[ARAPOC Study: Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general population]. / Estudio ARAPOC: prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios y enfermedad obstructiva crónica en población general.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and COPD, as well as the characteristics of this population in Aragon (Spain). DESIGN AND LOCATION: It is a cross-sectional epidemiological study in a population between 40 and 75 years of age. Subjects were randomly selected and stratified by age and sex using the data from the health card of the Aragonese Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1185 subjects agreed to participate. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: A sociodemographic questionnaire and spirometry before and after bronchodilator test. The diagnosis of COPD was made according to the criteria of the GOLD guide (FEV1/FVC<0.7). RESULTS: COPD prevalence was 10.4%, 16.9% in men and 5.7% in women. Respiratory symptoms appeared in 58% of the general population. There was a higher prevalence of COPD in women than in other studies. Factors associated with developing COPD were, being male, increasing age, smoking more, and a lower education. More than three-quarters (78.9%) of COPD were not diagnosed. Diagnosis was associated with, being older, more smoking more, more severe COPD or poorer quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of COPD and the significant level of underdiagnoses lead to believe that early diagnosis of this disease is still a pending issue. New strategies need to be developed to resolve this problem.

¿Preparados para el nuevo coronavirus? / Are We Ready for the New Coronavirus?

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Estudio ARAPOC: prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios y enfermedad obstructiva crónica en población general / ARAPOC Study: Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general population

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer la prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios y de EPOC, así como las características de esta población en Aragón (España). Diseño y emplazamiento: Estudio epidemiológico, transversal, en población entre 40 y 75 años. Los sujetos fueron elegidos de forma aleatoria y estratificada por edad y sexo a partir de los datos de la tarjeta sanitaria del Servicio Aragonés de Salud. PARTICIPANTES: Un total de 1.185 sujetos aceptaron colaborar. MEDICIONES PRINCIPALES: Un cuestionario sociodemográfico y clínico y espirometría forzada antes y después de una prueba broncodilatadora. El diagnóstico de EPOC se realizaba según los criterios de la guía GOLD (cociente FEV1/CVF < 0,7). RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de EPOC alcanzó un 10,4% (IC: 9,8-11,0%), un 16,9% en hombres y un 5,7% en mujeres. Los síntomas respiratorios aparecieron en un 58% de la población general. Existía mayor prevalencia de EPOC en las mujeres que en otros estudios. Los factores asociados a desarrollar EPOC fueron ser hombre, tener más edad, mayor índice tabáquico y menor nivel de estudios. El 78,9% de los pacientes con EPOC no estaban diagnosticados. Los diagnosticados fueron de más edad, más fumadores, con EPOC más graves o con peor calidad de vida. CONCLUSIONES: La alta prevalencia de EPOC y el importante nivel de infradiagnóstico nos permite creer que el diagnóstico precoz de esta enfermedad es todavía una asignatura pendiente. Necesitamos desarrollar nuevas estrategias para atajar este problema

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and COPD, as well as the characteristics of this population in Aragon (Spain). Design and LOCATION: It is a cross-sectional epidemiological study in a population between 40 and 75 years of age. Subjects were randomly selected and stratified by age and sex using the data from the health card of the Aragonese Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1185 subjects agreed to participate. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: A sociodemographic questionnaire and spirometry before and after bronchodilator test. The diagnosis of COPD was made according to the criteria of the GOLD guide (FEV1/FVC<0.7). RESULTS: COPD prevalence was 10.4%, 16.9% in men and 5.7% in women. Respiratory symptoms appeared in 58% of the general population. There was a higher prevalence of COPD in women than in other studies. Factors associated with developing COPD were, being male, increasing age, smoking more, and a lower education. More than three-quarters (78.9%) of COPD were not diagnosed. Diagnosis was associated with, being older, more smoking more, more severe COPD or poorer quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of COPD and the significant level of underdiagnoses lead to believe that early diagnosis of this disease is still a pending issue. New strategies need to be developed to resolve this problem

Respuesta de los autores: Medicina familiar y comunitaria y la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Author's reply: Family and community medicine and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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¿Seguiremos teniendo antibióticos mañana? / Will we still have antibiotics tomorrow?

Desde el descubrimiento de los antibióticos se tenía la creen-cia generalizada de que eran capaces de curar casi la totalidad de las infecciones bacterianas. Desde entonces, la aparición y el incremento de resistencias a los antimicrobianos y la constatación de la emergencia de microorganismos multirresistentes han generado entre los médicos una preocupación creciente, que empieza a trascender a la sociedad. La escasa perspectiva de desarrollo de nuevos fármacos antibióticos a corto-medio plazo es poco conocida y agrava el problema. El aprovechamiento de los antibióticos disponibles, mediante el conocimiento en profundidad de su actividad in vivo, así como la emergencia de nuevas formas de administración como la inhalada, puede ayudar a paliar el problema

Since the discovery of antibiotics, it has been generally believed that these antimicrobials are capable of curing almost all bacterial infections. More recently, the appearance of increasing resistance to antibiotics and the emergence of multiresistant microorganisms have given rise to growing concern among physicians, and that concern has now started to filter through to society in general. The problem is further aggravated by a situation that not many people are currently aware of, that is, the limited prospects for future development of new antibiotics in the short to medium term. Appropriate use of available antibiotics based on a thorough understanding of their in vivo activity and the emergence of new forms of administration, such as inhalers, may help to alleviate the problem