Elixhauser comorbidity method in predicting death of Spanish inpatients with asplenia and pneumococcal pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) is a serious infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The aim of this study was to analyze the comorbidity factors that influenced the mortality in patients with asplenia according to PP. METHODS: Discharge reports from the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) was used to retrospectively analyze patients with asplenia and PP, from 1997 to 2021. Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) was calculated to predict in-hospital mortality (IHM). RESULTS: 97,922 patients with asplenia were included and 381 cases of PP were identified. The average age for men was 63.87 years and for women 65.99 years. In all years, ECI was larger for splenectomized than for non-splenectomized patients, with men having a higher mean ECI than women. An association was found between risk factors ECI, splenectomy, age group, sex, pneumococcal pneumonia, and increased mortality (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99; p < 0.001). The IHM increased steadily with the number of comorbidities and index scores in 1997-2021. CONCLUSIONS: Asplenia remain a relevant cause of hospitalization in Spain. Comorbidities reflected a great impact in patients with asplenia and PP, which would mean higher risk of mortality.

Trends in the nonmedical misuse of benzodiazepines and Z-hypnotics among school-aged adolescents (2016-2021): gender differences and related factors.

BACKGROUND: The misuse of psychotropic medication has increased during the past decade, especially among adolescents. The aim of our study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of the nonmedical use of benzodiazepines (BDZ) and Z-hypnotics among school-aged adolescents through the lens of sex. In addition, we sought to analyze the temporal evolution of the nonmedical use of these drugs during the period 2016-2021. METHODS: The temporal evolution of the nonmedical use of these drugs was analyzed based on survey data collected in 2016, 2018 and 2021, which includes the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic. To assess the possible effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year at survey was conducted was introduced as a categorical variable. We used data from the Spanish State Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education, which covers drug use among students aged 14-18 years. Using multivariate logistic regression models, we estimated the independent effect of different variables (sociodemographic data, use of other psychoactive substances, risk perception and availability) on the nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics. RESULTS: In total, survey data from 95,700 adolescents were included in our analysis. The nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics increased among adolescents during the study period. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) from 2016 to 2018 was 1.11 (95% CI 0.94-1.31) and from 2018 to 2021 the AOR was 1.26 (95% CI 1.08-1.46), using 2016 and 2018, respectively, as reference years. The nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics was more likely in adolescent girls than boys (AOR = 2.11). The nonmedical use of prescription opioids (AOR = 3.44), novel psychoactive substances and other illicit psychoactive drugs (AOR = 4.10) were risk factors for the nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics in both sexes. Use of cannabis (AOR = 1.38) was a predictor of nonmedical use in female adolescents only. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the trend of the nonmedical use of BDZ and Z-hypnotics among school-aged adolescents in Spain increased between 2016 and 2021. Among adolescents aged 14 to 18, the probability of nonmedical use of these psychoactive substances was twice as high for female adolescents as for male adolescents.

Temporal trends and outcomes of heart transplantation in Spain (2002-2021): propensity score matching analysis to compare patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The impact of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) on the outcomes of heart transplantation (HT) has not yet been clearly established. The objectives of this study were to examine the trends in the prevalence of T2D among individuals who underwent a HT in Spain from 2002 to 2021, and to compare the clinical characteristics and hospitalization outcomes between HT recipients with and without T2D. METHODS: We used the national hospital discharge database to select HT recipients aged 35 and older. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions (ICD-9 and ICD-10) were used to identify patients with and without T2D. We also recorded comorbidities, complications of HT, and procedures. Propensity score matching (PSM) and Cox regression were used to analyze the effect of T2D on in-hospital mortality (IHM). RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2021, a total of 4429 HTs (T2D, 19.14%) were performed in Spain. The number of HTs in patients with T2D decreased from 2002 to 2005 (n = 171) to 2014-2017 (n = 154), then rose during 2018-2021 (n = 186). Complications of HT increased in patients with and without T2D over the study period (26.9% and 31.31% in 2002-2005 vs. 42.47% and 45.01% in 2018-2021, respectively). The results of the PSM showed that pneumonia and Gram-negative bacterial infections were less frequent in patients with T2D and that these patients less frequently required hemodialysis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and tracheostomy. They also had a shorter hospital stay and lower IHM than patients without diabetes. The variables associated with IHM in patients with T2D were hemodialysis and ECMO. IHM decreased over time in people with and without T2D. The Cox regression analysis showed that T2D was associated with lower IHM (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.63-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: The number of HTs increased in the period 2018-2021 compared with 2002-2005 in patients with and without T2D. Over time, complications of HT increased in both groups studied, whereas IHM decreased. The presence of T2D is associated with lower IHM.

Time trends (2001-2019) and sex differences in incidence and in-hospital mortality after lower extremity amputations among patients with type 1 diabetes in Spain.

BACKGROUND: We examined trends in incidence (2001-2019), clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes following major and minor lower extremity amputations (LEAs) among type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients in Spain and attempted to identify sex differences. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using data from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. We estimated the incidence of the LEA procedure stratified by type of LEA. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate incidence trends, and logistic regression was used to estimate factors associated with in-hospital mortality (IHM). RESULTS: LEA was coded in 6011 patients with T1DM (66.4% minor and 33.6% major). The incidence of minor LEA decreased by 9.55% per year from 2001 to 2009 and then increased by 1.50% per year, although not significantly, through 2019. The incidence of major LEA decreased by 13.39% per year from 2001 to 2010 and then remained stable through 2019. However, incidence increased in men (26.53% per year), although not significantly, from 2017 to 2019. The adjusted incidence of minor and major LEA was higher in men than in women (IRR 3.01 [95% CI 2.64-3.36] and IRR 1.85 [95% CI 1.31-2.38], respectively). Over the entire period, for those who underwent a minor LEA, the IHM was 1.58% (2.28% for females and 1.36% for males; p = 0.045) and for a major LEA the IHM was 8.57% (10.52% for females and 7.59% for males; p = 0.025). IHM after minor and major LEA increased with age and the presence of comorbid conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, ischemic heart disease or chronic kidney disease. Female sex was associated with a higher IHM after major LEA (OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.01-1.84]). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a decrease in incidence rates for minor and major LEA in men and women with T1DM and a slight, albeit insignificant, increase in major LEA in men with T1DM in the last two years of the study. The incidence of minor and major LEA was higher in men than in women. Female sex is a predictor of IHM in patients with T1DM following major LEA.

Sex-related disparities in the incidence and outcomes of infective endocarditis according to type 2 diabetes mellitus status in Spain, 2016-2020.

BACKGROUND: We performed a study to assess sex-differences in incidence (2016-2020), clinical characteristics, use of therapeutic procedures, and in-hospital outcomes in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) according to T2DM status. METHODS: Ours was a retrospective cohort study using data from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. We estimated the incidence of hospitalizations for IE in men and women aged ≥ 40 years with and without T2DM. Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare subgroups according to sex and the presence of T2DM. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2020, IE was coded in 9,958 patients (66.79% men). T2DM was diagnosed in 2,668 (26.79%). The incidence of IE increased significantly from 15.29 cases per 100,000 persons with T2DM in 2016 to 17.69 in 2020 (p < 0.001). However, this increment was significant only among men with T2DM (19.47 cases per 100,000 in 2016 vs. 22.84 in 2020; p = 0.003). The age-adjusted incidence of IE was significantly higher in people with T2DM (both sexes) than in those without T2DM (IRR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.74-2.99). The incidence of IE was higher in men with T2DM than in women with T2DM (adjusted IRR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.54-3.31). After PSM, in-hospital mortality (IHM) was higher among T2DM women than matched T2DM men (22.65% vs. 18.0%; p = 0.018). The presence of T2DM was not associated with IHM in men or women. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM is associated with a higher incidence of hospitalization for IE. Findings for T2DM patients who had experienced IE differed by sex, with higher incidence rates and lower IHM in men than in women. T2DM was not associated to IHM in IE in men or in women.

