Alcohol consumption patterns and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the adult population of Spain.

PURPOSE: The objective is to evaluate the association between various indicators of alcohol consumption and the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet among the Spanish adult population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 44,834 participants ≥ 15 years of age from the 2017 National Health Survey and the 2020 European Health Survey in Spain. Alcohol patterns were defined based on (1) average intake: individuals were classified as low risk (1-20 g/day in men and 1-10 g/day in women) and high risk (> 20 g/day in men or > 10 g/day in women), (2) binge drinking, and (3) alcoholic beverage preference. Non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet was defined as scoring < 7 points on an adapted Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener index (range 0-10). Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Compared to non-drinkers, low and high-risk drinkers were more likely to report non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet: ORs 1.35 (95% CI 1.23; 1.49) and 1.54 (95% CI 1.34; 1.76), respectively. Similarly, reports of binge drinking less than once a month was associated with higher likelihood of non-adherence (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04; 1.31). Individuals reporting no preference for a specific beverage and those with a preference for beer or for spirits had lower adherence: ORs 1.18 (95% CI 1.05; 1.33), 1.31 (95% CI 1.17; 1.46), and 1.72 (95% CI 1.17; 2.54), respectively, while a preference for wine showed no association (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.90; 1.13). CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption, even in low amounts, is associated with lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, alcoholic beverages should not be included in measures that define the Mediterranean diet.

Suicide Following the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: Variation Across Place, Over Time, and Across Sociodemographic Groups. A Systematic Integrative Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To systematically examine changes in suicide trends following the initial COVID-19 outbreak, focusing on geographical and temporal heterogeneity and on differences across sociodemographic subgroups. RECENT FINDINGS: Of 46 studies, 26 had low risk of bias. In general, suicides remained stable or decreased following the initial outbreak - however, suicide increases were detected during spring 2020 in Mexico, Nepal, India, Spain, and Hungary; and after summer 2020 in Japan. Trends were heterogeneous across sociodemographic groups (i.e., there were increases among racially minoritized individuals in the US, young adults and females across ages in Japan, older males in Brazil and Germany, and older adults across sex in China and Taiwan). Variations may be explained by differences in risk of COVID-19 contagion and death and in socioeconomic vulnerability. Monitoring geographical, temporal, and sociodemographic differences in suicide trends during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to guide suicide prevention efforts.

Clustering of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, self-rated health and disability.

The main objective was to identify sociodemographic characteristics of the population at risk for a greater clustering of unhealthy behaviors and to evaluate the association of such clustering with self-rated health status and disability. Data come from the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey with a sample of 21,947 participants of 15 years of age or older. Based on tobacco consumption, risk drinking, unbalanced diet, sedentarism, and body mass index <18.5/≥25 we created two indicators of risk factor clustering: 1) Number of unhealthy behaviors (0-5); and 2) Unhealthy lifestyle index (score: 0-15). Self-rated health was dichotomized into "optimal" and "suboptimal," and disability was classified as "no disability," "mild," and "severe" based on the Global Activity Limitation Index (GALI). We estimated prevalence ratios (PR) adjusted for covariates using generalized linear models using the clustering count variable, and dose-response curves using the unhealthy lifestyle index. Most participants (77.4%) reported 2 or more risk factors, with men, middle-age individuals, and those with low socioeconomic status being more likely to do so. Compared to those with 0-1 risk factors, the PR for suboptimal health was 1.26 (95% CI:1.18-1.34) for those reporting 2-3 factors, reaching 1.43 (95% CI:1.31-1.55) for 4-5 factors. The PR for severe activity limitation was 1.66 (95% CI:1.35-2.03) for those reporting 2-3 factors and 2.06 (95% CI:1.59-2.67) for 4-5 factors. The prevalence of both health indicators increased in a non-linear fashion as the unhealthy lifestyle index score increased, increasing rapidly up to 5 points, slowing down between 5 and 10 points, and plateauing afterwards.

Suicidal and accidental drug poisoning mortality among older adults and working-age individuals in Spain between 2000 and 2018.

