Relationship between time from symptom's onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with the time from symptom onset to diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate this association, with the assumption that this relationship was nonlinear and with adjustment for multiple confounders, such as tumor grade, symptoms, or admission to an emergency department. METHODS: This multicenter study with prospective follow-up was performed in five regions of Spain from 2010 to 2012. Symptomatic cases of incident CRC from a previous study were examined. At the time of diagnosis, each patient was interviewed, and the associated hospital and clinical records were reviewed. During follow-up, the clinical records were reviewed again to assess survival. Cox survival analysis with a restricted cubic spline was used to model overall and CRC-specific survival, with adjustment for variables related to the patient, health service, and tumor. RESULTS: A total of 795 patients had symptomatic CRC and 769 of them had complete data on diagnostic delay and survival. Univariate analysis indicated a lower HR for death in patients who had diagnostic intervals less than 4.2 months. However, after adjustment for variables related to the patient, tumor, and utilized health service, there was no relationship of the diagnostic delay with survival of patients with colon and rectal cancer, colon cancer alone, or rectal cancer alone. Cubic spline analysis indicated an inverse association of the diagnostic delay with 5-year survival. However, this association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the duration of diagnostic delay had no significant effect on the outcome of patients with CRC. We suggest that the most important determinant of the duration of diagnostic delay is the biological profile of the tumor. However, it remains the responsibility of community health centers and authorities to minimize diagnostic delays in patients with CRC and to implement initiatives that improve early diagnosis and provide better outcomes.

Motor performance and daily participation in children with and without probable developmental coordination disorder.

AIM: To test the mediating role of motor performance in the relationship between individual and environmental constraints, delayed learning of activities of daily living (ADL), and daily participation in typically developing children and children with probable developmental coordination disorder (DCD). METHOD: Parents of 370 randomly selected children aged 5 to 10 years (194 females; mean age [SD] 7y 5mo [1y 10mo]) were included in the study (321 typically developing, 49 probable DCD). Motor performance, ADL learning, and participation were assessed using the DCDDaily-Questionnaire. Individual variables included child's age and sex, and environmental variables included mother and family educational level, presence of siblings, and area of residence. Direct, indirect, and mediating effects were tested using a partial least squares-based structural equation modelling approach. RESULTS: The model explained 44.5% of the variance of daily participation. Motor performance significantly mediated the effect of individual and environmental constraints, and ADL learning on daily participation. INTERPRETATION: Results suggest that the effect of individual and environmental constraints and delayed learning of ADL on daily participation is mediated by motor performance in typically developing children and children with probable DCD. These findings provide further evidence that interventions to promote participation in children with probable DCD should adopt ecological, task-oriented approaches. Further studies should evaluate model generalizability with clinical samples.

Description of multimorbidity clusters of admitted patients in medical departments of a general hospital.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to identify patterns of disease clusters among inpatients of a general hospital and to describe the characteristics and evolution of each group. METHODS: We used two data sets from the CMBD (Conjunto mínimo básico de datos - Minimum Basic Hospital Data Set (MBDS)) of the Lucus Augusti Hospital (Spain), hospitalisations and patients, realising a retrospective cohort study among the 74 220 patients discharged from the Medic Area between 01 January 2000 and 31 December 2015. We created multimorbidity clusters using multiple correspondence analysis. RESULTS: We identified five clusters for both gender and age. Cluster 1: alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic dependency syndrome, lung and digestive tract malignant neoplasms (age under 50 years). Cluster 2: large intestine, prostate, breast and other malignant neoplasms, lymphoma and myeloma (age over 70, mostly males). Cluster 3: malnutrition, Parkinson disease and other mobility disorders, dementia and other mental health conditions (age over 80 years and mostly women). Cluster 4: atrial fibrillation/flutter, cardiac failure, chronic kidney failure and heart valve disease (age between 70-80 and mostly women). Cluster 5: hypertension/hypertensive heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischaemic cardiomyopathy, dyslipidaemia, obesity and sleep apnea, including mostly men (age range 60-80). We assessed significant differences among the clusters when gender, age, number of chronic pathologies, number of rehospitalisations and mortality during the hospitalisation were assessed (p<0001 in all cases). CONCLUSIONS: We identify for the first time in a hospital environment five clusters of disease combinations among the inpatients. These clusters contain several high-incidence diseases related to both age and gender that express their own evolution and clinical characteristics over time.

