Trends from 1995 to 2006 in the prevalence of self-reported cardiovascular risk factors among elderly Spanish diabetics.

AIM: In this study, we examined the trends from 1995 to 2006 in cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in Spaniards aged 65 years or older with diabetes. METHODS: We looked at the individual data from adults aged > or =65 years from the Spanish National Health Surveys of 1995 (n=1117), 1997 (n=1111), 2001 (n=4328), 2003 (n=6134) and 2006 (n=7835). Those classified as having diabetes had answered the two following questions in the affirmative: Has your doctor told you that you currently have diabetes? Have you taken any medication to treat diabetes in the last two weeks? The CVRF of interest included high blood pressure (HBP), high cholesterol levels, obesity (BMI > or =30 kg/m(2)), smoking and sedentarity, which were estimated and compared for prevalence by survey year, age group and gender. Progression over time was analyzed using logistic-regression models. RESULTS: During the study period, the prevalences of all of the CVRF of interest were significantly higher among the elderly with diabetes compared with those without diabetes, except for current smoking, which was less frequent. The percentages of diabetic patients with HBP and obesity increased from 49.6 and 17.1%, respectively, in 1995 to 64 and 30.6%, respectively, in 2006 (adjusted ORs: 1.95 for HBP; 2.22 for obesity). CONCLUSION: Overall, the self-reported prevalence of CVRF among elderly patients with diabetes did not improve during 1995-2006 but, instead, showed significant increases in self-reported obesity and HBP. This lack of improvement calls for further investigations, and the dedicated attention of both healthcare providers and the diabetic patients themselves.

Agenesia de incisivos laterales superiores: valoración estética de las distintas opciones terapéuticas / Agenesia of upper lateral incisors: aesthetic assessment of the different therapeutic options

Objetivo: Analizar la valoración estética que los ortodoncistas, odontólogos generales e individuos no vinculados a la profesión hacen de las distintas opciones con que pueden tratarse las agenesias de incisivos laterales superiores (ILS).Método: Se mostró la fotografía intraoral frontal de 12 individuos con agenesias de ILS no tratados, o tratados bien mediante cierre ortodóncico o bien mediante sustitución protética (implantes o prótesis adhesiva). Intencionadamente se incluyeron casos con resultados estéticos más o menos favorables. Los evaluadores (15ortodoncistas, 15 odontólogos generales y 15individuos no vinculados a la profesión) debían puntuar cada imagen de 0 a 5, siendo 0 “no me gusta” y 5 “resultado excelente” en función de su impresión estética (evitando el prejuicio de la valoración funcional). En las variables cuantitativas se estimaron la media y sus intervalos de confianza al 95% mediante el test de Anova. Resultados y conclusiones: No hubo diferencias significativas entre las valoraciones efectuadas entre los tres grupos de evaluadores. Las mejores puntuaciones correspondieron a los casos tratados mediante cierre de espacios (media=2,62) y las peores a los no tratados (media=1,06) (AU)

AIM: To determine the esthetic judgment of general dentists, orthodontics and laypeople of different treatment options in patients with agenesia of the maxillary lateral incisors. METHODS: Intraoral frontal photographs of 12individuals with agenesia of maxillary lateral incisors treated with prosthodontic replacement of the lateral incisors, closing spaces of the missing teeth (10) or not treated at all (2) were shown to45 evaluators. Intentionally, cases with different aesthetic outcome were included. The respondents(15 orthodontics, 15 general dentists and 15laypeople) were asked to evaluate their aesthetic impression of the photographs, avoiding the functional prejudices and scoring between 0 and5,(being 0 “ don’t like it” and 5 “excellent”).RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between the judgement made by the 3 groups of evaluators. The best scores were given to the cases treated by closing spaces(media=2,62) of the missing teeth and the worst to the ones not treated (media=1,06) (AU)

Correlation of genetic and clinical findings in Spanish patients with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis.

PURPOSE: X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is one of the most common causes of juvenile macular degeneration in males, characterized by microcystic changes, splitting within the inner retinal layer (schisis), and the presence of vitreous veils. This study was conducted to describe and further correlate specific genetic variation in Spanish patients with XLRS with clinical characteristics and additional ophthalmic complications. METHODS: The study was performed in 34 Spanish families with XLRS, comprising 51 affected males. Thorough clinical ophthalmic and electrophysiological examinations were performed. The coding regions of the RS1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. Haplotype analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Twenty different mutations were identified. Ten of the 20 were novel and 3 were de novo mutational events. The most common mutation (p.Gln154Arg; 6/20) presented a common haplotype. RS1 variants did not correlate with ophthalmic findings and were not associated with additional ophthalmic complications. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalent p.Gln154Arg mutation is first reported in this work and presents a common origin in Spanish patients with XLRS. In addition, de novo mutations mainly occur in CG dinucleotides. Despite the large mutational spectrum and variable phenotypes, no genotype-phenotype correlations were found. Identifying the causative mutation is helpful in confirming diagnosis and counseling, but cannot provide a prognosis.

[Changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain from 2001 to 2003. Analysis by autonomous communities]. / Cambios en las coberturas vacunales antigripales en España entre los años 2001 y 2003. Análisis por comunidades autónomas.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain by autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003 and to compare the influenza vaccination coverage obtained in Spanish National Health Surveys (NHS) with other official sources. METHODS: A total of 42,722 cases from the NHS for 2001 (n = 21,072) and 2003 (n = 21,650) were analyzed. All the cases corresponded to adults aged more than 15 years old. Both surveys are representative of the autonomous communities. RESULTS: For the entire sample, vaccine coverages of 19.3% (95% CI, 18.8-19.8) and 22.1% (95% CI, 21.4-22.8) were estimated in 2001 and 2003 respectively. In the logit regression model adjusted by age, sex and associated chronic diseases, significant improvements were found in coverage in individuals aged more than 64 years (odds ratio = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.40) for Spain as a whole and for 6 autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003. For the group aged less than 65 years with associated chronic diseases, a significant improvement in coverage was found for Spain as a whole and for 3 autonomous communities. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2001 and 2003, influenza vaccination coverage in the risk groups studied significantly improved in Spain and in several autonomous communities. The information on influenza vaccination coverage obtained in the Spanish National Health Surveys was similar to that found in the Autonomous Communities Health Surveys and in the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.

Cambios en las coberturas vacunales antigripales en España entre los años 2001 y 2003. Análisis por comunidades autónomas / Changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain from 2001 to 2003. Analysis by autonomous communities

Objetivos: El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar los cambios en las coberturas antigripales en España y en cada comunidad autónoma entre 2001 y 2003 y comparar las coberturas vacunales estimadas por las Encuestas Nacionales de Salud (ENS) con otras fuentes oficiales de información. Métodos: Se han analizado un total de 42.722 registros de las ENS de los años 2001 (n = 21.072) y 2003 (n = 21.650). Todos ellos corresponden a adultos españoles mayores de 15 años no institucionalizados. Ambas encuestas son representativas en el ámbito de las comunidades autónomas. Resultados: Para el total de la muestra se estima una cobertura vacunal en 2001 del 19,3% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 18,8-19,8) y del 22,1% (IC del 95%, 21,4-22,8) en 2003. En el modelo de regresión logística, ajustado por edad, género y enfermedad crónica asociada, se observan mejoras significativas en las coberturas del grupo de mayores de 64 años (odds ratio = 1,26; IC del 95%, 1,14-1,40) para el total de España y en 6 comunidades autónomas entre 2001 y 2003. En el grupo de menores de 65 años con una enfermedad crónica asociada, se observó un aumento significativo de las coberturas en el global de España y en 3 comunidades autónomas. Conclusiones: Entre 2001 y 2003 se observaron mejorías en las coberturas de vacunación en los grupos de riesgo estudiados en España y en varias comunidades autónomas. La información sobre las coberturas vacunales aportada por las ENS es parecida a la encontrada en encuestas de salud de las comunidades autónomas y en el Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo

Objectives: To evaluate changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain by autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003 and to compare the influenza vaccination coverage obtained in Spanish National Health Surveys (NHS) with other official sources. Methods: A total of 42,722 cases from the NHS for 2001 (n = 21,072) and 2003 (n = 21,650) were analyzed. All the cases corresponded to adults aged more than 15 years old. Both surveys are representative of the autonomous communities. Results: For the entire sample, vaccine coverages of 19.3% (95% CI, 18.8-19.8) and 22.1% (95% CI, 21.4-22.8) were estimated in 2001 and 2003 respectively. In the logit regression model adjusted by age, sex and associated chronic diseases, significant improvements were found in coverage in individuals aged more than 64 years (odds ratio = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.40) for Spain as a whole and for 6 autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003. For the group aged less than 65 years with associated chronic diseases, a significant improvement in coverage was found for Spain as a whole and for 3 autonomous communities. Conclusions: Between 2001 and 2003, influenza vaccination coverage in the risk groups studied significantly improved in Spain and in several autonomous communities. The information on influenza vaccination coverage obtained in the Spanish National Health Surveys was similar to that found in the Autonomous Communities Health Surveys and in the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs