[Self-perception of disease in patients with chronic diseases]. / Autopercepción de enfermedad en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the self-perception of disease by patients with chronic diseases and determine factors related to their perception of disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study performed between September 2014 and April 2015 in nine (6 urban and 3 rural) Health Centres of Navarra, Spain. The participants were recruited by convenience sampling of 196 patients aged over 65 years with at least one chronic disease. The outcome variable was: Perception of disease evaluated through The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (9 items. Assessment of the cognitive and emotional representation of the disease. A higher total score indicates a greater threat of disease to the patient). Explanatory variables: Evaluation of the care received through the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care, Katz index, Gijon's socio-family evaluation scale and quality of life using the EQ5D questionnaire. Other variables studied were: gender, age, education, Charlson index, and number of chronic diseases. The association between the total The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire value and the rest of the variables was calculated. RESULTS: The self-perception of disease is more negative for a larger number of diseases (rho: 0.242; p=.001), greater patient dependence (rho: -0.193; P=.007), and a poorer self-perceived quality of life (EQ VAS rho: -0.484; P<.001. EQ5D5L Index value rho: -0.507; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The perception that chronic patients have about their disease worsens as their diseases and their dependence increase, and also worsens their quality of life.

[Acute cerebrovascular disease in the Northern Cordoba Health Area]. / Enfermedad cerebrovascular aguda en el Area Sanitaria Norte de Córdoba.

INTRODUCTION: Its high rates of prevalence, mortality and disability make acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD) a priority health problem. It is as the second most common cause of admission to internal medicine services. AIMS: To examine inpatient care for ACVD during 2004 in the Valle de los Pedroches health area in the province of Cordoba, as well as survival at six months, so as to be able to carry out the changes needed to improve the attention offered for this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study of the acute phase of the illness and survival at six months was conducted by means of face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: The prevalence of arterial hypertension (75.5%) stands out as a risk factor. The mean age was higher than in other series. There is no characteristic profile of clinical symptoms. The proportion of ischaemic to haemorrhagic strokes falls within the normal range. All 110 patients were submitted to a cranial computerised axial tomography scan in less than three hours. A compromised level of consciousness, senility, haemorrhagic stroke, poorer scoring on the Canadian Neurological Scale and complications all affected mortality rates. The study showed that 20% died while in hospital and 19.1% at six months. At discharge, 30.9% were undergoing rehabilitation. The spouse was the main caregiver in 55.5% of cases. A total of 79% had sequelae at six months. CONCLUSIONS: Instruments that allow fast effective diagnoses and treatments and guarantee proper clinical practice while reducing brain damage and its dependence should be made generally available. Improving primary and secondary prevention is essential in order to halt the progression of ACVD.

Risk factors for mortality after surgery of osteoporotic hip fracture in patients over 65 years of age. / Factores de riesgo de mortalidad tras intervención quirúrgica de fractura de cadera osteoporótica en pacientes mayores.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, from a clinical perspective, and with easily identifiable variables, those factors that influence the survival of patients admitted to a care unit designed for the comprehensive treatment of patients with hip fracture after being surgically treated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on a cohort of patients (n=202) aged 65 years or older with a low impact hip fracture, who were surgically intervened in a tertiary hospital. An analysis was performed to determine mortality at 90 days, and at one and 2years after surgery using demographic, clinical, analytical, and functional variables. RESULTS: The independent risk factors of mortality in the 3periods analysed were age (P=.047, P=.016, and P=.000 at 90 days, 1, and 2 years, respectively) and a low Barthel index (P=.014, P=.005, and P=.004 to 90 days, 1, and 2 years, respectively). Male sex (P=.004) and a high risk for anaesthesia (P=.011) were only independent risk factors of mortality at 2years after surgery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Age and dependency were the major determining factors of mortality at 30 days, 1, and 2 years after surgery for hip fracture. Both are easily measurable to identify patients susceptible to poor outcomes, and could benefit from a more thorough care plan.

Multiple hospitalizations at the Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary hospital. / Multiingreso en el Servicio de Medicina Interna de un hospital terciario.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patient who require multiple hospitalizations result in a considerable consumption of healthcare resources. In this study, we analyzed the factors associated with the multiple hospitalizations of a cohort of patients treated at a department of internal medicine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 613 consecutive hospitalizations were analyzed. A multiple-hospitalization patient was defined as one who at the time of admission had been hospitalized 3 or more times in the past year. We analyzed the relationship between demographic, clinical and societal factors on one hand and having been hospitalized on multiple occasions on the other. We also analyzed readmissions in the 6 months after discharge, as well as mortality during the hospitalization and in the 6 and 12 months after discharge. RESULTS: When compared with patients who have not been hospitalized on multiple occasions, multiple-hospitalization patients are more likely to be male, younger and to have greater comorbidity, greater consumption of medicines and higher Katz Index scores. The main cause for admission for multiple-hospitalizations patients was chronic disease decompensation (87.3%). The diseases that were most obviously associated with multiple hospitalizations were heart failure, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the first 6 months after discharge, multiple-hospitalization patients had a greater number of readmissions. During the study period, 40.4% of the multiple-hospitalization patients died, and 28.8% of the nonmultiple-hospitalization patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple-hospitalization patients have a greater clinical complexity than nonmultiple-hospitalization patients, and multiple hospitalizations are associated with chronic diseases, polypharmacy, functional impairment and high mortality rates.

[Splenic disorders in internal medicines]. / Lesiones esplénicas en medicina interna.

The spleen is the largest lymphopoietic organ, containing 25% of total lymphoid mass. It participates in cellular and humoral immunity and intervenes in the renovation of red cells and the elimination of bacteria. Splenic functions are reduced when the spleen is absent, which entails, amongst other complications, greater susceptibility to suffering from sepsis due to encapsulated organisms. We present 6 clinical cases admitted to the Internal Medicine serve with splenic pathology and we make a review of the approach to be used. The spectrum of splenic lesions in internal medicine is very wide. On occasions, a splenic pathology can be suspected due to clinical history, physical exploration or because of cytopenias in the analyses. Different complementary tests are available for completing study of these lesions. A splenectomy can be carried out in case of diagnostic doubt, with the most frequent diagnoses being hepatic cirrhosis and lymphoma/leukaemia.