BACKGROUND: Although medication poisoning in older adults is considered an increasingly important, but preventable cause of death, it has received relatively little attention. We explored recent trends and correlates of suicidal and accidental fatal drug poisonings among older and working-age individuals using nationwide data from Spain. METHODS: We identified all 15,353 fatal drug poisonings involving decedents aged ≥15 years in Spain between 2000 and 2018 and divided them by age into older adults (≥65 years) and working-age (15-64 years) individuals. For each age group, we analyzed time trends in suicidal and accidental fatal drug poisoning rates (overall and by ICD-10 drug categories) using joinpoint regressions. To understand the specific drugs classified as "Non-psychotropic/non-specified", we used 2018 data including substance-specific ICD-10 supplementary codes. We explored relevant sociodemographic correlates of suicidal and accidental fatal poisoning rates using multivariable negative binomial regressions. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2018, suicidal fatal poisonings increased faster among older (from 0.19 to 0.63 per 100,000 - average annual change: 7.7%) than working-age individuals (from 0.40 to 0.72 per 100,000 - average annual change: 3.8%). Accidental fatal poisonings increased among older adults (from 0.25 to 2.67 per 100,000 - average annual change: 16.2%) but decreased among working-age counterparts (from 2.38 to 1.42 per 100,000 - average annual change: - 1.9%). Anticoagulants and cardiac-stimulants glycosides accounted for 70% of the 223 accidental fatal poisonings due to non-psychotropic/non-specified drugs registered among older adults in 2018. Roles of gender and urban dwelling in suicidal and accidental poisonings were heterogeneous across age groups. CONCLUSION: Increases in suicidal drug poisonings were faster among older than working-age individuals. Accidental fatal poisonings increased only among older adults. Our findings that (i) sociodemographic correlates were heterogeneous across age groups and (ii) anticoagulant and cardiac-stimulant glycosides were particularly salient drivers of accidental poisonings among older adults have implications for prevention.

Recent trends of invasive mechanical ventilation in older adults: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Critical care demand for older people is increasing. However, there is scarce population-based information about the use of life-support measures such as invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in this population segment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics and recent trends of IMV for older adults. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study on IMV in adults ≥65 years using the 2004-15 Spanish national hospital discharge database. Primary outcomes were incidence, inhospital mortality and resource utilization. Trends were assessed for average annual percentage change in rates using joinpoint regression models. RESULTS: 233,038 cases were identified representing 1.27% of all-cause hospitalizations and a crude incidence of 248 cases/100,000 older adult population. Mean age was 75 years, 62% were men and 70% had comorbidities. Inhospital mortality was 48%. Across all ages, about 80% of survivors were discharged home. Incidence rates of IMV remained roughly unchanged over time with an average annual change of -0.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.9, 0.6). Inhospital mortality decreased an annual average of -0.7% (95% CI: -0.5, -1.0), a trend detected across age groups and most clinical strata. Further, there was a 3.4% (95% CI: 3.0, 3.8) annual increase in the proportion of adults aged ≥80 years, an age group that showed higher mortality risk, lower frequency of prolonged IMV, shorter hospital stays and lower costs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall rates of IMV remained roughly stable among older adults, while inhospital mortality showed a decreasing trend. There was a notable increase in adults aged ≥80 years, a group with high mortality and lower associated hospital resource use.

Individual and Contextual Factors Associated With Hazardous Drinking in Spain: Evidence From a National Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Heavy drinking (HD) and binge drinking (BD) exhibit marked differences in their relationships with contextual-level factors imbedded in geographical areas of residence. The objective is to identify sociodemographic factors, both at the individual and at the contextual level, associated with these 2 main hazardous consumption patterns. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using data from the 2011 to 2012 National Health Survey in Spain. The sample included 21,007 individuals ≥15 years of age. HD was defined as an alcohol intake of ≥40 g/d in men and ≥24 g/d in women. BD was defined as the consumption in the previous month of ≥6 alcoholic drinks (men) or ≥5 drinks (women) within 4 to 6 hours. Individual-level variables included sociodemographic factors, urban/rural residence, smoking, and perceived social support. Contextual-level variables covered percentage of population with no schooling, unemployment rate, and hospitality industry-related economic activity, all at the census tract level. We analyzed data using multilevel logistic regression and calculated areas under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Being male, smoking, high-income, and low perceived social support were associated with both hazardous drinking patterns. Younger individuals were at higher risk for BD but at lower risk for HD. BD was more common among rural than urban dwellers (odds ratios [OR] = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.72), whereas HD was less likely in participants residing in areas with high unemployment rates (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.93). HD was more likely in census tracts with higher levels of hospitality industry activity (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.54). The AUC increased substantially for both HD and BD when the census tract variable was entered in the respective models (reaching 89.5 and 93.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Except for age, both drinking patterns have similar associations with individual-level variables but disparate links to contextual-level indicators. In both cases, accounting for area of residence substantially increased the ability to discriminate between high-risk drinkers from nonhazardous alcohol consumers.

