[Approximation to the cost of occupational diseases treated in seven hospitals in Spain]. / Aproximación al coste de enfermedades profesionales atendidas en siete hospitales en España.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the hospital cost of a sample of cases treated in seven hospitals of the National Health System in several Spanish cities. METHOD: Study based on 78 cases of occupational disease recognized by the social security, and previously treated in hospitals in Badalona, Barcelona, Ferrol, Gijón, Girona, Madrid and Vigo between 2017 and 2019. RESULTS: The healthcare activity generated by these hospitals to attend these processes involved a total cost of 282,927€. CONCLUSIONS: It is urgent to improve the coordination between the two public health systems, the social security health care system and the National Health System.

Vaccination adjuvated against hepatitis B in Spanish National Healthcare System (SNS) workers typed as non-responders to conventional vaccines.

TRIAL DESIGN: An interventional, phase 4, single group assignment, without masking (open label), preventive clinical trial was carried out in health workers with biological risk in their tasks, who have been filed as non-responders to conventional vaccination against Hepatitis B. METHODS: 67 health workers with biological risk in their tasks, who have been filed as non-responders to conventional vaccination against Hepatitis B, were enrolled in the Clinical Trial. All participants were from 18 years up to 64 years old. INCLUSION CRITERIA: NHS workers -including university students doing their internships in health centres dependent on the National Health System (inclusion of students is regulated and limited by specific instructions on labour prevention in each autonomous community)- classified as non-responders. The criteria defining them as non-responders to the conventional hepatitis B vaccine is anti HBsAb titers < 10 mUI/ml following the application of six doses of conventional vaccine at 20 µg doses (two complete guidelines). The objective of this study was to provide Health workers-staff with an additional protection tool against hepatitis B infection, and to evaluate the efficacy of the adjuvanted vaccine in healthy non-responders to conventional hepatitis B vaccine. The primary outcome was the measurement of antibody antiHBs before the first Fendrix® dose and a month after the administration of each dose. Other outcome was collection of adverse effects during administration and all those that could be related to the vaccine and that occur within 30 days after each dose. In this study, only one group was assigned. There was no randomization or masking. RESULTS: The participants were recruited between April 13, 2018 and October 31, 2019. 67 participants were enrolled in the Clinical Trial and included the analyses. The primary immunisation consists of 4 separate 0.5 ml doses of Fendrix®, administered at the following schedule: 1 month, 2 months and 6 months from the date of the first dose. Once the positivity was reached in any of the doses, the participant finished the study and was not given the following doses. 68.66% (46 out 67) had a positive response to first dose of Fendrix®. 57.14% (12 out 21) had a positive response to second dose of Fendrix®. 22.22% (2 out 9) had a positive response to third dose of Fendrix and 42.96% (3 out 7) had a positive response to last dose of Fendrix®. Overall, 94.02% (64 out 67) of participants had a positive response to Fendrix®. No serious adverse event occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Fendrix®, is a viable vaccine alternative for NHS workers classified as "non-responders". Revaccination of healthy non-responders with Fendrix®, resulted in very high proportions of responders without adverse events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered in the Spanish National Trial Register (REEC), ClinicalTrials.gov and inclusion has been stopped (identifier NCT03410953; EudraCT-number 2016-004991-23). FUNDING: GRS 1360/A/16: Call for aid for the financing of research projects in biomedicine, health management and socio-health care to be developed in the centres of the Regional Health Management of Autonomous Community of Castile-Leon. In addition, this work has been supported by the Spanish Platform for Clinical Research and Clinical Trials, SCReN (Spanish Clinical Research Network), funded by the Subdirectorate General for Research Evaluation and Promotion of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), through the project PT13/0002/0039 and project PT17/0017/0023 integrated in the State Plan for R&D&I 2013-2016 and co-financed by and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

[Presurgical preparation and surgical site infection in neck surgery. The effect of the protocol adequacy in the improvement of the health care quality]. / Impacto de la adecuación del protocolo de preparación prequirúrgica en la incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica en cirugía cervical.

BACKGROUND: Surgical wound infection is one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated infections. One of the most common measures for its reduction is the pre-surgical preparation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequacy to the pre-surgical protocol in patients undergoing neck surgery and the relationship with the incidence of surgical wound infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational cohort study, conducted from January 2011 to December 2017. Variables related to patient, pre-surgical preparation and infection were collected. Infection rate was calculated after a maximum period of 30days after surgery. The effect of the pre-surgical preparation's adequacy and infection was evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 131 patients. The global adequacy of the pre-surgical protocol was 84.7%, being the main cause of inadequacy the application of the mouthwash (7.6% of the interventions). The overall incidence of surgical wound infection during the follow-up period was 4.6% (95%CI: 1.0%-8.2%). No relationship between the adequacy to the protocol and the presence of infection was found (P=.59). CONCLUSIONS: Adequacy of the pre-surgical preparation in our hospital was high and the incidence of surgical wound infection was low, and no relationship was found between the two. The results show a high safety culture in this surgery. However, there is still room for improvement in the quality of care of our patients.

Thyroid Function in Health Care Workers Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze possible alterations of thyroid function related to dosimetric values in health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation at a tertiary hospital previously exposed to ionizing radiation were included in the study. Age, sex, history of thyroid diseases, thyroid hormones, work post, service, dosimetric values of previous year, and 5 y period were considered. Alterations of thyroid function and other variables were analyzed by exact logistic regression univariate model. RESULTS: 7.1% workers showed an increased serum thyroid-stimulating hormone without free T3 or free T4 alteration. A significant relationship between workers with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone and dosimetric values of previous year (odds ratio 6.35, 95% confidence interval 1.20-98.1, p = 0.021) and previous 5 y period of radiation exposure (odds ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.12-3.34, p = 0.007) was obtained. CONCLUSION: An increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism related to radiation doses was observed in this pilot study on a group of health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation.

Incidence of surgical wound infection in renal surgery. The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis appropriateness. A prospective cohort study. / Incidencia de infección de herida quirúrgica en cirugía renal. Efecto de la adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica. Estudio de cohortes prospectivo.

OBJECTIVE: To assess compliance with the antibiotic prophylaxis protocol for patients who underwent renal surgery and its effect on the incidence of surgical wound infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study and assessed the overall compliance and each aspect of the antibiotic prophylaxis (start, administration route, antibiotic of choice, duration and dosage) and reported the compliance rates. The qualitative variables were compared with the chi-squared test, and the quantitative variables were compared with Student's t-test. We studied the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis compliance on the incidence of surgical wound infection in renal surgery, with the relative risk. RESULTS: The study included 266 patients, with an overall compliance rate of 90.6%. The major cause of noncompliance (3.8%) was the start of the prophylaxis, and the incidence rate of surgical wound infections was 3.4%. We found no relationship between antibiotic prophylaxis noncompliance and surgical wound infections (RR=0.26; 95%CI: 0.1-1.2; P>.05). Laparoscopic surgery had a lower incidence of surgical wound infections than open surgery (RR=0.10; 95%CI: 0.01-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic prophylaxis compliance was high. The incidence of surgical site infection was low, and there was no relationship between the incidence of surgical site infection and antibiotic prophylaxis compliance. The incidence of infection was lower in laparoscopic surgery.

Antibiotic prophylaxis adequacy in knee arthroplasty and surgical wound infection: Prospective cohort study. / Adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica en la artroplastia de rodilla e infección del sitio quirúrgico: estudio de cohortes prospectivo.

