Female authorship positions in health economic evaluations: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gender of the authors who publish articles of health economic evaluations in medicine and healthcare journals. METHOD: We evaluated a random sample of economic evaluations indexed in MEDLINE during 2019. Gender of the first, last and corresponding author was determined by review of the author's first name. Data were summarized as frequency and percentage for categorical items and median and interquartile range (IQR) for continuous items. We also calculated the index of authors per paper. RESULTS: We included 200 studies with 1365 authors (median of 6 authors per paper; IQR: 4-9). Gender identification was possible for all authors in the study sample: 802 (59%) were men and 563 (41%) were women. The number of female first, last, and corresponding authors respectively were 78 (39%), 68 (34%), and 80 (40%) for health economic evaluations. DISCUSSION: Female scientists were underrepresented as co-authors and in prominent authorship positions in health economic evaluations. This study serves as a call to action for the scientific community to actively work towards equity and inclusion.

Transparency, openness, and reproducible research practices are frequently underused in health economic evaluations.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the extent to which articles of economic evaluations of healthcare interventions indexed in MEDLINE incorporate research practices that promote transparency, openness, and reproducibility. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We evaluated a random sample of health economic evaluations indexed in MEDLINE during 2019. We included articles written in English reporting an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio in terms of costs per life years gained, quality-adjusted life years, and/or disability-adjusted life years. Reproducible research practices, openness, and transparency in each article were extracted in duplicate. We explored whether reproducible research practices were associated with self-report use of a guideline. RESULTS: We included 200 studies published in 147 journals. Almost half were published as open access articles (n = 93; 47%). Most studies (n = 150; 75%) were model-based economic evaluations. In 109 (55%) studies, authors self-reported use a guideline (e.g., for study conduct or reporting). Few studies (n = 31; 16%) reported working from a protocol. In 112 (56%) studies, authors reported the data needed to recreate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the base case analysis. This percentage was higher in studies using a guideline than studies not using a guideline (72/109 [66%] with guideline vs. 40/91 [44%] without guideline; risk ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.15-1.97). Only 10 (5%) studies mentioned access to raw data and analytic code for reanalyses. CONCLUSION: Transparency, openness, and reproducible research practices are frequently underused in health economic evaluations. This study provides baseline data to compare future progress in the field.

Differences in the temporal trends of childhood overweight and obesity in Spain in the 2011-2019 period by sex, age and socioeconomic level: results of the ALADINO study.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood excess weight is a growing public health problem. The aim of this study was to assess temporal trends in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity in schoolchildren aged 6-9 years in Spain between 2011 and 2019 based on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. METHODOLOGY: The analysis included data from the 2011, 2015 and 2019 rounds of the cross-sectional observational and descriptive ALADINO study in schoolchildren of both sexes aged 6-9 years. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity (defined according to the criteria of the World Health Organization and the International Obesity Task Force) and of central obesity, in addition to associated demographic and socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2019, the prevalence of overweight (WHO criteria) decreased in boys aged 6, 7 and 8 years (by -5.4%, -5.7% and -5.3%, respectively) and boys whose parents had a higher educational attainment (by -5.3%). In relation to the socioeconomic level, overweight in boys declined at all income levels. However, between 2011 and 2019, both the prevalence of overweight in girls and the prevalence of obesity (applying the WHO and IOTF criteria) and the prevalence of central obesity in both sexes remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and the prevalence of obesity in schoolchildren aged 6-9 years in Spain remain high. Between 2011 and 2019, the prevalence of overweight in children aged 6-8 years and in children whose parents had university degrees decreased, whereas obesity in boys, overweight and obesity in girls and central obesity in both sexes remained stable.