Organ dysfunction as determined by the SOFA score is associated with prognosis in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury above T6.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, observational study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate organ dysfunction in patients with an acute traumatic spinal cord injury (ATSCI) above T6 using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score to determine its association with mortality. SETTING: The study was performed at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital in the northwest of Spain. METHODS: The study included 241 patients with an ATSCI above T6 who had been admitted to the ICU between 1998 and 2017. A descriptive analysis of all variables collected was performed to compare the survivors with the non-survivors. In addition, a logistic regression model was used in the multivariate analysis to identify variables that were independently associated with mortality. RESULTS: The results revealed significant differences between the survivors and non-survivors in terms of their age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, APACHE II score, SOFA score on day 0 and day 4, and delta SOFA 4-0 (ΔSOFA 4-0). The results of this multivariate analysis identified the following variables as independent predictors of intra-ICU mortality: age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1. 01-1.08), SOFA score on day 0 (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.13-1.78), ΔSOFA 4-0 (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.25-1.87), and fluid balance on day 4 (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.00-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: The SOFA score is useful for evaluating organ dysfunction in patients with an ATSCI above T6. After adjusting the analysis for conventional variables, organ dysfunction on admission, changes in organ function between day 4 and day 0 (ΔSOFA 4-0), and fluid balance on day 4 were seen to be independently associated with mortality in our study.

Neurological recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury: prognostic value of magnetic resonance.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. OBJECTIVES: Assess the relationship between Magnetic Resonance (MR) image patterns and neurological recovery in patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI). SETTING: Spinal cord injury unit in Spain. METHODS: Patients admitted for acute TSCI between January 2010 and December 2018 with a MR exam performed in the acute phase were selected. Five patterns were established: normal, single-level edema, multilevel edema, hemorrhage, and spinal cord transection. Comparisons between the ASIA Injury Severity (AIS) score and Motor Index (MI) at admission and at discharge were made. RESULTS: Collected 296 patients. Normal and cord transection patterns were excluded due to the low number of cases. Single-level edema pattern was primarily observed in cases with incomplete injuries, hemorrhage pattern in complete injuries, and multilevel edema pattern at similar percentages in complete and incomplete lesions. Improvement of the AIS score was found in 40.9% of single-level edema, 20.2% of multilevel edema, and 19.0% of hemorrhage (p = 0.042) patterns. By excluding the AIS grade D from the analyses, the figures increased to 70.3%, 52.2%, and 19.4% respectively (p < 0.001). This significant relationship was confirmed by multivariate analysis, although it was not as relevant as the examination according to ASIA-ISCoS performed at admission (p = 0.005 vs p < 0.001). Mean variation of the MI was also significantly different (p < 0.001) between the three groups: 22.6 ± 21.4 for single-level edema, 16.9 ± 21.1 for multilevel edema, and 4.5 ± 8.4 for hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: MR injury patterns observed at the acute phase are associated with the possibility of improvement of the AIS score and MI.

Randomized clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of CO-oximetry and anti-smoking brief advice in a cohort of kidney transplant patients who smoke.

Background: measure the efficacy of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) measurement plus brief advisory sessions to reduce smoking exposure and smoking behaviour in kidney transplant recipients. Methods: Randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial at a Spanish hospital.Smoking kidney transplant recipients giving their consent to participate were randomized to control (brief advice, n=63) or intervention group (brief advisory session plus measuring exhaled CO, n=59). Measurements: Sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, treatment, rejection episodes, infections, self-reported smoking, drug use, level of dependence and motivation to stop smoking (Fagerström's and Richmond's test) and stage of change (Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages). Efficacy was assessed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months as: cotinine test, CO levels in exhaled air, nicotine dependence, motivational stages of change, motivation to stop smoking, pattern of tobacco use and smoking cessation rates. Logistic regression models were computed. Results: At 12 months of follow-up, differences were found in exhaled CO between the intervention and control group(6.1±6.8vs.10.2±9.7ppm;p=0.028). Carboxyhemoglobin levels were lower in the intervention group as well as the positive cotinine test (1.2±1.2%vs.2.0±2.4%;p=0.039),(53.4%vs.74.2%). At 12 months, intervention reduces the probability of a positive urine test by 28%. Conclusions: Co-oximetry is a clinically relevant intervention for reduction of tobacco exposure in kidney transplant recipients.