Burden of respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory infections in children in Spain from 2012 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) leading to infant hospitalization, morbidity and postnatal mortality in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. The aim of this study was to collect data on hospitalizations for RSV-related ALRI in children in Spain from 2012 to 2018. METHODS: We used the discharge reports from the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) to retrospectively analyze hospital discharge data in children ≤ 14 years of age with a diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection, based on the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, from 2012 to 2018. RESULTS: A total of 190,474 children, 58.1% boys and 41.9% girls, were admitted for lower respiratory tract infections in Spain, including 118,731 cases of bronchiolitis, 53,972 cases of bronchitis, 3710 cases of RSV-positive pneumonia, and 14,061 cases of RSV infections. Of these, 92,426 children (48.5%) had laboratory-confirmed RSV infection. The mean case fatality rate was almost 6 times higher for pneumonia (0.6%) than for bronchiolitis (0.1%) or bronchitis (0.1%). A significant linear increase in the mean annual hospitalization rate for pneumonia of almost 15% per year was found, with no changes in the trend over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: RSV-related respiratory infections remain a leading cause of infant hospitalization in Spain. Effective antiviral treatments and preventive vaccines are urgently needed for the management of RSV infection in children, especially for those aged 6 to 12 months.

Sex-differences in incidence of hospitalizations and in hospital mortality of community-acquired pneumonia among children in Spain: a population-based study.

The aim of this study is to examine trends from 2016 to 2019 in the incidence of hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality (IHM) of subjects < 18 years with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), assessing possible sex differences. We used Spanish national hospital discharge data to select all patients < 18 years with CAP. We identified 43,511 children (53% boys) hospitalized with CAP. The incidence of CAP was significantly higher in boys than in girls, with an age-adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.05 (95%CI 1.03-1.07) for boys compared to girls, and rose from 126 per 100,000 children in 2016 to 131 in 2019 (p < 0.0001). There were no sex differences in isolated pathogens, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, or IHM. Variables independently associated with IHM were age 10 to 17 years, congenital heart disease, neurological diseases, and use of invasive mechanical ventilation. Asthma was a protective factor for IHM among girls. CONCLUSION: The incidence of hospital admissions for CAP was higher among boys than among girls and rose significantly from 2016 to 2019. There were no sex differences in hospital outcomes. Age 10 to 17 years, congenital heart disease, neurological diseases, and use of mechanical ventilation were risk factors for IHM in both sexes, while asthma was a protective factor among girls. No differences were found in IHM over time. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Community-acquired pneumonia is one of the most common reasons for hospitalizations among children. • There are few studies that allow to know the evolution of community-acquired pneumonia in children. WHAT IS NEW: • Incidence of hospital admissions for community-acquired pneumonia was higher in boys than girls and it rose significantly from 2016 to 2019. • Age 10 to 17 years, congenital heart disease, neurological diseases and use of mechanical ventilation were risk factors for in-hospital mortality in both sexes.

Fatigue and Dyspnoea as Main Persistent Post-COVID-19 Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized Patients: Related Functional Limitations and Disability.