Effect of dementia on the incidence, short-term outcomes, and resource utilization of invasive mechanical ventilation in the elderly: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Though the prevalence of dementia among hospitalized patients is increasing, there is limited population data in Europe about the use of life-support measures such as invasive mechanical ventilation in these patients. Our objective is to assess whether dementia influences the incidence, outcomes, and hospital resource use in elderly patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Using ICD-9-CM codes, all hospitalizations involving invasive mechanical ventilation in adults aged ≥ 65 years were identified in the Spanish national hospital discharge database covering the period 2000-2013. The cases identified were stratified into two cohorts (patients with or without dementia) in which main outcome measures were compared. The impact of dementia on in-hospital mortality and hospital resource use were assessed through multivariable models. Trends were assessed through joinpoint regression analysis and results expressed as average annual percentage change. RESULTS: Of the 259,623 cases identified, 5770 (2.2%) had been assigned codes for dementia. Cases with dementia were older, had a lower Charlson comorbidity score, and less frequently received prolonged mechanical ventilation or were assigned a surgical DRG. Circulatory disease was the most common main diagnosis in both cohorts. No significant impact of dementia was observed on in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.04, [95% CI] 0.98, 1.09). In the cohort with dementia, the incidence of mechanical ventilation underwent an average annual increase over time of 5.39% (95% CI 4.0, 6.7) while this rate was 1.62% (95% CI 0.9, 2.4) in cases without dementia. However, unlike this cohort, mortality in cases with dementia did not significantly decline over time. Geometric mean hospital cost and stay were lower among cases with than without dementia (- 14% [95% CI - 12%, - 15%] and - 12% [95% CI, - 9%, - 14%], respectively), and these differences increased over time. CONCLUSION: This nationwide population-based study suggests no impact of dementia on in-hospital mortality in elderly patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. However, dementia is significantly associated with shorter stay and hospital costs. Our data also identifies a recent marked increase in the use of this life-support measure in elderly patients with dementia and that this increase is much greater than that observed in elderly individuals without dementia.

Nutritional supplements for patients being treated for active visceral leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by a parasite, which can lead to death if untreated. Poor nutritional status hastens the progression of VL infection, and VL worsens malnutrition status. Malnutrition is one of the poor prognostic factors identified for leishmaniasis. However, the effects of nutritional supplementation in people treated for VL are not known. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of oral nutritional supplements in people being treated with anti-leishmanial drug therapy for VL. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group (CIDG) Specialized Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and two trial registers up to 12 September 2017. We checked conference proceedings and WHO consultative meeting reports, the reference lists of key documents and existing reviews, and contacted experts and nutritional supplement companies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomized controlled trials (quasi-RCTs), and non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs) of any oral nutritional supplement, compared to no nutritional intervention, placebo, or dietary advice alone, in people being treated for VL. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently screened the literature search results for studies that met the inclusion criteria. We had planned for two review authors to independently extract data and assess the risk of bias of the included studies. We planned to follow the Cochrane standard methodological procedures for assessing risk of bias and analysing the data. MAIN RESULTS: We identified no eligible studies for this review, either completed or ongoing. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no studies, either completed or ongoing, that assessed the effects of oral nutritional supplements in people with VL who were being treated with anti-leishmanial drug therapy. Thus, we could not draw any conclusions on the impact of these interventions on primary cure of VL, definitive cure of VL, treatment completion, self-reported recovery from illness or resolution of symptoms, weight gain, increased skinfold thickness, other measures of lean or total mass, or growth in children.This absence of evidence should not be interpreted as evidence of no effect for nutritional supplements in people under VL treatment. It means that we did not identify research that fulfilled our review inclusion criteria.The effects of oral nutritional supplements in people with VL who are being treated with anti-leishmanial drug therapy have yet to be determined by rigorous experimental studies, such as cluster-randomized trials, that focus on outcomes relevant for patients.