Characterisation of long-term cancer survivors and application of statistical cure models: a protocol for an observational follow-up study in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Improved colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates have been reported over the last years, with more than half of these patients surviving more than 5 years after the initial diagnosis. Better understanding these so-called long-term survivors could be very useful to further improve their prognosis as well as to detect other problems that may cause a significant deterioration in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Cure models provide novel statistical tools to better estimate the long-term survival rate for cancer and to identify characteristics that are differentially associated with a short or long-term prognosis. The aim of this study will be to investigate the long-term prognosis of CRC patients, characterise long-term CRC survivors and their HRQoL, and demonstrate the utility of statistical cure models to analyse survival and other associated factors in these patients. METHODS: This is a single-centre, ambispective, observational follow-up study in a cohort of n = 1945 patients with CRC diagnosed between 2006 and 2013. A HRQoL sub-study will be performed in the survivors of a subset of n = 485 CRC patients for which baseline HRQoL data from the time of their diagnosis is already available. Information obtained from interviews and the clinical records for each patient in the cohort is already available in a computerised database from previous studies. This data includes sociodemographic characteristics, family history of cancer, comorbidities, perceived symptoms, tumour characteristics at diagnosis, type of treatment, and diagnosis and treatment delay intervals. For the follow-up, information regarding local recurrences, development of metastases, new tumours, and mortality will be updated using hospital records. The HRQoL for long-term survivors will be assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. An analysis of global and specific survival (competitive risk models) will be performed. Relative survival will be estimated and mixture cure models will be applied. Finally, HRQoL will be analysed through multivariate regression models. DISCUSSION: We expect the results from this study to help us to more accurately determine the long-term survival of CRC, identify the needs and clinical situation of long-term CRC survivors, and could be used to propose new models of care for the follow-up of CRC patients.

Pain assessment during eye examination for retinopathy of prematurity screening: Skin conductance versus PIPP-R.

AIM: To assess changes in skin conductance during retinopathy of prematurity screening and to study the correlation between the skin conductance and a validated pain scale. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Fifty-three eye examinations were performed in 32 preterm infant candidates for retinopathy of prematurity screening. Outcome measures were changes in Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) scale and number of skin conductance fluctuations. RESULTS: There was a significant increase from baseline in the number of skin conductance fluctuations and PIPP-R during the procedure. The maximum value of number of skin conductance fluctuations was 0.64 ± 0.44 peaks/sec, and the maximum value of PIPP-R was 10.8 ± 3.3. A correlation between the skin conductance and PIPP-R was not found at any time during the eye examination. Repeated measures correlation analyses showed only a moderate positive correlation between PIPP-R and number of skin conductance fluctuation values. CONCLUSION: There were significant changes in both PIPP-R and number of skin conductance fluctuations during retinopathy of prematurity screening, reaffirming that this procedure is painful and stressful. The number of skin conductance fluctuations and PIPP-R are not significantly correlated, which likely reflects that these parameters evaluate different but complementary aspects of neonatal pain responses.

Structural, Dermal and Ungual Characteristics of the Foot in Patients with Type II Diabetes.

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is a chronic and metabolic disease, considered as an important public health problem. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of podiatric pathology in type II diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive study of prevalence in the endocrinology service of Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC) (A Coruña-Spain) was carried out (n = 153). Type II diabetic patients included, of legal age who signed the informed consent. Sociodemographic variables were studied (age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, alcohol consumption, family history), disease variables (time of evolution of diabetes, treatments, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose), podiatric variables: measurement of the footprint, metatarsal and digital formula, nail, skin, hindfoot and forefoot alterations. The data collection was done in 2018 and the data analysis was carried out in 2019. Results: The patients with type II diabetes had greater age, obesity and arterial hypertension it compared to the general population. Diabetic patients had a higher prevalence of flat feet than the general population (71.2% vs. 20.7%, p < 0.001), with a predominance of normal foot according to the podoscope. The predominant podological pathology was the presence of claw toes (94.8%), followed by dermal (78.4%) and nail (71.9%) alterations, and the Hallux Valgus (66.0%). The Clarke angle and the Chippaux index showed a Kappa concordance index of 0.26 with the type of footprint measured with the podoscope. The Staheli index showed a Kappa index of 0.27 associated with an observed agreement of 54%. Conclusions: This study shows that foot problems continue to be prevalent in subjects with type II diabetes mellitus and for this reason, podiatry is essential in its treatment.