BACKGROUND: Multicentre studies focussing on specific long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms are scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of fatigue and dyspnoea, repercussions on daily life activities, and risk factors associated with fatigue or dyspnoea in COVID-19 survivors at long term after hospital discharge. METHODS: Age, gender, height, weight, symptoms at hospitalization, pre-existing medical comorbidity, intensive care unit admission, and the presence of cardio-respiratory symptoms developed after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection were collected from patients who recovered from COVID-19 at 4 hospitals in Madrid (Spain) from March 1 to May 31, 2020 (first COVID-19 wave). The Functional Impairment Checklist was used for evaluating fatigue/dyspnoea levels and functional limitations. RESULTS: A total of 1,142 patients (48% women, age: 61, standard deviation [SD]: 17 years) were assessed 7.0 months (SD 0.6) after hospitalization. Fatigue was present in 61% patients, dyspnoea with activity in 55%, and dyspnoea at rest in 23.5%. Only 355 (31.1%) patients did not exhibit fatigue and/or dyspnoea 7 months after hospitalization. Forty-five per cent reported functional limitations with daily living activities. Risk factors associated with fatigue and dyspnoea included female gender, number of pre-existing comorbidities, and number of symptoms at hospitalization. The number of days at hospital was a risk factor just for dyspnoea. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue and/or dyspnoea were present in 70% of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors 7 months after discharge. In addition, 45% patients exhibited limitations on daily living activities. Being female, higher number of pre-existing medical comorbidities and number of symptoms at hospitalization were risk factors associated to fatigue/dyspnoea in COVID-19 survivors 7 months after hospitalization.

Sex-related disparities in the incidence and outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke among type 2 diabetes patients: a propensity score matching analysis using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database for the period 2016-18.

BACKGROUND: To analyze incidence, use of therapeutic procedures, use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and antiplatelet agents prior to hospitalization, and in-hospital outcomes among patients who were hospitalized with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) according to the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Spain (2016-2018) and to assess the role of sex differences among those with T2DM. METHODS: Using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database we estimated the incidence of HS hospitalizations in men and women aged ≥ 35 years with and without T2DM. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare population subgroups according to sex and the presence of T2DM. RESULTS: HS was coded in 31,425 men and 24,975 women, of whom 11,915 (21.12%) had T2DM. The adjusted incidence of HS was significantly higher in patients with T2DM (both sexes) than in non-T2DM individuals (IRR 1.15; 95% CI 1.12-1.17). The incidence of HS was higher in men with T2DM than in T2DM women (adjusted IRR 1.60; 95% CI 1.57-1.63). After PSM, men and women with T2DM have significantly less frequently received decompressive craniectomy than those without T2DM. In-hospital mortality (IHM) was higher among T2DM women than matched non-T2DM women (32.89% vs 30.83%; p = 0.037), with no differences among men. Decompressive craniectomy was significantly more common in men than in matched women with T2DM (5.81% vs. 3.33%; p < 0.001). IHM was higher among T2DM women than T2DM men (32.89% vs. 28.28%; p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders with multivariable logistic regression, women with T2DM had a 18% higher mortality risk than T2DM men (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.07-1.29). Use of OACs and antiplatelet agents prior to hospitalization were associated to higher IHM in men and women with and without T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM is associated with a higher incidence of HS and with less frequent use of decompressive craniectomy in both sexes, but with higher IHM only among women. Sex differences were detected in T2DM patients who had experienced HS, with higher incidence rates, more frequent decompressive craniectomy, and lower IHM in men than in women.

Are there sex differences in the effect of type 2 diabetes in the incidence and outcomes of myocardial infarction? A matched-pair analysis using hospital discharge data.

BACKGROUND: To analyze incidence, use of therapeutic procedures, and in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) according to the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Spain (2016-2018) and to investigate sex differences. METHODS: Using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database, we estimated the incidence of myocardial infarctions (MI) in men and women with and without T2DM aged ≥ 40 years. We analyzed comorbidity, procedures, and outcomes. We matched each man and woman with T2DM with a non-T2DM man and woman of identical age, MI code, and year of hospitalization. Propensity score matching was used to compare men and women with T2DM. RESULTS: MI was coded in 109,759 men and 44,589 women (30.47% with T2DM). The adjusted incidence of STEMI (IRR 2.32; 95% CI 2.28-2.36) and NSTEMI (IRR 2.91; 95% CI 2.88-2.94) was higher in T2DM than non-T2DM patients, with higher IRRs for NSTEMI in both sexes. The incidence of STEMI and NSTEMI was higher in men with T2DM than in women with T2DM. After matching, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was less frequent among T2DM men than non-T2DM men who had STEMI and NSTEMI. Women with T2DM and STEMI less frequently had a code for PCI that matched that of non-T2DM women. In-hospital mortality (IHM) was higher among T2DM women with STEMI and NSTEMI than in matched non-T2DM women. In men, IHM was higher only for NSTEMI. Propensity score matching showed higher use of PCI and coronary artery bypass graft and lower IHM among men with T2DM than women with T2DM for both STEMI and NSTEMI. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM is associated with a higher incidence of STEMI and NSTEMI in both sexes. Men with T2DM had higher incidence rates of STEMI and NSTEMI than women with T2DM. Having T2DM increased the risk of IHM after STEMI and NSTEMI among women and among men only for NSTEMI. PCI appears to be less frequently used in T2DM patients After STEMI and NSTEMI, women with T2DM less frequently undergo revascularization procedures and have a higher mortality risk than T2DM men.