[Healthcare workers in intensive care units as second victims of SARS-CoV-2: results of a survey]. / Los trabajadores de áreas de cuidados críticos como segundas víctimas del SARS-CoV-2: resultados de una encuesta.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has caused an exceptional situation in our country's healthcare system. Healthcare workers could become the second victims as consequence of this pandemic circumstances, such as: the huge work overload that healthcare workers have been exposed to, the excessive emotional overload, the stressful situations and the fear of being infected themselves and to infect their families. The aim of this study is to know the emotional overload of workers in intensive care units during SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in a tertiary hospital in the Community of Madrid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out through the voluntary completion by workers in intensive care units of a questionnaire adapted from the Acute Stress Scale «EASE COVID-19¼, with 10 closed-ended Likert scale questions, adding four questions: sex, professional category, if they usually work in intensive care units and the sacrifice in their routines. Data were collected in July 2020, to assess the impact of the first wave. A descriptive analysis was carried out as well as an analysis of the possible links between the collected variables and the emotional response. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent of surveyed respondents showed good emotional adjustment. The major concern of the participants was the possibility of infecting their families. The highest scores by categories were observed in nurses, assistant nursing care technicians and orderlies, while 100% of doctors showed good emotional adjustment, with no differences between genders. Sixty percent of participants modified their family routine, being medical residents who got the highest percentage. CONCLUSIONS: Sanitary crisis has turned healthcare workers into second victims of SARS-CoV-2. Their detection is essential to offer them help and resources to ensure their emotional well-being, removing barriers and helping them to be strengthened.

Survival Patterns of Human Prion Diseases in Spain, 1998-2018: Clinical Phenotypes and Etiological Clues.

BACKGROUND: Human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders of short duration. There are few studies on TSE survival. This study sought to analyze the survival and related factors of a TSE patient cohort, based on a nationwide surveillance system in Spain. METHODS: Survival analyses were performed on 1,530 cases diagnosed across the period 1998-2018 in Spain. We calculated median survival times and plotted survival curves using the Kaplan-Meier method for all cases and for sporadic TSE (sTSE) and genetic TSE (gTSE). Crude and adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify variables associated with shorter survival. FINDINGS: Median age at onset decreased from the sporadic forms to gTSE and, lastly, to acquired TSE. Overall median and interquartile range (IQR) survival time was 5.2 (IQR, 3.0-11.7) months and 4.9 (IQR, 2.8-10.8) months in sporadic cases and 9 (IQR, 4.9 to over 12) months in genetic cases, p < 0.001. Male sex, older age at onset, presence of 14-3-3 protein, typical MRI, and MM and VV polymorphisms at codon 129 were associated with shorter survival. gTSE showed higher survival in crude comparisons but not after adjustment. INTERPRETATION: TSE survival in Spain replicates both the magnitude of that shown and the TSE entity-specific population patterns observed in Western countries but differs from features described in Asian populations, such as the Japanese. The reduction in differences in survival between gTSE and sTSE on adjusting for covariates and international patterns might support the view that gTSE and sTSE share causal and pathophysiological features.

Human prion disease surveillance in Spain, 1993-2018: an overview.

In Spain, human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have been undergoing continuous surveillance for over 25 years. In 1995, the system was launched as an EU Concerted Action, with EU surveillance network procedures being incorporated from 2002 onwards. The aim of this report was to describe performance and outcomes of this surveillance system across the period 1993-2018. Neurology and public health specialists from every region reported cases to a central hub at the Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid. In all, eight accidentally transmitted cases and five definite variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) patients were reported. All vCJD cases were diagnosed between 2005 and 2008. Two of these were family/dietary-related and spatially linked to a third. Yearly incidence of sporadic CJD per million was 1.25 across the period 1998-2018, and displayed a north-south gradient with the highest incidence in La Rioja, Navarre and the Basque Country. Genetic TSEs were observed to be clustered in the Basque Country, with a 4-fold incidence over the national rate. A total of 120 (5.6%) non-TSE sporadic, conformational, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative and vascular brain disorders were reported as suspect CJD. We conclude that TSEs in Spain displayed geographically uneven, stable medium incidences for the sporadic and genetic forms, a temporal and spatial family cluster for vCJD, and decreasing numbers for dura-mater-associated forms. The vCJD surveillance, framed within the EU network, might require continuing to cover all prion disorders. There is need for further strategic surveillance research focusing on case definition of rapid-course, conformational encephalopathies and surgical risk.