[Prevalencia de artrosis de rodilla en una muestra aleatoria poblacional en personas de 40 y más años de edad].

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is the osteoarticular disease with the highest prevalence worldwide. In industrialized countries, 80% of the population > 65 years suffers from it. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee in a random population sample, its associated variables and its impact on pain and functionality. Methods: Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis carried out at the Cambre Health Center, A Coruña. A sample of 707 patients was included. Anthropometric variables, comorbidity and clinical examination of the knees were assessed. The validated WOMAC and Lequesne questionnaires were used to assess pain and functionality. Results: 56.3% of the patients were females, and mean age was 61.75 years. The prevalence of symptomatic osteoarthritis in at least one knee was 29.3%. People with osteoarthritis had higher scores in the pain, stiffness and functional capacity dimensions of the WOMAC questionnaire (30.0 ± 35.7, 33.8 ± 40.5 and 25.4 ± 40.1, respectively) and had higher scores in the Lequesne questionnaire as well (9.0 ± 8.8). Conclusions: A high prevalence of people with osteoarthritis has been determined, which is modified with gender, age and body mass index.

Introducción: La artrosis es la enfermedad osteoarticular con mayor prevalencia en todo el mundo. En los países industrializados, 80 % de la población > 65 años la padece. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de artrosis sintomática en rodilla en una muestra aleatoria poblacional, las variables asociadas y su repercusión en el dolor y funcionalidad. Método: Análisis descriptivo y multivariado de regresión logística realizado en el Centro de Salud de Cambre, A Coruña. Se incluyó una muestra de 707 pacientes. Se estudiaron variables antropométricas, comorbilidad y exploración clínica de rodillas. Para evaluar el dolor y la funcionalidad se utilizaron los cuestionarios validados WOMAC y Lequesne. Resultados: 56.3 % de los pacientes eran mujeres y la media de edad de 61.75 años. La prevalencia de artrosis sintomática en al menos una rodilla fue de 29.3 %. Las personas con artrosis presentaron puntuaciones más altas en las dimensiones dolor, rigidez y capacidad funcional del cuestionario WOMAC (30 ± 35.7, 33.8 ± 40.5 y 25.4 ± 40.1, respectivamente), así como puntuaciones más altas en el cuestionario de Lequesne (9.0 ± 8.8). Conclusiones: Se ha determinado alta prevalencia de personas con artrosis que se modifica con el sexo, la edad y el índice de masa corporal.

Nomogram and Validity of a Model for Predicting Malnutrition in Patients on Liver Transplant Lists.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with increased morbimortality in liver transplant patients, and it is important to identify factors related to nutritional status in these patients. AIMS: Determine variables associated with malnutrition and create a nomogram in liver transplant candidates. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (n = 110). VARIABLES: demographic variables, imbalances due to the disease, transplant aetiology and analytical parameters. Physical examination was performed and degree of hepatic dysfunction calculated. Nutritional status was assessed: Controlling Nutritional Status, Spanish Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition criteria, Nutritional Risk Index, Prognostic Nutritional Index or Onodera Index and The Subjective Global Assessment. Logistic regression analysis was performed. A predictive nomogram (discrimination and calibration analysis) was generated. RESULTS: Malnourishment was defined according to at least 4 or more of the methods studied. Patients with ascites, encephalopathy and portal hypertension presented malnourishment more frequently. Malnutrition was associated with greater liver dysfunction and lower grip strength. Variables independently associated with malnourishment were encephalopathy and lower albumin values. A nomogram was created to predict malnourishment, with good discriminatory power and calibration. CONCLUSIONS: A score was developed for evaluating malnutrition risk. This would provide a tool that makes it possible to quickly and easily identify the risk of malnutrition in liver transplant candidates.