The presence of headache at onset in SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with long-term post-COVID headache and fatigue: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of headache during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection with long-term post-COVID headache and other post-COVID symptoms in hospitalised survivors. METHODS: A case-control study including patients hospitalised during the first wave of the pandemic in Spain was conducted. Patients reporting headache as a symptom during the acute phase and age- and sex-matched patients without headache during the acute phase participated. Hospitalisation and clinical data were collected from medical records. Patients were scheduled for a telephone interview 7 months after hospital discharge. Participants were asked about a list of post-COVID symptoms and were also invited to report any additional symptom they might have. Anxiety/depressive symptoms and sleep quality were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Overall, 205 patients reporting headache and 410 patients without headache at hospitalisation were assessed 7.3 months (Standard Deviation 0.6) after hospital discharge. Patients with headache at onset presented a higher number of post-COVID symptoms (Incident Rate Ratio: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03-1.30). Headache at onset was associated with a previous history of migraine (Odd Ratio: 2.90, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.41-5.98) and with the development of persistent tension-type like headache as a new post-COVID symptom (Odd Ratio: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.66-4.24). Fatigue as a long-term symptom was also more prevalent in patients with headache at onset (Odd Ratio: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07-2.24). No between-group differences in the prevalence of anxiety/depressive symptoms or sleep quality were seen. CONCLUSION: Headache in the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with higher prevalence of headache and fatigue as long-term post-COVID symptoms. Monitoring headache during the acute phase could help to identify patients at risk of developing long-term post-COVID symptoms, including post-COVID headache.

Trend from 2001 to 2015 in the prevalence of bronchiectasis among patients hospitalized for asthma and effect of bronchiectasis on the in-hospital mortality.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the prevalence of bronchiectasis among patients hospitalized with asthma and to assess the effect of suffering bronchiectasis on in-hospital mortality (IHM). METHODS: We used the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database from 2000 to 2015 to evaluate all admissions for asthma exacerbation as the main diagnosis, dividing them according to the presence or absence of associated bronchiectasis. We assessed time trends in the prevalence, clinical characteristics, length of hospital stay, costs, and IHM. RESULTS: Of 342,644 admissions for asthma, 10,377 (3.02%) had bronchiectasis. The prevalence of bronchiectasis increased from 2.16% in 2001 to 4.47% in 2015 (p < 0.001). Compared to patients without bronchiectasis, those with bronchiectasis were more frequently women (77.06% vs. 22.94%, p < 0.001), were older (68.87 ± 15.16 vs. 47.05 ± 30.66 years, p < 0.001) and had more comorbid conditions (Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 2: 9.45% vs. 6.58%, p < 0.001). Pseudomonas (8% vs. 0.66%, p < 0.001), Aspergillus (0.93% vs. 0.15%, p < 0.001), eosinophilia (0.29% vs. 0.17%, p = 0.005) and IHM (2.07% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.001) were more frequent in patients with bronchiectasis. After multivariable adjustments, IHM was not associated with bronchiectasis. The presence of bronchiectasis was associated with a longer length of hospital stay and higher costs. CONCLUSIONS: Admissions for asthma with bronchiectasis have increased over time in Spain. In our investigation, the presence of bronchiectasis was not associated with higher IHM, but it increased the length of hospital stay and costs.