Safety of balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in Europe: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: The study aims to evaluate the safety of balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in Europe. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature, until September 2013, and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials performed in Europe assessing the safety of balloon kyphoplasty in patients with symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Outcomes sought include cement leaks, serious clinical complications and new vertebral fractures. RESULTS: Six randomized controlled trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These studies included data on 525 treated levels in 424 patients. Cement leakages were detected in 18.3 % (95 % CI 11.6, 23.0) of fractures intervened. In about 0.5 % (95 % CI 0.1, 1.1) of fractures leakages proved to be symptomatic. Serious clinical complications were recorded in 11.5 % (95 % CI 1.1, 21.7) of patients treated with balloon kyphoplasty with several of these cases requiring intensive treatment or postoperative surgery. New vertebral fractures were detected in 20.7 % (95 % CI 0.4, 40.9) of patients treated but rates showed an upward pattern when the follow-up period increased. In 54 % of such cases, the fractures were located in regions adjacent to the treated level. CONCLUSIONS: The safety profile and associated complications of balloon kyphoplasty shown in this analysis, based on the evidence provided by existing randomized controlled trials, can be of help to the practicing clinician who must contrast them with the potential benefits of the technique. These data represent an important step towards a balanced evaluation of the intervention though, a better reporting and more reliable data on long-term assessment of potential sequelae are needed.

Trends in infectious disease mortality rates, Spain, 1980-2011.

Using mortality data from National Institute of Statistics in Spain, we analyzed trends of infectious disease mortality rates in Spain during 1980-2011 to provide information on surveillance and control of infectious diseases. During the study period, 628,673 infectious disease-related deaths occurred, the annual change in the mortality rate was -1.6%, and the average infectious disease mortality rate was 48.5 deaths/100,000 population. Although the beginning of HIV/AIDS epidemic led to an increased mortality rate, a decreased rate was observed by the end of the twentieth century. By codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, the most frequent underlying cause of death was pneumonia. Emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases continue to be public health problems despite reduced mortality rates produced by various interventions. Therefore, surveillance and control systems should be reinforced with a goal of providing reliable data for useful decision making.

Epidemiology and recent trends of severe sepsis in Spain: a nationwide population-based analysis (2006-2011).

BACKGROUND: Although severe sepsis constitutes an important burden for healthcare systems, there is limited nationwide data on its epidemiology in European countries. Our objective was to examine the most recent epidemiological characteristics and trends of severe sepsis in Spain, from a population perspective. METHODS: Analysis of the 2006-2011 National Hospital Discharge Registry. Cases were identified by combining specific ICD-9CM codes. We estimated demographics, clinical characteristics and outcomes and calculated age- and sex-adjusted estimations of incidence and mortality rates. Trends were assessed in terms of annual percent change (APC) in rates using joinpoint regression analysis. RESULTS: Over the 6-year period we identified 240939 cases of severe sepsis nationwide representing 1.1% of all hospitalisations and 54% of hospitalisations with sepsis. Incidence was 87 cases per 100,000 population. Overall 58% of cases were men, 66% were over the age of 65 and about 67% had associated comorbidities. Bacteremia was coded in 16% of records. Almost 54% of cases had one organ dysfunction, 26% two and around 20% three or more dysfunctions. In-hospital case-fatality was 43% and associated with age, gender, comorbidities and organ dysfunctions, among others. We found significant demographic and clinical changes over time with an increase in the mean age of cases, comorbidities, number of organ dysfunctions and in the number of cases with gram-negative pathogens. Furthermore, even with gender disparities, standardised incidence and mortality rates increased with an overall APC of 8.6% (95% CI 5.1, 12.1) and 6% (95% CI 1.9, 10.3), respectively. Conversely, we detect a significant decrease in case-fatality rates with an overall APC of -3.24% (95% CI: -4.2, -2.2). CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide population-based study shows that hospitalizations with severe sepsis are frequent and associated with substantial in-hospital mortality in Spain. Furthermore it indicates that the incidence and mortality rates of severe sepsis have notably increased in recent years, showing also a significant increase in the age and severity of the affected population. Despite this, there has been a significant decreasing trend in case-fatality rates over time. This information has significant implications for health-care system planning and may prove useful to estimate future care requirements.

Impact of psychological distress on mortality in Spain. The importance of early detection and treatment of mental disorders.