A validity study of the Spanish-World Health Organization Quality of Life short version instrument in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a psychometric study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity of the Spanish version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) for its use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury and, as secondary objectives, to correlate the results with variables such as functional status, psychological well-being, and social support. SETTING: Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, Galicia (Spain). METHODS: Fifty-four people with spinal cord injury were enrolled in this study. Relevant variables were analyzed based on the scores reported by each participant in the Spanish versions of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Duke-UNC Functional and Social Support Questionnaire. Both parametric and non-parametric tests were used to compare various variables. The instrument's internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also confirmed. RESULTS: The mean scores of each domain of the WHOQOL-BREF were lower, but nonsignificant, among people who need help to perform activities of daily living. The correlation between the scores obtained in the "Psychological" domain and the items of the HADS scale was significant. Significant differences were also observed when comparing the results of the "Social relationships" and "Environment" domains among people with low scores in the Duke questionnaire. Both an adequate consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.887) and test-retest reliability were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire is useful and reliable to evaluate the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injuries in our population of Spanish-speaking people.

Incidence of cardiovascular events and associated risk factors in kidney transplant patients: a competing risks survival analysis.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the renal transplant population accounts for increased mortality. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of cardiovascular events and factors associated with cardiovascular events in these patients. METHODS: An observational ambispective follow-up study of renal transplant recipients (n = 2029) in the health district of A Coruña (Spain) during the period 1981-2011 was completed. Competing risk survival analysis methods were applied to estimate the cumulative incidence of developing cardiovascular events over time and to identify which characteristics were associated with the risk of these events. Post-transplant cardiovascular events are defined as the presence of myocardial infarction, invasive coronary artery therapy, cerebral vascular events, new-onset angina, congestive heart failure, rhythm disturbances, peripheral vascular disease and cardiovascular disease and death. The cause of death was identified through the medical history and death certificate using ICD9 (390-459, except: 427.5, 435, 446, 459.0). RESULTS: The mean age of patients at the time of transplantation was 47.0 ± 14.2 years; 62% were male. 16.5% had suffered some cardiovascular disease prior to transplantation and 9.7% had suffered a cardiovascular event. The mean follow-up period for the patients with cardiovascular event was 3.5 ± 4.3 years. Applying competing risk methodology, it was observed that the accumulated incidence of the event was 5.0% one year after transplantation, 8.1% after five years, and 11.9% after ten years. After applying multivariate models, the variables with an independent effect for predicting cardiovascular events are: male sex, age of recipient, previous cardiovascular disorders, pre-transplant smoking and post-transplant diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: This study makes it possible to determine in kidney transplant patients, taking into account competitive events, the incidence of post-transplant cardiovascular events and the risk factors of these events. Modifiable risk factors are identified, owing to which, changes in said factors would have a bearing of the incidence of events.

Concordance among methods of nutritional assessment in patients included on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of malnutrition in patients waiting for a liver transplant. The agreement among the methods of nutritional assessment and their diagnostic validity were evaluated. METHODS: Patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (n = 110) were studied. The variables were: body mass index, analytical parameters, liver disease etiology, and complications. Liver dysfunction was evaluated using the Child-Pugh Scale. Nutritional state was studied using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), the Spanish Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SENPE) criteria, the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI-O), and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Agreement was determined using the Kappa index. Area under receiver operator characteristic curves (AUCs), the Youden index (J), and likelihood ratios were computed. RESULTS: Malnutrition varied depending on the method of evaluation. The highest value was detected using the CONUT (90.9%) and the lowest using the SGA (50.9%). The pairwise agreement among the methods ranged from K = 0.041 to K = 0.826, with an overall agreement of each criteria with the remaining methods between K = 0.093 and K = 0.364. PNI-O was the method with the highest overall agreement. Taking this level of agreement into account, we chose the PNI-O as a benchmark method of comparison. The highest positive likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of malnutrition was obtained from the Nutritional Risk Index (13.56). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition prevalence is high and prevalence estimates vary according the method used, with low concordance among methods. PNI-O and NRI are the most consistent methods to identify malnutrition in these patients.

