Incidence and prevalence of headache in influenza: A 2010-2021 surveillance-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Influenza is a common cause of acute respiratory infection, with headache being one of the symptoms included in the European Commission case definition. The prevalence of headache as a symptom of influenza remains unknown. We aimed to describe the incidence and prevalence of headache in patients with influenza. METHODS: All consecutive patients who met the definition criteria of influenza-like illness during the influenza seasons 2010-2011 through 2021-2022 were included. The seasonal cumulative incidence of influenza per 1000 patients at risk and the prevalence of headache as an influenza symptom were calculated, including the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were done based on patients' sex, age group, microbiological confirmation, vaccination status, and influenza type/subtype/lineage. RESULTS: During the study period, 8171 patients were eligible. The incidence of headache in the context of influenza varied between 0.24 cases per 1000 patients (season 2020-2021) and 21.69 cases per 1000 patients (season 2017-2018). The prevalence of headache was 66.1% (95% CI = 65.1%-67.1%), varying between 49.6% (season 2021-2022) and 80.1% (season 2010-2011). The prevalence of headache was higher in women (67.9% vs. 65.7%, p = 0.03) and higher in patients between 15 and 65 years old. Headache was more prevalent in patients infected with B subtypes than A subtypes (68.7% vs. 56.9%, p < 0.001). There were no notable differences regarding vaccination status or microbiological confirmation of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: Headache is a common symptom in patients with influenza, with a prevalence higher than that observed in other viral infections.

Factors associated to the presence of headache in patients with influenza infection and its consequences: a 2010-2020 surveillance-based study.

Headache is a common symptom of influenza infection; however, its causes and consequences remain uncertain. In this manuscript, we analyzed which demographic and clinical factors were associated with the presence of headache during the course of influenza infection and whether patients with headache had a different prognosis, evaluated by need of hospitalization, sick leave or school absenteeism. The influence study (NCT05704335) was an observational study that analyzed data routinely collected from the Health Sentinel Network between 2010 and 2020. During the study period, 7832 cases were considered, among which, 5275 (67.4%) reported headache. The presence of headache was independently associated with myalgia (2.753; 95%CI: 2.456-3.087, P < 0.001), asthenia (OR: 1.958; 95%CI: 1.732-2.214, P < 0.001), shivering (OR: 1.925; 95%CI: 1.718-2.156, P < 0.001), nasopharyngeal erythema (OR: 1.505; 95%CI: 1.293-1.753, P < 0.001), fever (OR: 1.469; 95%CI: 1.159-1.861; P = 0.001), sudden onset of symptoms (OR: 1.380; 95%CI: 1.120-1.702, p = 0.004), female sex (OR: 1.134; 95%CI: 1.023-1.257, P = 0.018), and gastrointestinal symptoms (OR: 1.169; 95%CI: 1.039-1.315; P = 0.01). Patients with headache had a sex and age adjusted lower odds of being referred to the hospital (OR: 0.463; 95%CI: 0.264-0.812, P = 0.007) and a higher odd of having a sick leave and/or school absenteeism (absenteeism (OR: 1.342; 95%CI: 1.190-1.514, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the presence of headache seems associated with symptoms caused by the innate immune response. These findings support a headache pathophysiology linked with the innate immune response. Due to the potential negative consequences and its treatable nature, clinicians should systematically evaluate it and, whenever necessary, treat it too.

InfluenCEF study: Clinical phenotype and duration of headache attributed to influenza infection.

INTRODUCTION: Headache is a frequent symptom of infections. We aimed to characterize the clinical phenotype and duration of headache attributed to influenza infection. METHODS: Prospective cohort study done in 53 primary care centers between January and April 2023. Patients were included if they had a confirmed influenza diagnosis, were older than 15 years and had a new-onset headache. Patients' demographics, prior medical history, headache phenotype and duration, associated symptoms and patients' outcomes were assessed. The International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria for headache attributed to a systemic viral infection, migraine and tension-type headache were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 478 patients 75 fulfilled eligibility criteria. The mean age was 43, 56% were men, and 27% had a prior headache history. The headache phenotype was a bilateral headache (52%), with frontal topography (48%), pressing quality (61%), moderate intensity, rhinorrhea (79%), nasal congestion (76%), and photophobia (59%). All patients fulfilled headache attributed to acute systemic viral infection criteria, 43% fulfilled migraine criteria and 31% tension-type headache criteria. The median duration of the headache was four (Inter-quartile range: two-six) days. CONCLUSION: The clinical phenotype of headache attributed to influenza infection was similar to other infections, with more pronounced cranial autonomic symptoms. The headache was an early symptom and was self-limited within a few days.Trial Registration: The study protocol is registered in ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT05704335).