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems account for 14% of mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between psychological distress and mortality in the Spanish adult population. METHODS: Data came from a longitudinal study in population ≥15 years of age (n=21,005) who participated in the 2011-12 Spanish National Health Survey, which was linked to mortality records as of December 2020. Mental health was assessed with the GHQ-12, defining psychological distress as a dichotomous variable using a GHQ-12 score ≥3 as the cutoff point. Using Poisson regression, standardized mortality rate ratios (SRR) were estimated for all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and tumor-related mortality, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, lifestyles, and comorbidities. RESULTS: The standardized overall mortality rate in individuals with and without psychological distress was 14.58 and 10.90 per 1000 person-years, respectively, estimating an SRR of 1.34 (95%CI: 1.19-1.50). The SRR for tumor-related mortality was 1.17 (95%CI: 0.90-1.53), and cardiovascular-related mortality was related to higher distress (GHQ-12 ≥ 4): SRR of 1.22 (95%CI: 0.98-1.51). Among psychological distressed individuals, the overall mortality SRR for those with a previous mental disorder diagnosis was 1.18 (95%CI: 0.91-1.53) versus 1.34 (95%CI: 1.18-1.54) for those without such diagnosis (p for interaction=0.067). Similarly, distressed participants taking prescription drugs for mental disorders had a lower mortality risk than those not taking them (p for interaction=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with psychological distress had a higher risk of overall-, cardiovascular disease- and tumor-related mortality. This association was higher among participants not previously diagnosed with a mental disorder and those not taking medication for mental issues.

Volume of alcohol intake, heavy episodic drinking, and all-cause mortality in Spain: A longitudinal population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of alcohol consumption on health, particularly in low quantities, remains controversial. Our objective was to assess the association between alcohol volume and heavy episodic drinking (HED) with all-cause mortality, while minimizing many of the known methodological issues. METHODOLOGY: This longitudinal study used data from the 2011-2012 National Health Survey and the 2014 European Health Survey in Spain. Data from 43,071 participants aged ≥ 15 years were linked to mortality records as of December 2021. Alcohol consumption categories were defined based on intake volume and frequency: never-drinkers, former drinkers, infrequent occasional drinkers (≤once/month), frequent occasional drinkers ( once /month). Regular drinkers (≥once/week) were further classified by volume: >0-10 g/day, >10-20 g/day, >20-40 g/day, and > 40 g/day. Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) was defined as ≥ 6 and ≥ 5 standard drinks (10 g) within 4-6 h for men and women, respectively. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using Cox regression, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors, health status, and alcohol volume or HED. RESULTS: Compared to infrequent occasional drinkers, HRs for never-drinkers and former drinkers were 1.30 (95 %CI:1.14-1.47) and 1.32 (95 %CI:1.15-1.50), respectively. No differences in mortality risk were observed for intakes up to 20 g/day, but it increased for consumptions > 20-40 g/day and > 40 g/day (HR = 1.29; 95 %CI:1.05-1.58 and HR = 1.57; 95 %CI:1.14-2.17, respectively). The HR of weekly HED vs. never was 1.31 (95 %CI:0.98-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to infrequent occasional drinking, consuming low amounts of alcohol had no impact on mortality risk. However, never-drinkers, former drinkers, individuals with regular consumption > 20 g/day, and those engaging in weekly HED, experienced higher mortality risk.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of people with severe mental disorders hospitalized due to COVID-19: A nationwide population-based study.

OBJETIVE: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with severe mental illness (SMI) have worse outcomes than counterparts without SMI. Barriers in access to acute care medical procedures among SMI patients may partially explain this phenomenon. Here, we examined differences in critical care admission and in-hospital mortality between hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without SMI. METHODS: This population-based study used Spain's nationwide electronic health records. Based on International Classification Diseases, Tenth Revision, ICD-10-CM codes, we identified all patients aged ≥15 years hospitalized due to COVID-19 between July 1st-December 31st, 2020, and compared patients with and without SMI in terms of (i) critical care admission and (ii) in-hospital mortality - overall and stratified by age. We used logistic regression models including sex, age, and comorbidity burden as measured by Charlson Comorbidity Index Score as covariates. RESULTS: Of 118,691 hospital admissions due to COVID-19 of people aged ≥15 years, 1512 (1.3%) included a diagnosis of SMI. Compared to non-SMI patients, SMI patients had higher in-hospital mortality (OR,95%CI: 1.63,1.42-1.88) and were less frequently admitted to critical care (OR,95%CI: 0.70,0.58-0.85). Admission to critical care in SMI patients was lower than for non-SMI counterparts only among individuals aged ≥60 years. The magnitude of the difference in in-hospital mortality between SMI and non-SMI patients decreased as age increased. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with SMI had reduced critical care admission and increased in-hospital mortality compared non-SMI counterparts, suggesting that differences in delivery of acute care medical procedures may partially explain higher risk of negative outcomes among COVID-19 patients with SMI.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide mortality in Spain: Differences by sex and age.