[Compliance evaluation of "do not do" recommendations of the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine and public health]. / Evaluación del cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de "no hacer" de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública.

OBJECTIVE: The reduction of unnecessary health interventions determines good care quality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the compliance of the "do not do" recommendations proposed by the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene. METHODS: Prospective, observational, descriptive study of patients admitted to the La Princesa University Hospital between December 2018 and January 2019. The compliance of each recommendation in different patients was analyzed. The quantitative variables are expressed as means and standard deviation and the qualitative values as percentages and confidence interval. RESULTS: In Recommendation 1 (R1: "Do not remove hair systematically"), 231 interventions were studied and the compliance was of 100% (95% CI: 98.27-100). In Recommendation 2 (R2: "Do not maintain antibiotics for more than 48 hours, unless evidence of infection"), 201 interventions were studied and the compliance was of 93.53% (95% CI: 90.09-96.91). In Recommendation 3 (R3: "Do not analyze C. difficile toxin in asymptomatic patients"), 200 determinations were studied and the compliance was of 93.5% (95% CI: 90.08-96.92). In Recommendation 4 (R4: "Do not do routine nasal decolonization"), 167 interventions were recruited and the compliance was of 100% (95% CI: 97.6-100). In Recommendation 5 (R5: "Do not perform routine replacement of peripheral venous catheter every 72-96 hours"), 153 patients were studied in compliance with the recommendation of 98.04% (95% CI: 94.12-99.35). CONCLUSIONS: A 100% compliance was found in Recommendations 1 and 4. There is an opportunity of improvement in the recommendations R2, R3 and R5.

OBJETIVO: La reducción de las intervenciones sanitarias innecesarias, bien porque no han demostrado su eficacia, bien porque poseen efectividad dudosa o no son eficientes, mejora la calidad de la atención sanitaria. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el grado de cumplimiento de las recomendaciones consensuadas por la Sociedad Española de Medicina Preventiva, Salud Pública e Higiene para el proyecto "No hacer". METODOS: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, observacional y descriptivo de pacientes ingresados en el Hospital Universitario de La Princesa entre diciembre de 2018 y enero de 2019. Se evaluó el cumplimiento de cada recomendación en diferentes pacientes. Se calcularon porcentajes e intervalos de confianza en las variables cualitativas y el las cuantitativas la media y desviación estándar. RESULTADOS: En la Recomendación 1 (R1: "No eliminar el vello de forma sistemática"), se estudiaron 231 intervenciones y el cumplimiento de la recomendación fue del 100% (IC95%: 98,27-100%). En la Recomendación 2 (R2: "No continuar con antibióticos más de 48 horas, a menos que haya evidencia de infección"), se estudiaron 201 intervenciones y el cumplimiento de la recomendación fue del 93,53% (IC95%: 90,09-96,91%). En la Recomendación 3 (R3: "No realizar análisis de toxina C. difficile en pacientes asintomáticos"), se estudiaron 200 determinaciones y el cumplimiento fue del 93,5% (IC95%: 90,08-96,92%). En la Recomendación 4 (R4: "No utilizar descontaminante nasal rutinario"), se reclutaron 167 intervenciones y el cumplimiento fue del 100% (IC95%: 97,6-100%). En la Recomendación 5 (R5: "No reemplazo rutinario de catéter venoso periférico cada 72-96 horas"), se estudiaron 153 pacientes con un cumplimiento de 98,04% (IC95%: 94,12-99,35%). CONCLUSIONES: Se comprueba un cumplimiento del 100% en las Recomendaciones 1 y 4. Hay oportunidad de mejora en las recomendaciones R2, R3 y R5.