Comprehensive surveillance of acute respiratory infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: a methodological approach using sentinel networks, Castilla y León, Spain, January 2020 to May 2022.

BackgroundSince 1996, epidemiological surveillance of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Spain has been limited to seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and potential pandemic viruses. The COVID-19 pandemic provides opportunities to adapt existing systems for extended surveillance to capture a broader range of ARI.AimTo describe how the Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System of Castilla y León, Spain was rapidly adapted in 2020 to comprehensive sentinel surveillance for ARI, including influenza and COVID-19.MethodsUsing principles and methods of the health sentinel network, we integrated electronic medical record data from 68 basic surveillance units, covering 2.6% of the regional population between January 2020 to May 2022. We tested sentinel and non-sentinel samples sent weekly to the laboratory network for SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses and other respiratory pathogens. The moving epidemic method (MEM) was used to calculate epidemic thresholds.ResultsARI incidence was estimated at 18,942 cases per 100,000 in 2020/21 and 45,223 in 2021/22, with similar seasonal fold increases by type of respiratory disease. Incidence of influenza-like illness was negligible in 2020/21 but a 5-week epidemic was detected by MEM in 2021/22. Epidemic thresholds for ARI and COVID-19 were estimated at 459.4 and 191.3 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. More than 5,000 samples were tested against a panel of respiratory viruses in 2021/22.ConclusionExtracting data from electronic medical records reported by trained professionals, combined with a standardised microbiological information system, is a feasible and useful method to adapt influenza sentinel reports to comprehensive ARI surveillance in the post-COVID-19 era.

Influenza surveillance: determining the epidemic threshold for influenza by using the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM), Montenegro, 2010/11 to 2017/18 influenza seasons.

BACKGROUND: In 2009, an improved influenza surveillance system was implemented and weekly reporting to the World Health Organization on influenza-like illness (ILI) began. The goals of the surveillance system are to monitor and analyse the intensity of influenza activity, to provide timely information about circulating strains and to help in establishing preventive and control measures. In addition, the system is useful for comparative analysis of influenza data from Montenegro with other countries. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the performance and usefulness of the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM), for use in the influenza surveillance system in Montenegro. METHODS: Historical ILI data from 2010/11 to 2017/18 influenza seasons were modelled with MEM. Epidemic threshold for Montenegro 2017/18 season was calculated using incidence rates from 2010/11-2016/17 influenza seasons. RESULTS: Pre-epidemic ILI threshold per 100,000 population was 19.23, while the post-epidemic threshold was 17.55. Using MEM, we identified an epidemic of 10 weeks' duration. The sensitivity of the MEM epidemic threshold in Montenegro was 89% and the warning signal specificity was 99%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study marks the first attempt to determine the pre/post-epidemic threshold values for the epidemic period in Montenegro. The findings will allow a more detailed examination of the influenza-related epidemiological situation, timely detection of epidemic and contribute to the development of more efficient measures for disease prevention and control aimed at reducing the influenza-associated morbidity and mortality.

Health and wellbeing status of the long-lived individuals of the Spanish LONGECYL cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The increase in life expectancy and long-lived individuals is a challenge for public health and provides an opportunity to understand the determinants of longevity. However, few studies have addressed the factors associated with the health status and quality of life in a long-lived individual population. We described the perceived health, clinical status, quality of life, and dependency for activities of daily living in a representative population in Castile and Leon, Spain. METHODS: A sample of 759 long-lived individuals aged 95 years and older was studied by the Health Sentinel Network of Castile and Leon (Spain) through a health examination and a structured questionnaire covering quality of life (EQ-5D-3), lifestyle habits, diet, working life and family health. A blood sample was taken for the study of biological and genetic markers. Chi Square and logistic regression OR with 95% confidence intervals were used to analyze the determinants of the long-lived individuals' health status. The significant level for the bivariate analysis was established at 0.05. RESULTS: Perceived health was good, very good or excellent in 64.2%, while only 46.0% had a quality-of-life index above 0.5 (ranging from 0 to 1) and 44.1% maintained acceptable independence for activities of daily living. Quality-of-life index was higher in the oldest, (OR 7.98 [2,32-27.41]) above 100 years compared to those under 98, and men had better values for independence than women (OR 2.43 [1.40-4.29]). Cardiovascular diseases were the most prevalent (85.5%), but neurological and mental diseases and vision problems had the highest impact on quality of life and independence. CONCLUSION: The long-lived individuals of Castile and Leon have a relatively well-preserved health status, although the perception of health is higher than that describing their quality of life and dependence. The quality of life was higher in the oldest age group and showed differences according to sex, with a better quality of life in men. Public health policies and programs should take in account the differences by sex and age as well as the prevention and control of the main conditions related with poor quality of life or dependence. Future research must include the interaction among genetic, socioeconomic, environmental, and other clinical factors in the quality of life and disability of long-lived individuals.