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic prophylaxis is the most suitable tool for preventing surgical wound infection. This study evaluated adequacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery for knee arthroplasty and its effect on surgical site infection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective cohort study. We assessed the degree of adequacy of antibiotic prophylaxis, the causes of non-adequacy, and the effect of non-adequacy on surgical site infection. Incidence of surgical site infection was studied after a maximum incubation period of a year. To assess the effect of prophylaxis non-adequacy on surgical site infection we used the relative risk adjusted with the aid of a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The study covered a total of 1749 patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis was indicated in all patients and administered in 99.8% of cases, with an overall protocol adequacy of 77.6%. The principal cause of non-compliance was the duration of prescription of the antibiotics (46.5%). Cumulative incidence of surgical site infection was 1.43%. No relationship was found between prophylaxis adequacy and surgical infection (RR=1.15; 95% CI: .31-2.99) (P>.05). DISCUSSION: Surveillance and infection control programs enable risk factors of infection and improvement measures to be assessed. Monitoring infection rates enables us to reduce their incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Adequacy of antibiotic prophylaxis was high but could be improved. We did not find a relationship between prophylaxis adequacy and surgical site infection rate.

[Assessment of antibiotic prophylaxis adequacy in rectal surgery]. / Evaluación de la adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica en la cirugía de recto.

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic prophylaxis is the most suitable tool for preventing surgical site infection (SSI), so the development of guidelines and assessment of its monitoring is essential. In this study protocol compliance of antibiotic prophylaxis in rectal surgery and the effect of its adequacy in terms of pre-ention of SSI was assessed. METHODS: Prospective cohort study was conducted from 1 January 2009 to 30 December 2015. The degree of compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis and causes of non-compliance in rectal surgery was evaluated. The incidence of SSI was studied after a maximum period of 30 days of incubation. To assess the effect of prophylaxis non-compliance on SSI the relative risk (RR) adjusted with the aid of a logistic regression model was used. RESULTS: The study covered a total of 244 patients. The patients infected reached 20 cases with a SSI cumulative incidence of 8.2% (CI95%: 4.8-11.6). Antibiotic prophylaxis was indicated in all patients and was administered in 98% of cases, with an overall protocol compliance 92.5%. The principal cause of non-compliance was the choice of antibiotic 55.6% (n=10). The effect of inadequacy of antibiotic prophylaxis on surgical infection was RR=0.58, CI95%: 0.10-4.10 (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis was high. No relationship between the adequacy of prophylaxis and incidence of surgical site infection in rectal surgery was found.

Seizures and electroencephalography findings in 61 patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities. However, publications about epilepsy and electroencephalographic features are scarce. In this study, we prospectively performed electroencephalography (EEG) and brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 61 patients with diagnosis of FASD. One patient had multiple febrile seizures with normal EEGs. Fourteen children showed EEG anomalies, including slow background activity and interictal epileptiform discharges, focal and/or generalized, and 3 of them had epilepsy. In one patient, seizures were first detected during the EEG recording and one case had an encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus during slow sleep (ESES). Focal interictal discharges in our patients did not imply the presence of underlying visible focal brain lesions in the neuroimaging studies, such as cortical dysplasia or polymicrogyria. However, they had nonspecific brain MR abnormalities, including corpus callosum hypoplasia, vermis hypoplasia or cavum septum pellucidum. The latter was significantly more frequent in the group with EEG abnormal findings (p < 0.01).