Female Gender Is Associated with a Higher Prevalence of Chronic Neck Pain, Chronic Low Back Pain, and Migraine: Results of the Spanish National Health Survey, 2017.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of chronic neck pain (CNP), chronic low back pain (CLBP), and migraine headache (MH) in the Spanish population and to identify sociodemographic and health-related variables associated with CNP, CLBP, and MH. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Spain. SUBJECTS: A total of 22,511 persons 18 years of age or older (10,304 males and 12,207 females) who participated in the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey. METHODS: Stratified three-stage sampling was applied. CNP, CLBP, and MH were the dependent variables. The analysis was conducted separately by gender. Sociodemographic features, self-perceived health status, lifestyle habits, comorbidities, and pain features were analyzed by using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Females reported a higher prevalence of CNP, CLBP, and MH (P < 0.001) than males. For both sexes, anxiety and/or depression and poor self-rated health were associated with a significantly increased prevalence of CNP, CLBP, and MH. For CNP and CLBP, the identified associated factors were older age and limitations to usual activity. For CNP and MH, the most common associated factor was comorbid respiratory disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified several factors associated with CNP, CLBP, and MH in Spanish female and male adults, with potential implications for health care providers.

Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Cough One Year After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Multicenter Study.

This multicenter study presents prevalence data and associated risk factors of post-COVID-19 cough one year after hospital discharge in COVID-19 survivors. Individuals recovered from COVID-19 at three public hospitals in Madrid (Spain) were scheduled for a telephonic interview. They were systematically asked about the presence of respiratory symptoms, e.g., fatigue, dyspnea, chest pain, and cough after hospital discharge. Clinical and hospitalization data were collected from hospital records. Overall, 1,950 patients (47% women, mean age:61, SD:16 years) were assessed at 11.2 months (SD 0.5) after hospital discharge. Just 367 (18.8%) were completely free of any respiratory post-COVID -19 symptom. The prevalence of long-term cough, chest pain, dyspnea, and fatigue was 2.5%, 6.5%, 23.3%, and 61.2%, respectively. Clinical and hospitalization factors were not associated with long-term post-COVID-19 cough. In conclusion, the prevalence of post-COVID-19 cough one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection was 2.5% in subjects who had survived hospitalization for COVID-19. No clear risk factor associated to long-term post-COVID-19 cough was identified.