Hallux valgus in a random population in Spain and its impact on quality of life and functionality.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hallux valgus (HV) and the association between the presence thereof and quality of life, dependence for basic and instrumental activities of daily living and foot function. Prevalence study was carried out in a random population sample (n = 1837) (α = 0.05; Precision = ±2.2%). Informed consent and ethical review board were obtained (code 2008/264). We studied anthropometric variables, Charlson Comorbidity Index, function and state of foot [Foot Function index (FFI), Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ)], quality of life (SF-36), and dependence for activities of daily living (Barthel and Lawton index). Degree of HV was determined using Manchester scale. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Hence, the prevalence of HV is 39%. Patients with HV are significantly older (64.6 ± 11.7 vs 60.1 ± 12.6 years old). HV prevalence is greater in females (48.1 vs. 28.3%), subjects with flat foot (48.1 vs. 36.1%) or hammer toes (48.2 vs. 30.9%). Moreover, with regard to the presence or not of HV, statistically significant differences were neither noted in the SF-36 questionnaire nor in the Barthel and Lawton Index. For FHSQ and FFI questionnaires, significant differences were observed between patients who presented HV and those who did not. HV is associated with age, gender, flat foot and hammer toes. The SF-36 and Barthel and Lawton questionnaires remained unaltered by the presence of HV. The presence of Hallux valgus was associated with reduced quality of life and increases foot pain, disability and functional limitation.

Effect of diagnostic delay on survival in patients with colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Disparate and contradictory results make studies necessary to investigate in more depth the relationship between diagnostic delay and survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between the interval from first symptom to diagnosis (SDI) and survival in CRC. METHODS: Retrospective study of n = 942 CRC patients. SDI was calculated as the time from the diagnosis of cancer and the first symptoms of CRC. Cox regression was used to estimate five-year mortality hazard ratios as a function of SDI, adjusting for age and gender. SDI was modelled according to SDI quartiles and as a continuous variable using penalized splines. RESULTS: Median SDI was 3.4 months. SDI was not associated with stage at diagnosis (Stage I = 3.6 months, Stage II-III = 3.4, Stage IV = 3.2; p = 0.728). Shorter SDIs corresponded to patients with abdominal pain (2.8 months), and longer SDIs to patients with muchorrhage (5.2 months) and rectal tenesmus (4.4 months). Adjusting for age and gender, in rectum cancers, patients within the first SDI quartile had lower survival (p = 0.003), while in colon cancer no significant differences were found (p = 0.282). These results do not change after adjusting for TNM stage. The splines regression analysis revealed that, for rectum cancer, 5-year mortality progressively increases for SDIs lower than the median (3.7 months) and decreases as the delay increases until approximately 8 months. In colon cancer, no significant relationship was found between SDI and survival. CONCLUSIONS: Short diagnostic intervals are significantly associated with higher mortality in rectal but not in colon cancers, even though a borderline significant effect is also observed in colon cancer. Longer diagnostic intervals seemed not to be associated with poorer survival. Other factors than diagnostic delay should be taken into account to explain this "waiting-time paradox".

Prevalence and Associated Factors for Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability Among Spanish Music Conservatory Students.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of and factors associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and neck and upper limb disability among music conservatory students. METHODS: An observational study in two Spanish conservatories, investigating a total of 206 students, administered the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, visual analog scale for pain intensity, Neck Disability Index, DASH, and SF-36. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics and musical performance variables were recorded. Regression models were performed to identify variables associated with MSP for the four most affected anatomical regions and with neck and upper limb disability. RESULTS: The locations with the highest prevalence of MSP were the neck, upper back, shoulders, and lower back. Mild disability affected 47% of participants in the neck and 31% in the upper limbs. Mental health (SF-36) was below the average for the general population (45.5±10.2). Women were more likely to suffer neck pain (odds ratio [OR] 1.1-5.2), lower back pain (OR 1.7-8.7), and neck disability (B 0.6-7.8). The risk for shoulder pain was higher in those who played for more hours (OR 1.7-24.7) and lower among those who performed physical activity (OR 0.23-1.00). Disability in the neck (B -0.3) and upper limbs (B -0.4) was associated with poorer mental health (SF-36). CONCLUSION: MSP is highly prevalent in music students. Neck and upper limb disability were slight to moderate and both were associated with poorer mental health. The main factors associated with MSP were being female, hours spent practicing, and physical activity. Physical and psychological factors should be taken into account in the prevention of MSP in student-musicians.

Validity of footprint analysis to determine flatfoot using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard in a random sample aged 40 years and older.