[Epidemiological characteristics and types of domestic and leisure accidents: sentinel health network of Castilla y León (2009)]. / Incidencia, características epidemiológicas y tipos de accidentes domésticos y de ocio. Red centinela sanitaria de Castilla y León (2009).

OBJECTIVES: To study incidence, epidemiological characteristics and types of domestic and leisure accidents in Castilla y León during 2009. DESIGN: A descriptive study using a prospective sample design. EMPLACEMENT: Health Primary Care Centres of Castilla y León. PARTICIPANTS: The Nurse Registry is made up of 130 nurses selected by conglomerates analysis. They cover 5% of the population. PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENTS: The information was obtained by means of an anonymous form. The studied variables were sex, age, type, place, type and origin of the accident. A descriptive analysis was performed using χ(2), Fischer, χ(2) of trends and t Student tests, with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The annual cumulative incidence was 2651 cases/100000 inhabitants, there being slightly higher percentage of men (50.4%). The ≤ 15 and ≥ 65 years age groups had more accidents. The time of day of 49.2% of the accidents was during the morning and 71.7% were on a working day. The majority (57.1%) took place in the home, 16,8% in the street, and 7.3% in schools. The most common accidents types were falls to the same level (40.4%) and use of cutting and sharp objects (22.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Most accidents took place within the home, on a working day and by falls. The most affected were the ≤ 15 and ≥ 65 years old age groups.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in child population. A study of a cohort in Castile and Leon, Spain. / Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad infantil. Estudio de una cohorte en Castilla y León, España.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies warn that overweight and obesity have become an epidemic with severe consequences in the population's health. The objetive of the present study is to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Castile and Leon in a sample of children at 6, 11 and 14 years of age, to describe its evolution and its association with life habits and antecedents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study, retrospective cohort, performed by the pediatricians of the Health Sentinel Network. The study is part of a joint Project with the National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) in Burgos to know the pattern of growth and development of the child population of Castile and Leon. In 2012, a health examination and a retrospective collection were carried out based on the clinical history of a simple of 326 children, from the cohort was born in 1998. RESULTS: Following the WHO references, at age 14 there was 25.3% of boys and 18.5% of girls with overweight. Obesity was estimated to affect the 8.2% and 4.8% of them respectively. At 11 years of age there was the maximum of overweight in girls and of obesity in boys. At the urban-non urban environment, quantity and quality of sleep and the parents' BMI have been some of the associated factors to weight level of the children. DISCUSSION: In Castile and Leon, as in other populations of our environment, there is a severe problema of overweight and obesity. For their control it is necesary to deepen understanding of lifestyles and antecedents related to the birth as well as to calculate the growth rate in the pediatric age.

[Prevalence of hypertension in the population of Castile-Leon (Spain)]. / Prevalencia de la hipertensión arterial en la población de Castilla y León.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease causes one out of 3 deaths in Spain. Hypertension is involved in ischemic heart disease and in other diseases provoking high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of hypertension and other indicators of this disorder in Castile-Leon in 2004. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in a random sample of 4,012 persons aged 15 years old or above, extracted through a two-stage, stratified design. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured, a history was taken and clinical records were reviewed. A person was considered to be hypertensive when there was known hypertension (hyper-tension was recorded in the clinical records or the person was receiving treatment for hypertension) or when systolic blood pressure was 140 mmHg or more and diastolic blood pressure was 90 mmHg or more. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in the population was 38.7% (95%CI: 36.5-40.9). The prevalence was higher in men (40.4% [95%CI: 37.4-43.4]) than in women (37.4% [95%CI: 34.7-40]). Hypertension was already known in 22.2%, representing 57.4% of all hypertensive individuals. In the remainder of the sample, 44% had prehypertension, 17.5% had stage 1 hypertension and 4% had stage II hypertension, according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension in the population studied was consistent with that reported in other Spanish studies. A substantial proportion of hypertensive individuals were unaware of their status as such. Equally, a large proportion had prehypertension, which carries a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

[Design of a population-based study of cardiovascular risk in Castile and Leon [Spain] through primary care teams]. / Diseño de un estudio poblacional del riesgo cardiovascular en Castilla y León a través de los equipos de atención primaria.

