Post-event follow-up costs in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Spain.

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in developed countries and entails high resources use and costs for health systems. The risk of suffering future cardiovascular (CV) events and the consequent resources use is higher in those patients who have already had a previous cardiovascular event. The objective of the study was to determine the average annual cost of patients with a new or recurrent atherosclerotic CV event during the 2 years after the event. Methodology: Retrospective observational study of electronic medical records of patients from the BIG-PAC® database (7 integrated health areas of 7 Autonomous Communities; n = 1.8 million). Patients with a new or recurrent episode of ASCVD (angina, acute myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease) between 1-Jan-2017 and 31-Dec-2018 were included. The resources use within two years of the diagnosis was estimated in order to estimate the average cost of patient follow-up. Results: A total of 26,976 patients with an ASCVD episode were identified during the recruitment period; Out of them, 6,798 had a recurrent event during the follow-up period and 2,414 died. The average costs per patient were €11,171 during the first year and €9,944 during the second year. Discussion: Patients with ASCVD represent a significant economic burden for the health system and for society. Despite the perception that drug costs in the follow-up of chronic patients imply a high percentage of the costs, these accounted for only one tenth of the total amount. Implementing preventive programs and increasing the control of cardiovascular risk factors may have a significant social and health impact by helping to reduce mortality and costs for the Spanish National Health System. The costs derived from pharmacological treatments were obtained from the NHS pricing nomenclator database (https://www.sanidad.gob.es/profesionales/nomenclator.do).

Gender Inequalities in Diagnostic Inertia around the Three Most Prevalent Cardiovascular Risk Studies: Protocol for a Population-Based Cohort Study.

Evidence shows that objectives for detecting and controlling cardiovascular risk factors are not being effectively met, and moreover, outcomes differ between men and women. This study will assess the gender-related differences in diagnostic inertia around the three most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors: dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate the consequences on cardiovascular disease incidence. This is an epidemiological and cohort study. Eligible patients will be adults who presented to public primary health care centers in a Spanish region from 2008 to 2011, with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or/and diabetes and without cardiovascular disease. Participants' electronic health records will be used to collect the study variables in a window of six months from inclusion. Diagnostic inertia of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes is defined as the registry of abnormal diagnostic parameters-but no diagnosis-on the person's health record. The cohort will be followed from the date of inclusion until the end of 2019. Outcomes will be cardiovascular events, defined as hospital admission due to ischemic cardiopathy, stroke, and death from any cause. The results of this study could inform actions to rectify the structure, organization and training of health care teams in order to correct the inequality.

[Active interventions in hypercholesteroloemia patients with high cardiovascular risk in primary care; estudio ESPROCOL]. / INTERVENCIÓN ACTIVA EN LA HIPERCOLESTEROLEMIA DE PACIENTES CON RIESGO CARDIOVASCULAR ALTO DE ATENCIÓN PRIMARIA; ESTUDIO ESPROCOL.

INTRODUCTION: Hypercholesterolemia is a major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Its reduction reduces morbidity and mortality from ischemic heart disease and CVD in general, primary prevention and secondary prevention especially. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a notarized and intensive clinical practice can overcome inertia and achieve the therapeutic goal (OT) LDL-C <100 mg/dL in high-risk patients attended in Primary Care (PC) in our country. METHODOLOGY: Epidemiological, prospective, multicenter study conducted in centers of different ACs By AP consecutive sampling 310 patients at high cardiovascular risk (diabetic or established CVD) previously treated with statins, which did not reach the OT included c-LDL. RESULTS: The study subjects had a mean age of 65.2 years, of which 60.32% were male. The 41.64% had a previous EVC, acute myocardial infarction (20.33%), angina (16.07%), stroke/TIA (9.19%), arthropathy (5.25%), diabetes (70.87%), hypertension (71.01%), and abdominal obesity (69.62%). The 43.57% (95% CI: 37,21; 50,08) of patients who performed the 2nd visit (241) got the OT. 62.50% (95% CI: 55.68, 68.98) of those who took the 3rd (216) got the OT. Finally, 77.56% (95% CI: 72.13, 83.08) patients who performed the last visit (205) got the OT. Throughout the study there was a reduction in LDL-C levels from 135.6 mg/dL at baseline, 107.4 mg dL in the 2nd visit, 97.3 mg/dL in the 3rd visit, up to 90.7 mg/dL at the final visit (p < 0.0001). The increase in HDL-C from baseline (50.9 mg/dL) and final (53.6 mg/dL) was also significant (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The reassessment and intensification of treatment in patients at high cardiovascular risk treated in primary care, applying the indications of the guides, achieves the OT in more than three quarters of the previously uncontrolled within half a year. These results should encourage us to overcome the therapeutic inertia in the control of CVD by early and energetic performance against hypercholesterolemia.