Correlation between morphological MRI findings and specific diagnostic categories in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) include physical and neurodevelopmental abnormalities related to prenatal alcohol exposure. Some neuroimaging findings have been clearly related to FASD, including corpus callosum and cerebellar anomalies. However, detailed studies correlating with specific FASD categories, that is, the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial FAS (pFAS) and alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND), are lacking. We prospectively performed clinical assessment and brain MR imaging to 72 patients with suspected FASD, and diagnosis was confirmed in 62. The most frequent findings were hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and/or of the cerebellar vermis. Additional findings were vascular anomalies, gliosis, prominent perivascular spaces, occipito-cervical junction and cervical vertebral anomalies, pituitary hypoplasia, arachnoid cysts, and cavum septum pellucidum.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in elective cholecystectomy: Protocol adequacy and related outcomes in a retrospective single-centre analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic prophylaxis is an effective tool to reduce surgical infection rates. However, antibiotic prophylaxis in cholecystectomy is controversial when non-high risk patients are considered. This research aims to evaluate the adherence with antibiotic prophylaxis protocol in patients undergoing cholecystectomy, and its impact in the outcomes of surgical infection. METHODS: This single-center observational and retrospective study analyzed all elective cholecystectomy procedures carried out at the Fundación Alcorcón University Hospital in the period 2007-2014. Data were recovered from hospital records; rates of adherence to the available hospital protocols were evaluated for choice, initiation, duration, administration route and dosages of antibiotics, and the starting and duration of the prophylaxis. RESULTS: The overall adequacy rate to protocol was 72%. The adherence rates in both the administration route and dose were 100%. The most common violations of the protocol included the choice of antibiotic agent (19%), followed by the moment of initiating its administration (8.9%). The overall wound infection rate was lower in case of laparoscopy than in laparotomy cholecystectomy (1.4% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.05; odds rate [OR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1-0.6). No relationship between adequacy of antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical infection rate was documented, neither considering overall gallbladder surgeries (crude OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.1-2.0), nor laparoscopy vs. open surgery (MH adjusted OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.2-2.1). CONCLUSIONS: The overall adequacy rate to antibiotic prophylaxis protocol recommended for elective cholecystectomy in our hospital was high (72%). No significant association between the adequacy or antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical infection was found.

BRI2 ectodomain affects Aß42 fibrillation and tau truncation in human neuroblastoma cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by the presence of misfolded proteins such as amyloid beta (Aß) in senile plaques, and hyperphosphorylated tau and truncated tau in neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). The BRI2 protein inhibits Aß aggregation via its BRICHOS domain and regulates critical proteins involved in initiating the amyloid cascade, which has been hypothesized to be central in AD pathogenesis. We recently detected the deposition of BRI2 ectodomain associated with Aß plaques and concomitant changes in its processing enzymes in early stages of AD. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of recombinant BRI2 ectodomain (rBRI276-266) on Aß aggregation and on important molecular pathways involved in early stages of AD, including the unfolded protein response (UPR), phosphorylation and truncation of tau, as well as apoptosis. We found that rBRI276-266 delays Aß fibril formation, although less efficiently than the BRI2 BRICHOS domain (BRI2 residues 113-231). In human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, rBRI276-266 slightly decreased cell viability and increased up to two-fold the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the subsequent activity of caspases 3 and 9, indicating activation of apoptosis. rBRI276-266 upregulated the chaperone BiP but did not modify the mRNA expression of other UPR markers (CHOP and Xbp-1). Strikingly, rBRI276-266 induced the activation of GSK3ß but not the phosphorylation of tau. However, exposure to rBRI276-266 significantly induced the truncation of tau, indicating that BRI2 ectodomain can contribute to NFT formation. Since BRI2 can also regulate the metabolism of Aß, the current data suggests that BRI2 ectodomain is a potential nexus between Aß, tau pathology and neurodegeneration.

MLL2 mutation detection in 86 patients with Kabuki syndrome: a genotype-phenotype study.

Recently, pathogenic variants in the MLL2 gene were identified as the most common cause of Kabuki (Niikawa-Kuroki) syndrome (MIM#147920). To further elucidate the genotype-phenotype correlation, we studied a large cohort of 86 clinically defined patients with Kabuki syndrome (KS) for mutations in MLL2. All patients were assessed using a standardized phenotype list and all were scored using a newly developed clinical score list for KS (MLL2-Kabuki score 0-10). Sequencing of the full coding region and intron-exon boundaries of MLL2 identified a total of 45 likely pathogenic mutations (52%): 31 nonsense, 10 missense and four splice-site mutations, 34 of which were novel. In five additional patients, novel, i.e. non-dbSNP132 variants of clinically unknown relevance, were identified. Patients with likely pathogenic nonsense or missense MLL2 mutations were usually more severely affected (median 'MLL2-Kabuki score' of 6) as compared to the patients without MLL2 mutations (median 'MLL2-Kabuki score' of 5), a significant difference (p < 0.0014). Several typical facial features such as large dysplastic ears, arched eyebrows with sparse lateral third, blue sclerae, a flat nasal tip with a broad nasal root, and a thin upper and a full lower lip were observed more often in mutation positive patients.

