in sub-Saharan Africa (n = 21). Strategies and summary findings are described and components of future models of care proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies that have been effective in reducing child mortality globally are unlikely to adequately address the needs of children with chronic health conditions in low- and middle-income settings. Current evidence mostly relates to disease-specific, narrow strategies, and more research is required to develop and evaluate the integrated models of care, which may be effective in improving the outcomes for these children.

[Low concordance between primary care and hospital clinical information]. / Baja concordancia entre la información clínica de atención primaria y hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the diagnostic agreement between Primary Care (PC) and hospital information systems, in order to assess the usefulness of health care records for research purposes. SETTING: Cross-sectional retrospective study integrating PC and hospital diagnostic information for the Aragon population admitted to hospital in 2010. PARTICIPANTS: 75.176 patients were analysed. INTERVENTIONS: Similarities, differences and the kappa index were calculated for each of the diagnoses recorded in both information systems. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The studied diseases included COPD, diabetes, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, asthma, epilepsy, and heart failure. RESULTS: Diagnostic concordance was higher in men and between 45 and 64 years. Diabetes was the condition showing the highest concordance (kappa index: 0.75), while asthma had the lowest values (kappa index: 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: The low concordance between the diagnostic information recorded in PC and in the hospital setting calls for urgent measures to ensure that healthcare professionals have a comprehensive picture of patient's health problems.

[The experience of women care cargivers with chronic conditions of dependent relatives]. / La experiencia del cuidado de las mujeres cuidadoras con procesos crónicos de salud de familiares dependientes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of women caregivers with chronic conditions who care for a dependent relative. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on constructivist grounded theory. LOCATION: Study conducted on two Health Areas urban of the Community of Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty nine women with a chronic condition who take care of dependent relatives were selected by means of purposive sampling. METHOD: Data were collected through 23 semi-structured interviews and 2 focus groups between April 2010 and December 2011. Grounded theory procedures were used in the data analysis. RESULTS: To feel their life hampered describes the subjective experience of family caregivers with chronic conditions who take care of a dependent relative. When comparing their past life with the current life they become aware of the losses they have suffered over time. They feel less strong, sadder and less free; they worry about how to meet the demands of family care. The life they are leading makes them question the meaning of their own lives. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the losses realized day by day by women caregivers with a chronic illness, which lead them to lose the meaning of their own lives. To know the experience of these women caregivers will help develop interventions and specific services that compensate for the losses they feel and help improve their quality of living.

[General concepts of epigenetics: Projections in paediatrics]. / Conceptos generales de epigenética: proyecciones en pediatría.

Current evidence supports the notion that alterations in intrauterine growth and during the first years of life have a substantial effect on the risk for the development of chronic disease, which in some cases is even higher than those due to genetic factors. The persistence and reproducibility of the phenotypes associated with altered early development suggest the participation of mechanisms that would record environmental cues, generating a cellular reprogramming (i.e., epigenetic mechanisms). This review is an introduction to a series of five articles focused on the participation of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of highly prevalent chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular, metabolic, asthma/allergies and cancer) and their origins in the foetal and neonatal period. This series of articles aims to show the state of the art in this research area and present the upcoming clues and challenges, in which paediatricians have a prominent role, developing strategies for the prevention, early detection and follow-up.

[The transition process from paediatric to adult services: A perspective from hospitalised adolescent sufferers of chronic diseases]. / El proceso de transición de servicios pediátricos a adultos: visión de adolescentes hospitalizados portadores de enfermedades crónicas.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic illnesses during adolescence are a big challenge for the patient, his or her family, and health care providers. The transition from paediatric health services to adult health services involves a programmed and planned transfer process of adolescent sufferers of chronic illnesses, in order to maintain a high quality of life and bio-psycho-social development. There is currently no transition model. The objective of the study is to understand the transition process from the perspective of hospitalised adolescents to collaborate towards the design of a model that meets the needs studied. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Semi-structured interviews with 13 adolescent sufferers of chronic illnesses, hospitalised in two healthcare centres in Santiago, Chile, in one analytical-relational study, supported by qualitative methodology. RESULTS: In the analysis, 5 major themes stand out: experience of living with the illness, the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, the concept of limited autonomy to the pharmacology, the absence of the transition process as such, and the identification of barriers and needs for an adequate transition. CONCLUSIONS: This study is new in Chile in that it explores the phenomenom of the transition of adolescents with chronic illnesses. It emphasises the need to reinforce the concept of self-care and autonomy from early stages of care, and the importance of early planning of a healthy transition process, in accordance to the detected needs of the adolescents themselves.

[Models of care and classification of "Children with special health care needs-CSHCN": Recommendations from the CSHCN Committee, Chilean Paediatric Society]. / Modelo de atención y clasificación de «Niños y adolescentes con necesidades especiales de atención en salud-NANEAS¼: recomendaciones del Comité NANEAS de la Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría.

"Children with special health care needs" (CSHCN) is an emerging and heterogeneous group of paediatric patients, with a wide variety of medical conditions and with different uses of health care services. There is consensus on how to classify and assess these patients according to their needs, but not for their specific diagnosis. Needs are classified into 6 areas: a) specialised medical care; b) use or need of prescription medication; c) special nutrition; d) dependence on technology; e) rehabilitation therapy for functional limitation; and f) special education services. From the evaluation of each area, a classification for CSHCN is proposed according to low, medium, or high complexity health needs, to guide and distribute their care at an appropriate level of the health care system. Low complexity CSHCN should be incorporated into Primary Care services, to improve benefits for patients and families at this level. It is critical to train health care professionals in taking care of CSHCN, promoting a coordinated, dynamic and communicated work between different levels of the health care system. Compliance with these guidelines will achieve a high quality and integrated care for this vulnerable group of children.