Introducción: la hipercolesterolemia es uno de los principales factores de riesgo modificables de la enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV). Su reducción disminuye la morbimortalidad por cardiopatía isquémica y ECV en general, en prevención primaria y, especialmente, en prevención secundaria. Objetivo: comprobar si una práctica clínica protocolizada e intensiva permite vencer la inercia y alcanzar el objetivo terapéutico (OT) de c-LDL < 100 mg/dL en pacientes de alto riesgo asistidos en Atención Primaria (AP) de nuestro país. Metodología: estudio epidemiológico, prospectivo, multicentrico, realizado en centros de AP de diferentes CC. AA. Mediante muestreo consecutivo se incluyeron 310 pacientes de alto riesgo cardiovascular (diabéticos o con ECV establecida), tratados previamente con estatinas, que no alcanzaban el OT de c-LDL. Resultados: los sujetos del estudio tenían una edad media de 65,2 años, de los que el 60,32 % eran varones. El 41,64 % presentaban un EVC previo, infarto agudo de miocardio (20,33 %), angina (16,07 %), ictus/AIT (9,19 %), artropatía (5,25 %), diabetes (70,87 %), hipertensión (71,01 %) y obesidad abdominal (69,62 %). El 43,57 % (IC95 %: 37,21; 50,08) de los pacientes que realizaron la segunda visita (241) consiguieron el OT. El 62,50 % (IC95 %: 55,68; 68,98) de los que realizaron la tercera (216) consiguieron el OT. Finalmente, el 77,56 % (IC95 %: 72,13; 83,08) de los pacientes que realizaron la última visita (205) consiguieron el OT. A lo largo del estudio hubo una reducción de los niveles de c-LDL desde los 135,6 mg/dL en la visita basal, 107,4 mg/dL en la segunda visita, 97,3 mg/dL en la tercera visita, hasta los 90,7 mg/dL en la visita final (p < 0,0001). El incremento de c-HDL entre la visita basal (50,9 mg/dL) y la final (53,6 mg/dL) también fue significativo (p = 0,013). Conclusiones: la reevaluación e intensificación del tratamiento en pacientes de alto riesgo cardiovascular atendidos en Atención Primaria, aplicando las indicaciones de las guías, permite alcanzar el OT en más de las tres cuartas partes de los previamente no controlados en el plazo de medio año. Estos resultados nos deben estimular a superar la inercia terapéutica en el control de la ECV mediante una actuación precoz y enérgica ante la hipercolesterolemia.

Blood pressure control and management of very elderly patients with hypertension in primary care settings in Spain.

This study aimed to determine the clinical profile, blood pressure (BP) control rates, therapeutic management and physicians' therapeutic behavior regarding very elderly hypertensive patients. A total of 1540 hypertensive patients 80 years old on antihypertensive therapy and receiving care in primary care settings in Spain were included in this cross-sectional study. The mean patient age was 83.4±3.1 years, 61.9% of patients were women and 49.3% of patients had cardiovascular disease. Of the patients, 27.7% were on monotherapy and 72.3% were on combined therapy (47.4% on two antihypertensive agents and 24.9% on three or more antihypertensive agents). A total of 40.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 38.4-43.3%) of patients achieved BP goals (<140/90 mm Hg; <130/80 in patients with diabetes, chronic renal disease or cardiovascular disease). Patients with uncontrolled BP were more likely to have metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, a history of cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, renal disease and stroke and were more frequently smokers. Physicians modified the antihypertensive regimens for 27.4% (95% CI: 23.9-30.8%) of the patients with uncontrolled BP, and the addition of another antihypertensive agent was the most frequent modification. With regard to the physicians' perception of patients' BP control, the BPs of 44.1% of the patients with uncontrolled BP were considered well controlled by the physicians.

[Analysis of a register for reporting adverse events to a mutual insurance society for accidents at work. Adverse event reporting of occupational injuries]. / Análisis de la implantación de un sistema de notificación y registro de eventos adversos en el proceso asistencial de una mutua de accidentes de trabajo.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the results of a voluntary reporting system for adverse events in a Patient Safety Program of an occupational injuries mutual insurance company. METHOD: In 2008 a system of notification and registration of adverse events (actual or potential) was introduced in 2008 by the Union de Mutuas, an occupational injuries insurance company with 36 health centres, and provides coverage for 259,922 workers. The reporting questionnaire covers all areas of health care provided by the mutual company. Access to the questionnaire was conducted through the intranet, was voluntary and anonymous. The notifications registered between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010 are analysed. RESULTS: A total of 16 questionnaires were completed, with a total of 205 incidents. The profile of the reporter was first-level health care (57.7%), and seniority in their job for 5-10 years. Of all the notifications, a health care cause of the incident was seen in 43.5% of cases, of which 85.9% of the incidents were preventable. Of all reported events, 71.7% were related to an ambulatory care medical centre, and only 2.4% was related to a surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the notifications were preventable incidents, and recorded by first-level medical care. The reporting questionnaire was shown to be a valid tool in our work environment for the detection of adverse events in the care process.