Cost-effectiveness of different screening strategies (single or dual) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a dual strategy of tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) for screening of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in healthcare workers (HCWs) and, as a secondary objective, to study relationships between TST results, QFT-G results, and sociodemographic factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prospective study. SETTING: University hospital in Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 103 HCWs. METHODS: QFT-G was requested for all positive TST results; QFT-G results were compared with TST results, and their relationships with sociodemographic factors were analyzed. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted for the dual strategy (TST/QFT-G) and for TST or QFT alone, taking into account the indication of and compliance with isoniazid, the risk of hepatotoxicity, and postexposure tuberculosis. RESULTS: Of all HCWs studied, 42.3% showed a positive result by QFT-G, and 49.5% had received bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination; no significant association was detected between BCG and QFT-G results. Increased TST was linked to higher positive QFT-G values (TST of 5-9.9 mm, 27.6%; TST of 15 mm or more, 56.5%; P=.03). The probability of positive QFT-G results was 1.04 times higher for each year of age (odds ratio, 1.04 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.09]; P=.0257). The incremental cost per active TB case prevented was lower for TST/QFT-G than for the other strategies studied (€14,211 per 1,000 HCWs). The number of people treated for LTBI per case of active TB prevented (number needed to treat) for TST/QFT-G was lower than for TST alone (17.2 vs 95.3 and 88.7 with the 5- and 10-mm cutoff value, respectively) or QFT-G alone (69.6). CONCLUSIONS: Dual strategy with TST/QFT-G is more cost-effective than TST or QFT-G alone for the diagnosis of LTBI in HCWs.

High resolution melting analysis for the identification of novel mutations in DKC1 and TERT genes in patients with dyskeratosis congenita.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited bone-marrow failure syndrome with high clinical heterogeneity. Cells derived from DC patients present short telomeres at early ages, as a result of mutations in genes encoding components of the telomerase complex (DKC1, TERC, TERT, NHP2 and NOP10), or the shelterin complex (TINF2). However, mutations have been identified only in around 50% of the cases, indicating that other genes could be involved in the development of this disease. Indeed, mutations in TCBA1 or chromosome segment C16orf57 have been described recently. We have used HRM technology to perform genetic analysis in the above mentioned genes, in Spanish patients showing both, some clinical features of DC and short telomeres. The mutations have been identified by PCR amplification of DC genes followed by high resolution melting (HRM) and direct DNA sequencing analysis. We have identified seven new families with DC, three with X-linked DC and four with autosomal dominant DC, in which we have found two novel mutations in DKC1 (p.His68Arg and p.Lys390del) and four novel mutations in TERT gene (p.Pro530Leu, p.Arg698Trp, p.Arg971His and p.Arg698Gln). The results show that the use of HRM analysis enables a rapid and inexpensive identification of mutations in dyskeratosis congenita associated genes.

Validity of clinical diagnosis in dermatology.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the accuracy of the clinical diagnostic process performed by dermatologists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, based on a retrospective search of data at a dermatology outpatient department. Fifteen skin diseases were selected. A group of patients with those diseases at their first outpatient visit and a further histopathological study were included. The accuracy of any given clinical diagnosis was studied taking the histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard. Validity indices were calculated. RESULTS: We studied 2188 patients. Skin diseases were more prevalent among women (p < 0.05). While the clinical diagnostic process displayed a high level of validity in melanocytic naevi and basal cell carcinoma, a poor level was nevertheless observed for Bowen's disease (sensitivity 22.8%, specificity 96.5%). The most frequent sites of appearance of dermatological problems were face and trunk. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of diagnosis in pathologies having an available "gold standard" enables the accuracy of clinical diagnoses to be verified. The validity of clinical diagnosis was high.