BACKGROUND: Research is needed to determine the prevalence and variables associated with the diagnosis of flatfoot, and to evaluate the validity of three footprint analysis methods for diagnosing flatfoot, using clinical diagnosis as a benchmark. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of a population-based random sample ≥ 40 years old (n = 1002) in A Coruña, Spain. Anthropometric variables, Charlson's comorbidity score, and podiatric examination (including measurement of Clarke's angle, the Chippaux-Smirak index, and the Staheli index) were used for comparison with a clinical diagnosis method using a podoscope. Multivariate regression was performed. Informed patient consent and ethical review approval were obtained. RESULTS: Prevalence of flatfoot in the left and right footprint, measured using the podoscope, was 19.0% and 18.9%, respectively. Variables independently associated with flatfoot diagnosis were age (OR 1.07), female gender (OR 3.55) and BMI (OR 1.39). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) showed that Clarke's angle is highly accurate in predicting flatfoot (AUC 0.94), followed by the Chippaux-Smirak (AUC 0.83) and Staheli (AUC 0.80) indices. Sensitivity values were 89.8% for Clarke's angle, 94.2% for the Chippaux-Smirak index, and 81.8% for the Staheli index, with respective positive likelihood ratios or 9.7, 2.1, and 2.0. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, and BMI were associated with a flatfoot diagnosis. The indices studied are suitable for diagnosing flatfoot in adults, especially Clarke's angle, which is highly accurate for flatfoot diagnosis in this population.

Clinical-pathological characteristics and prognosis of a cohort of oesophageal cancer patients: a competing risks survival analysis.

BACKGROUND: To determine the clinical course, follow-up strategies, and survival of oesophageal cancer patients using a competing risks survival analysis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective and prospective follow-up study. The study included 180 patients with a pathological diagnosis of oesophageal cancer in A Coruña, Spain, between 2003 and 2008. The Kaplan-Meier methodology and competing risks survival analysis were used to calculate the specific survival rate. The study was approved by the Ethics Review Board (code 2011/372, CEIC Galicia). RESULTS: The specific survival rate at the first, third, and fifth years was 40.2%, 18.1%, and 12.4%, respectively. Using the Kaplan-Meier methodology, the survival rate was slightly higher after the third year of follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, poor prognosis factors were female sex (hazard ratio [HR] 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-3.03), Charlson's comorbidity index (HR 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.33), and stage IV tumours (HR 1.70; 95% CI, 1.11-2.59). The probability of dying decreased with surgical and oncological treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) (HR 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.45). The number of hospital consultations per year during the follow-up period, from diagnosis to the appearance of a new event (local recurrences, newly appeared metastasis, and newly appeared neoplasias) did not affect the probability of survival (HR 1.03; 95% CI, 0.92-1.15). CONCLUSIONS: The Kaplan-Meier methodology overestimates the survival rate in comparison to competing risks analysis. The variables associated with a poor prognosis are female sex, Charlson's comorbidity score and extensive tumour invasion. Type of follow-up strategy employed after diagnosis does not affect the prognosis of the disease.

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups modulate the radiographic progression of Spanish patients with osteoarthritis.

Not all patients with osteoarthritis (OA) show the same disease progression, as some of them remain relatively stable over time, while others progress to severe structural deterioration of the joint. In this sense, the main goal of both genetic and protein biomarkers in OA is to predict not only the risk of OA at an earlier stage of the disease but also which OA patients are more likely to progress to severe disease. Taking into account the incidence of the mitochondria and the mtDNA haplogroups in the pathogenesis of OA, the main objective of this work was to evaluate the incidence of the mtDNA haplogroups in the radiographic progression of the OA disease in a well-characterized follow-up cohort of Spanish patients. DNA from 281 OA patients from Hospital Universitario A Coruña was isolated to determine the European mtDNA haplogroups. Knee or hip radiographs from all affected joints were obtained at two time points with at least 36 months apart. Radiographs were evaluated using the Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) scale; radiographic OA progression was defined as any radiographic worsening of the K/L joint score. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models. Patients belonging to the cluster TJ showed a slower radiographic OA progression than patients in the cluster KU (p = 0.036). Moreover, patients carrying the most common mtDNA haplogroup H are more apt to require total joint replacement surgery than non-H patients (p = 0.049). The inherited mitochondrial variants influence the radiographic progression of OA and could be considered among the genetic variants taken into account when the radiographic progression of OA is analyzed.