We describe the design and the response indicators in a cross sectional study to estimate several factors associated with cardiovascular risk in the population of Castile and Leon. A sample of 4,950 individuals aged 15 years and above was obtained in two stages: in the first stage, 198 primary care physicians were selected and in the second stage a sample of 25 persons from each primary care physician's list was obtained. The response rate was 98% among primary care physicians and 80% among the population. Statistically significant differences were found in age distribution between the frame sample and the definitive sample. After applying design adjustments, only the group aged 35-64 years was significantly overdimensioned. Access to the general population in primary health care is a feasible and effective procedure. A high response rate contributes to the validity of the information.

[Guide to the principles and methods of health sentinel networks in Spain]. / Guía de principios y métodos de las redes centinelas sanitarias en España.

Health sentinel networks are being increasingly used in the study of health-related problems. The present article aims to provide a methodological guide - designed by regional sentinel network managers and based on the results of a Delphi study - that can be used to set up and develop a health sentinel network. The main topics in the guide are the following: definition of a health sentinel network; network description: aims and structure; methods for the selection of sentinel participants; description of health processes suitable for study through this methodology: incidence, case definition, exclusion and inclusion criteria; description of the target population: the denominator for incidence rates estimates; quality indicators; periodicity of data collection; dissemination of the information: periodicity and methods, and incorporation of the participants in the decision-making process through multidisciplinary commissions. This guide aims to contribute to the development of sentinel networks in the autonomous communities by providing a common methodology, which could be highly useful when introducing new networks in Spain. Finally, we conclude that it is important to raise awareness of the concept of health sentinel networks, disseminate the information generated, and promote its use by public health administration.

[Health sentinel networks in Spain. Consensus for a guide of principles and methods]. / Redes centinela sanitarias en España. Consenso para una guía de principios y métodos.

Since the eighties, health sentinel networks have been active in our country, but with a variety of objectives, methods and different development levels in the autonomous communities. The necessity of standardising the management and harmonising the indicators has concluded in a research project on the Spanish health sentinel networks, one of whose objectives is to establish a guide for work principles and methods. A panel of 23 experts has made a study using the Delphi method to agree, in three consecutive phases, a definition of sentinel network, the objectives and the management principles and other aspects related to the organisation and functioning. Altogether, 41 questions were gathered from a previous draft which needed 80% of consensus in the first phase and 70% in the second. All the experts participated in the first phase, 22 in the second and 20 in the third. A consensus was achieved on 36 questions in the first phase and in 4 of the remaining ones in the second. In the third phase the shape of the guide document was given. The Delphi consensus method has been extremely useful in the resolution of discrepancies and divergences. The experts who were selected outside of the sentinel networks contributed with a wider vision on the objectives and applicability of the health sentinel networks in Spain.

[Prevalence and clinical characteristics of subclinical hypothyroidism in an opportunistic sample in the population of Castile-León (Spain)]. / Hipotiroidismo subclínico en una muestra oportunista de la población de Castilla y León.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the distribution of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values and to estimate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the adult population of Castile and León (Spain). METHOD: An observational study was conducted in an opportunistic sample of 45 primary care centers in Castile and León. TSH was determined in people aged ≥35 years that attended a primary care physician and had a blood test for any reason. Confirmatory analysis included free thyroxine and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody determination. RESULTS: A total of 3957 analyses were carried out, 63% in women. The mean age was 61.5 years. The median TSH value was 2.3 µIU/mL (2.5 µIU/mL in women and 2.1 µIU/mL in men), with a rising trend with age. TSH values were higher in undiagnosed or untreated subclinical hypothyroidism than in patients under treatment. The lowest levels were found in euthyroidism. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 9.2% (95%CI: 8.3-10.2), and hypothyroidism was three times higher in women than in men (12.4% versus 3.7%). Hypothyroidism increased with age, reaching a peak of 16.9% in women aged 45 to 64 years. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in our sample was high and in the upper limits of values found in previous studies. Proper diagnosis and treatment are important because of the risk of progression to hypothyroidism and the association with multiple diseases and other risk factors.

Actual and preferred place of death of home-dwelling patients in four European countries: making sense of quality indicators.

