[Characteristics and statistical methods used in original articles published in Public Health journals in Spain]. / Características y métodos estadísticos empleados en los artículos originales publicados en las revistas de Salud Pública en España.

BACKGROUND: To describe the characteristics and statistical methods used in the original articles published in Gaceta Sanitaria, Revista Española de Salud Pública y Anales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra, the Spanish public health journals in Spain indexed in the 2016 JRC. METHODS: All articles published in these journals in 2007, 2012 and 2017 were reviewed. For each article, general aspects (year, journal, language, area) and statistical characteristics (design, purpose, method and software) were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 310 articles were reviewed, 73% of them were cross-sectional studies. Evaluation and health services (24%) and chronic diseases were the most frequent areas. During the 2007-2017 period there was an increase in both the number of works written in English (4 vs 20%, p<0.001) and by women as the main (46 vs 62%, p=0.028) or senior authors (27 vs 36%, p=0.029). Significant changes concerning type of analysis were not detected (p=0.933). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics and statistical methods used in scientific publications have not been modified in recent years. However, publications written in English have increased and women are playing a more relevant role in authorship. KEYWORDS: Authorship. Statistical Analysis. Scientific research. Public Health. Spain.

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality in Navarre (Spain).

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies among males worldwide. In this study, overall and age-specific incidence and mortality trends are analyzed in order to present the past and current epidemiological situation of the disease in Navarre (Spain). METHODS: Population-based incidence data from the 1975-2010 period, provided by the Cancer Registry of Navarre and prostate cancer specific mortality data for 1975-2013, provided by the Spanish Statistical Office, were used in the analysis. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, change-points and annual percentage changes (APC) were estimated by joinpoint regression analysis. One-dimensional P-spline models were used to estimate projections up to 2016. RESULTS: Considerable increases of cancer incidence rates in men aged 45-74 years were observed, with APC of +4.5% (p<0.001), +9.5% (p<0.001) and +2.4% (p<0.05) in the 1975-1990, 1990-2000 and 2000-2010 periods, respectively. In the older than 74 age-group, an increase of incidence rates in the 1975-1999 period was registered (APC +3.3%, p<0.001), followed by a significant decrease up to 2010 (APC -4.0%, p<0.01). Mortality rates rose until 1995 (APC +2.2%, p<0.001) whereas a decline occurred afterwards up to 2013 (APC -3.4%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Even though overall prostate cancer incidence rates seem to have stabilized in 2002-2010 in Navarra, trends were different by age groups: increased in men 45-74 years old and decreased in the 75+ year age-group. A decline in mortality rates was observed in both age groups since about 1995. Changes in the use of prostate specific antigen test for screening in oncoming years could affect future prostate cancer trends.