BACKGROUND: Variations in suicide following the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak were heterogeneous across space, over time, and across population subgroup. Whether suicide has increased during the pandemic in Spain, a major initial COVID-19 hotspot, remains unclear, and no study has examined differences by sociodemographic group. METHODS: We used 2016-2020 data on monthly suicide deaths from Spain's National Institute of Statistics. We implemented Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models to control seasonality, non-stationarity, and autocorrelation. Using January 2016-March 2020 data, we predicted monthly suicide counts (95 % prediction intervals) between April and December 2020, and then compared observed and predicted monthly suicide counts. All calculations were conducted for the overall study population and by sex and age group. RESULTS: Between April and December 2020, the number of suicides in Spain was 11 % higher-than-predicted. Monthly suicide counts were lower-than-expected in April 2020 and peaked in August 2020 with 396 observed suicides. Excess suicide counts were particularly salient during the summer of 2020 - largely driven by over 50 % higher-than-expected suicide counts among males aged 65 years and older in June, July, and August 2020. DISCUSSION: The number of suicides increased in Spain during the months following the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Spain, largely driven by increases in suicides among older adults. Potential explanations underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. Important factors to understand these findings may include fear of contagion, isolation, and loss and bereavement - in the context of the particularly high mortality rates of older adults during the initial phases of the pandemic in Spain.

Light cigarette smoking and all-cause mortality in Spain. A national population-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: Regular light cigarette consumption (light smoking) is increasing in many countries; however, few studies have assessed its impact on mortality. The main aim of this study is to estimate the association between the number of cigarettes consumed and all-cause mortality in Spain while focusing on light smoking. METHODS: Longitudinal study based on data from 42,902 individuals aged ≥15 years included in the 2011-2012 (Spanish) National Health Survey or the 2014 European Health Survey for Spain. Data were linked with the mortality registry up to December 2020. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) adjusted for sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors, and health status indicators. RESULTS: Compared to never smokers, the mortality HR for nondaily smokers was 1.30 (95% CI: 0.81-2.09), increasing to 2.23 (95% CI: 1.25-3.96) among those smoking 1-2 cigarettes/d, and to 1.54 (95%CI: 1.14-2.07) for consumers of 3-5 cigarettes/day. When individuals who reported trying to quit during the previous year were excluded, resulting HRs were 1.31 (95% CI: 0.81-2.10), 1.48 (95% CI: 0.69-3.19) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.16-2.34), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to never smokers, consumers of small quantities of tobacco, that is, light smoking, had an increased mortality risk. In view of these results, we suggest the need for awareness-raising campaigns regarding how smoking even a small number of cigarettes a day causes serious harm to one´s health.

Trends in suicide mortality in Spain, 2000-2019: Moderation by foreign-born status.

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates in Spain remained stable during the early 21st century. Suicide rates among specific socially vulnerable groups, however, remain unknown, and there are no data on suicide mortality rates and trends among migrants living in Spain. METHODS: We analyzed Spain's 2000-2019 suicide mortality data by migration status (native- vs. foreign-born), examining crude and age-standardized rates and trends overall and by sex, age-group, suicide method, Spanish citizenship status, and country of origin, using joinpoint regression models. RESULTS: Annual crude suicide mortality rates were higher among native- than foreign-born individuals (9.2 versus 6.2 por 100.000 inhabitants, respectively). While suicide rates decreased among native-born men and remained roughly stable among native-born women - with slight decreases among older native-born women, they increased after 2010 among foreign-born men aged 15-44 and ≥65 years and foreign-born women aged ≥65 years. Increases in suicide trends among foreign-born residents in Spain were largely driven by increases specific to individuals without Spanish citizenship. LIMITATIONS: Suicide mortality data are subject to potential errors due to underreporting of suicide in death certificates CONCLUSIONS: Between 2010-2019, suicide in Spain increased only among foreign-born residents. These findings should enhance our understanding of the dynamics and potential actionable causes of suicide among migrants living in Spain.