BACKGROUND: Dying at home and dying at the preferred place of death are advocated to be desirable outcomes of palliative care. More insight is needed in their usefulness as quality indicators. Our objective is to describe whether "the percentage of patients dying at home" and "the percentage of patients who died in their place of preference" are feasible and informative quality indicators. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A mortality follow-back study was conducted, based on data recorded by representative GP networks regarding home-dwelling patients who died non-suddenly in Belgium (n = 1036), The Netherlands (n = 512), Italy (n = 1639) or Spain (n = 565). "The percentage of patients dying at home" ranged between 35.3% (Belgium) and 50.6% (The Netherlands) in the four countries, while "the percentage of patients dying at their preferred place of death" ranged between 67.8% (Italy) and 86.0% (Spain). Both indicators were strongly associated with palliative care provision by the GP (odds ratios of 1.55-13.23 and 2.30-6.63, respectively). The quality indicator concerning the preferred place of death offers a broader view than the indicator concerning home deaths, as it takes into account all preferences met in all locations. However, GPs did not know the preferences for place of death in 39.6% (The Netherlands) to 70.3% (Italy), whereas the actual place of death was known in almost all cases. CONCLUSION: GPs know their patients' actual place of death, making the percentage of home deaths a feasible indicator for collection by GPs. However, patients' preferred place of death was often unknown to the GP. We therefore recommend using information from relatives as long as information from GPs on the preferred place of death is lacking. Timely communication about the place where patients want to be cared for at the end of life remains a challenge for GPs.

Obesity in Castile and Leon, Spain: epidemiology and association with other cardiovascular risk factors.

A cross-sectional study of obesity in a random sample of 4012 individuals aged ≥ 15 years in Castile and Leon, Spain, was carried out. The prevalence of obesity (i.e. a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) and abdominal obesity (i.e. a waist circumference > 102 cm in males or > 88 cm in females) was determined and associations between both types of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors were investigated. The overall prevalence of obesity was 21.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3%-23.2%): it was higher in women, at 23.2% (95% CI, 20.9%-25.5%), than in men, at 20.4% (95% CI, 18.0%-22.7%). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 36.7% (95% CI, 34.6%-38.9%): again it was higher in women, at 50.1% (95% CI, 47%-53.1%) than in men, at 22.8% (95% CI, 20.3%-25.2%). Associations were found between obesity and all classic cardiovascular risk factors, except smoking. The 10-year Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and Framingham risk scores were higher in obese individuals.

[Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk in the adult population of Castile-Leon (Spain)]. / Dislipidemias y riesgo cardiovascular en la población adulta de Castilla y León.

OBJECTIVE: Hypercholesterolemia is one of the cardiovascular risk factors more sensitive to preventive and control interventions. This study aims to determine the epidemiological pattern of dyslipidemic people in Castilla y Leon. METHODS: A representative stratified two-stage sample of the population resident in Castilla y León (Spain) was obtained. A total of 4,013 people age 15 years and older were interviewed. Cardiovascular disease related variables were gathered from clinical records and medical examination. Total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, and triglycerides were measured. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and triglycerides increase with age and, all but total cholesterol present gender differences. LDL-c and triglycerides are higher in men than in women under the age of 60, and lower from that age on, while HDL-c is always higher in women. Total cholesterol was ≥250mg/dl in 14.6% of the sample and ≥200mg/dl in the 56.3%. Only 49.6% of people with total cholesterol ≥250mg/dl had been diagnosed and only 15.2% were under treatment. Age-adjusted total cholesterol was positively correlated with all cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, over 70% of the population presented, at least, one cardiovascular risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: The results above shows high levels of total cholesterol and LDL-c, low levels of HDL-c in males and the under diagnosis in clinical records. The association between hypercholesterolemia and other cardiovascular risk factors is similar to previous studies.

Eating disorders. Prevalence and risk profile among secondary school students.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) are an important public health problem in developed countries. Despite the amount of epidemiological studies and causal theories, there is a great disparity of estimates and many questions remain still unclear. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the population at risk of developing EDs and describe the risk profiles among adolescents and young people. METHODS: A transversal design using a two-stage cluster sample of secondary education students aged between 12 and 18 years was used. The survey consisted of a socio-demographic questionnaire along with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-40 index and was carried out between May and June 1999. RESULTS: Results showed that 7.8% of the secondary school population had a high risk of developing eating disorders (EAT-40 higher than 30). Females presented a higher percentage [12.3%; 95% confidence limits (CL) 10.4-14.3%] than males (3.2%; 95% CL 2.1-4.2%) at the highest risk levels. A decreasing risk gradient was observed with age. CONCLUSIONS: The estimates show an important difference between the risk in females and in males and suggests that the risk is incremented above all in the last few years of infancy and the first years of adolescence, when these boys and girls are more vulnerable to socio-cultural influences and do not yet have defined image and "behaviour models".