Obesity is associated with a greater number of long-term post-COVID symptoms and poor sleep quality: A multicentre case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor associated with higher mortality at the acute phase of COVID-19; however, its influence on post-COVID symptoms is not known. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate if obesity is a risk factor for the presence of long-term post-COVID symptoms in hospitalised COVID-19 survivors. METHODS: A multicentre case-control study including patients hospitalised during the first wave of the pandemic was performed. Patients with obesity were recruited as cases. Two age- and sex-matched patients without obesity per case were considered as controls. Clinical and hospitalisation data were collected from the hospital medical records. Patients were scheduled for a telephonic interview. A list of post-COVID symptoms was systematically evaluated, but participants were free to report any symptom. Anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were evaluated with the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 88 patients with obesity and 176 without obesity were assessed 7.2 months after the hospital discharge. The most prevalent post-COVID symptoms were fatigue and dyspnea. No significant difference in the prevalence of fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety, depression and limitations of daily living activities was observed between people with and without obesity. Obesity was independently associated with a greater number of post-COVID symptoms (IRR 1.56, 95% CI 1.24-1.95, P < .001) and poor sleep quality (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.13-3.83, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that obesity was associated with a greater number of long-term post-COVID symptoms and poor sleep quality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The influence of sex on ischemic stroke incidence, therapeutic procedures and in-hospital mortality: Results of the Spanish National Hospital Discharge.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has revealed sex-related differences in outcomes for people admitted to hospitals for ischemic stroke. We aimed to analyse the incidence, use of invasive procedures and in-hospital outcomes of ischemic stroke in Spain (2016-2018) using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. We sought sex-related differences in incidence and in-hospital outcomes over time. METHODS: We estimated the incidence of ischemic stroke in men and women. We analysed comorbidities (Charlson's comorbidity index, cardiovascular risk factors, alcohol abuse and atrial fibrillation), procedures (mechanical ventilation, endovascular thrombectomy and thrombolytic therapy) and outcomes. We matched each woman with a man with identical age, type of ischemic stroke and year of hospitalisation. We built Poisson regression models to obtain adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs). We tested in-hospital mortality (IHM) with logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Ischemic stroke was coded in 172 255 patients aged ≥35 years (92 524 men 53.7%). Men showed higher incidence rates (216.9 vs. 172.3/105 ; P < .001; IRR = 1.57 (95% CI:1.55-1.59) than women. After matching, the use of endovascular thrombectomy (5.1% vs. 4.0%; P < .001) and thrombolytic therapy (7.6% vs. 6.8%; P < .001) was higher among women. IHM was significantly higher in women than in matched men (11.2% vs. 10.4%; P < .001). Women had a lower IHM than matched men when endovascular thrombectomy (9.4% vs. 12.1%; P = .001) or thrombolytic therapy (6.7% vs. 8.3%; P = .003) was coded. Patients of both sexes admitted for ischemic stroke who received thrombolytic therapy had lower IHM (OR = 0.76; 95% CI:0.68-0.85 among men; and OR = 0.58; 95% CI:0.52-0.64 among women), but endovascular thrombectomy was associated with a lower IHM only among women (OR = 0.58; 95% CI:0.51-0.66). After multivariable adjusting, women admitted to the hospital for ischemic stroke had a significantly higher IHM than men (OR = 1.16; 95% CI:1.12-1.21). CONCLUSION: Men had higher incidence rates of ischemic stroke than women. Women more often underwent thrombolytic therapy and endovascular thrombectomy but had a higher IHM.

The significance of heart failure in hospitalised patients with pulmonary embolism. A gender-specific analysis.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism (PE). Few studies have examined sex differences in risk of PE among HF patients. AIMS: (a) To examine the incidence, characteristics and in-hospital outcomes among patients hospitalised with PE according to HF status; (b) to compare the in-hospital mortality (IHM) after PE between HF and non-HF patients and (c) to identify variables associated with IHM. All analyses were stratified by sex. METHODS: We included all adult patients hospitalised for PE from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018. Data were collected from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. Poisson regression models were constructed to quantify the difference in the incidences between HF and non-HF populations. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to obtain comparable subgroups by sex and HF status. RESULTS: We identified 46,835 PE hospitalisations, 11.4% with HF. Adjusted incidence of PE was higher in HF patients than in those without HF (Incidence Rate Ratio 1.11; 95% CI 1.08-1.13). Crude and PSM adjusted IHM were significantly higher in men and women hospitalised with PE suffering HF than in men and women without HF (P < .001). Women with HF who suffered a PE had lower IHM than men with this condition (P < .001) after adjusting. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusted incidence of PE was higher in HF patients than in those without HF. After PSM suffering, HF was associated to higher IHM in men and women. Women with PE and HF had lower IHM than men with these conditions.

Gender differences in incidence and in-hospital outcomes of community-acquired, ventilator-associated and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in Spain.