Role of Foreign-Born Status on Suicide Mortality in Spain Between 2000 and 2019: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.

Objectives: To examine recent age-period-cohort effects on suicide among foreign-born individuals, a particularly vulnerable sociodemographic group in Spain. Methods: Using 2000-2019 mortality data from Spain's National Institute of Statistics, we estimated age-period-cohort effects on suicide mortality, stratified by foreign-born status (native- vs. foreign-born) and, among the foreign-born, by Spanish citizenship status, a proxy for greater socioeconomic stability. Results: Annual suicide mortality rates were lower among foreign- than native-born individuals. There was heterogeneity in age-period-cohort effects between study groups. After 2010, suicide mortality increased markedly among the foreign-born-especially for female cohorts born around 1950, and slightly among native-born women-especially among female cohorts born after the 1960s. Among native-born men, suicide increased linearly with age and remained stable over time. Increases in suicide among the foreign-born were driven by increases among individuals without Spanish citizenship-especially among cohorts born after 1975. Conclusion: After 2010, suicide in Spain increased markedly among foreign-born individuals and slightly among native-born women, suggesting an association between the downstream effects of the 2008 economic recession and increases in suicide mortality among socioeconomically vulnerable populations.

Predictive capacity of self-rated health on all-cause mortality in Spain: differences across sex, age and educational level.

BACKGROUND: Published evidence on self-rated health's capacity to predict mortality and its variability across subpopulations lacks consistency. Our objective is to evaluate this predictive association and whether/how it varies by sex, age and educational attainment at the population level in Spain. METHODS: Data came from a prospective longitudinal study based on 42 645 individuals aged ≥15 years who participated in the 2011-2012 and 2014 Spanish Health Surveys. Median follow-up time for mortality was 5.4 years. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and chronic disease variables were used to estimate the predictive capacity of self-rated health on mortality. RESULTS: Self-rated health was associated with mortality with a dose-response effect (p value for linear trend <0.001). Compared with respondents who rated their health as very good, those rating it as very poor presented an HR of 3.33 (95% CI 2.50 to 4.44). Suboptimal self-rated health was a stronger predictor of mortality among 15-44 year-olds (HR 2.87; 95% CI 1.59 to 5.18), compared with the estimate for 45-64 year-olds (HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.45 to 2.39) (p value for interaction=0.001) and for those 65 and older (HR 1.51; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.68) (p value for interaction <0.001). Regarding educational attainment, the association was stronger for individuals with university studies (HR 2.51; 95% CI 1.67 to 3.76) than for those with only primary or no studies (HR 1.31; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.48) (p value for interaction=0.010). No statistically significant differences were observed between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Self-rated health may be considered a good predictor of all-cause mortality in the population of Spain, although the magnitude of this predictive association varies by age and educational level.

Physical and social environmental factors related to co-occurrence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.

Previous work identifying determinants of co-occurrence of behavioral risk factors have focused on their association with individuals' characteristics with scant attention paid to their relationship to contextual factors. Data came from 21,007 individuals ≥15 years of age who participated in the cross-sectional 2011-2012 Spanish National Health Survey. Two indicators were defined by tobacco consumption, alcohol intake, diet, physical activity, and body mass index. The first indicator, based on dichotomized measures, ranges from 0 to 5. The second one (unhealthy lifestyle index), ranges from 0 to 15, with 0 denoting the healthiest score. Among the determinants, we examined social support, five perceived characteristics of the neighborhood, and the socioeconomic deprivation index of the census tract of residence. Data were analyzed using multilevel linear and logistic regression models adjusted for the main sociodemographic characteristics. Using the dichotomized indicator, the probability of having 3-5 risk factors versus <3 factors was associated with low social support (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.50; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.25-1.80). Issues surrounding neighborhood cleanliness (OR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.04-1.33), air pollution (OR = 1.38; 95%CI: 1.16-1.64), and street crime (OR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.03-1.42) were associated with determinants of co-occurrence. Risk factors co-occurrence increased as deprivation level increased: the OR for the highest deprivation quintile versus the lowest was 1.30 (95%CI: 1.14-1.48). Similar results were observed when using the unhealthy lifestyle index. Poorer physical and social environments are related to greater co-occurrence of risk factors for chronic diseases. Health promotion interventions targeting the prevention of risk factors should consider the contextual characteristics of the neighborhood environment.