Educación alimentaria-nutricional (EAN) en la enseñanza primaria municipal de Córdoba: una experiencia en investigación-acción participativa (IAP): año 2008 / Nutrition education in municipal primary schools in Córdoba: an experience in participatory action research (par) in 2008

La EAN ha sido reconocida como la mejor estrategia para el control y prevención de problemas relacionados con la alimentación. Sin embargo aún no ha sido incorporada sistemáticamente en las escuelas argentinas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los hábitos alimentarios de los alumnos, la tarea pedagógica de docentes y la EAN en la enseñanza primaria en el marco de un estudio de investigación acción participativa (IAP) para luego implementar conjuntamente con la población involucrada la intervención educativa correspondiente. Se usaron para la recolección de datos y su triangulación: entrevista semiestructurada, grupos focales, observación directa y análisis de contenido. Para la intervención educativa se recurrió al Modelo Comunitario sustentado en metodologías Constructivistas. En este marco, se llevaron a cabo cinco talleres educativos y dos tutorías con los docentes, sobre contenidos de Alimentación Saludable y su inclusión en la propuesta didáctica como contenidos transversales. El impacto de la intervención pudo ser valorado positivamente ya que los docentes diseñaron un proyecto sobre Alimentación y Nutrición que forma parte del Proyecto Educativo Institucional de la escuela y que involucra también al quiosco escolar y a la población de padres de los escolares y el material didáctico diseñado y validado para dicha población, lo cual contribuye a mejorar la calidad de la intervención para promover hábitos alimentarios saludables y duradeos.

[Vitamin D and bone health: is there a need to review supplementation in osteoporosis risk population?]. / Vitamina D y salud ósea: 'es necesario revisar la administración de sus suplementos en poblaciones de riesgo de osteoporosis?

Vitamin D is an essential hormone for achieving an optimal bone physiology. There is no universal consensus nowadays on the definition of hypovitaminosis D and cut-off values have been refined in the last years. The aim of this review is to analyze vitamin D deficiency among osteoporosis risk populations, including elderly and postmenopausal women, in Spain and other countries. We also review vitamin D supplementation: current clinical guidelines, last clinical studies, safety, and prescription schemes.

[Validity of the clinical diagnosis of the basal cell carcinoma in primary health care]. / Validez del diagnóstico clínico de carcinoma basocelular en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the validity of the clinical diagnosis of the basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in primary care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary health care Area 8 in Madrid. PATIENTS AND ITNERVENTIONS: A study was carried out on a group of patients that had been histopathologically diagnosed of BCC and on another that had received any of the most frequent differential diagnoses. A sample estimate was made with the most unfavourable situation of a sensitivity and a specificity of 50%, a precision of 5%, a confidence of 95% and losses of 20%. It was estimated that 962 cases were necessary. MEASUREMENTS: The histopathological diagnosis (gold standard) were compared to the clinical diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios and global value were estimated. RESULTS: 963 patients were included of which 7.6% were lost 890 cases were studied, 491 with BCC and 399 with differential diagnoses. The most frequent location of BCC was the face (65.8%). Sensitivity was 27.5% (95% CI, 23.531.5%), specificity 90.5% (95% CI, 87.5-93.5%), the global value of 55.7% (95% CI, 52.7-58.7%), positive predictive value, 78.0% (95% CI, 72.084.0%) and negative predictive value 50,3% (95% CI, 46.354.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Validity was moderate with low sensitivity and very low positive predictive value, the latter estimated for its expected prevalence. The clinical diagnosis of BCC in primary health care must be complemented with other diagnostic tests.