AIMS: We aim to compare the incidence and in-hospital outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) according to gender. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational epidemiological study using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database for the years 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: Of 277 785 hospital admissions, CAP was identified in 257 455 (41.04% females), VAP was identified in 3261 (30.42% females) and NV-HAP was identified in 17 069 (36.58% females). The incidence of all types of pneumonia was higher amongst males (CAP: incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06; VAP: IRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.26-1.46; and NV-HAP: IRR 1.16, 95% CI 1.14-1.18). The crude in-hospital mortality (IHM) rate for CAP was 11.44% in females and 11.80% in males (P = .005); for VAP IHM, the rate was approximately 35% in patients of both genders and for NV-HAP IHM, the rate was 23.97% for females and 26.40% for males (P < .001). After multivariable adjustment, in patients of both genders, older age and comorbidities were factors associated with IHM in the three types of pneumonia analysed. Female gender was a risk factor for IHM after VAP (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.06-1.44), and no gender differences were found for CAP or NV-HAP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a difference between females and males, with females presenting a lower incidence of all types of pneumonia. However, female gender was a risk factor for IHM after VAP.

Impact of COPD on outcomes in hospitalized patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation or surgical aortic valve replacement in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and conventional surgery (SAVR) among hospitalized patients with and without COPD, to compare the in-hospital mortality (IHM), length of hospital stay (LOHS) and cost between patients with COPD undergoing TAVI and SAVR and to identify factors associated to IHM among these patients. BACKGROUND: TAVI would be expected to be less invasive and safer than SAVR among COPD patients. METHODS: We analyzed patients whose medical procedures included TAVI and SAVR included in the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database, 2014-2015. We stratified analysis by COPD status. Propensity score matching (1:2) was performed to assess the outcomes of TAVI vs. SAVR among COPD patients. RESULTS: We identified 2,141 and 16,013 patients who underwent TAVI (27.60% with COPD) and SAVR (19.31% with COPD) respectively. For TAVI, we found no differences in IHM according to COPD status. Patients undergoing SAVR and suffering COPD had higher IHM than patients without COPD (adj.OR 1.32; 95%CI 1.10-1.58). After propensity score matching, IHM (8.35% vs. 5.83%, p = .040) and LOHS (18.62 days vs. 13.62; p < .001) were higher in COPD patients who underwent SAVR than those who underwent TAVI. CONCLUSIONS: COPD patients undergoing TAVI did not have a worse prognosis compared to non-COPD patients during hospitalization. However, for SAVR, patients with COPD had significantly higher mortality than patients without this condition. COPD patients who underwent SAVR had higher IHM and LOHS than propensity score matched TAVI patients.

Infective endocarditis according to type 2 diabetes mellitus status: an observational study in Spain, 2001-2015.

BACKGROUND: The main aims of this study were to describe trends and outcomes during admission for infective endocarditis (IE) in people ≥ 40 years old with or without type 2 diabetes distributed in five time-periods (2001-2003; 2004-2006; 2007-2009; 2010-2012 and 2013-2015), using Spanish national hospital discharge data. METHODS: We estimated admission rates by diabetes status. We analyzed comorbidity, therapeutic procedures, and outcomes. We built Poisson regression models to compare the adjusted time-trends in admission rates. Type 2 diabetes cases were matched with controls using propensity score matching (PSM). We tested in-hospital mortality (IHM) in logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: We identified 16,626 hospitalizations in patients aged ≥ 40 years for IE in Spain, 2001-2015. The incidence of IE increased significantly from 6.0/100,000 per year to 13.1/100,000 per year (p < 0.001) in the population with type 2 diabetes, and from 3.9/100,000 per year to 5.5/100,000 per year (p < 0.001) in the population without diabetes, over the study period. The adjusted incidence of IE was 2.2-times higher among patients with diabetes than among those without diabetes (IRR = 2.2; 95% CI 2.1-2.3). People with type 2 diabetes less often underwent heart valve surgery than people without diabetes (13.9% vs. 17.3%; p < 0.001). Although IHM decreased significantly in both groups over time, it represented 20.8% of IE cases among diabetes patients and 19.9% among PSM matched controls (p = 0.337). Type 2 diabetes was not associated with a higher IHM in people admitted to the hospital for IE (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 0.9-1.2). CONCLUSION: Incidence rates of IE in Spain, among those with and without T2DM, have increased during the period 2001-2015 with significantly higher incidence rates in the T2DM population. In our population based study and after PSM we found that T2DM was not a predictor of IHM in IE.