Características epidemiológicas, clínicas y funcionales de los pacientes mayores de 75 años ingresados en un hospital terciario durante la primera ola pandémica por SARS-CoV-2 / Epidemiological, clinical, and functional characteristics of patients older than 75 years admitted to a tertiary hospital during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Fundamento: Analizar las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y funcionales de los pacientes ingresados en el Hospital Universitario de Navarra por infección por SARS-CoV-2, así como los factores predictores de mortalidad, durante la primera ola de la pandemia provocada por este virus. Metodología: Estudio observacional y retrospectivo de todos los pacientes hospitalizados mayores de 75 años entre marzo y noviembre de 2020. Se ha obtenido información sobre múltiples variables, entre las que cabe destacar los síndromes geriátricos previos y que han aparecido durante la hospitalización, o los antecedentes médicos considerados relevantes en la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Se ha realizado un análisis descriptivo de los datos, comparaciones según diversos factores de interés y análisis multivariable para analizar los factores asociados a la mortalidad. Resultados: Se obtuvieron datos de un total de 426 pacientes cuya edad media fue de 83,2 años (52,6% varones). El 34,7% fallecieron en el hospital y el 4,5% antes de un mes tras el alta hospitalaria. Los factores relacionados con la mortalidad fueron: peor situación funcional basal, enfermedad renal crónica y fiebre o disnea como formas de presentación. Los síntomas típicos más frecuentes fueron: fiebre, disnea, tos, astenia e hiporexia. Hasta el 42,1% presentaron delirium como síntoma de inicio atípico. Se objetivó un deterioro funcional que no se recuperó al mes de seguimiento (índice de Barthel basal 81,12; 70,08 al alta; 75,55 al mes). Conclusiones: La infección por SARS-CoV-2 ha provocado elevadas tasas de mortalidad en las personas mayores. En este grupo etario, es frecuente la forma de presentación atípica de esta enfermedad y el deterioro funcional durante la hospitalización. En el presente estudio se ha identificado un peor estado funcional previo como predictor de mortalidad. Son necesarios más estudios que evalúen el impacto que la enfermedad y la hospitalización tienen en el paciente mayor...(AU)

Background: The objective of the present study is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and functional characteristics of patients admitted to the University Hospital of Navarra due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the predictors of mortality, during the first wave of the pandemic caused by this virus. Methodology: An observational, retrospective study was performed, including all hospitalized patients older than 75 years. Information has been obtained on multiple variables, among which it is worth mentioning previous geriatric syndromes or those that have appeared during hospitalization, or past medical history considered relevant in SARS-CoV-2 infection. A descriptive analysis of the data, comparisons according to various factors of interest and multivariate analysis to analyze factors associated with mortality were carried out. Results: Data have been obtained from a total of 426 patients with a mean age of 83.2 years (52.6% men). 34.7% died in hospital and 4.5% within 1 month after hospital discharge. The factors related to mortality were: worse baseline functional status, chronic kidney disease, and fever or dyspnea as forms of presentation. The most frequent typical symptoms were: fever, dyspnea, cough, asthenia and hyporexia. Up to 42.1% presented delirium as a symptom of atypical onset. We observed a functional deterioration that was not recover after a month of follow-up (baseline Barthel index 81.12; 70.08 at discharge; 75.55 after a month). Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused high mortality rates in older adults. In this age group, the atypical presentation of this disease and functional deterioration during hospitalization are frequent. In the present study, a worse previous functional status has been identified as a predictor of mortality. More studies are needed to evaluate the impact that the disease and hospitalization have on the older patient...(AU)

[Epidemiological, clinical, and functional characteristics of patients older than 75 years admitted to a tertiary hospital during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic]. / Características epidemiológicas, clínicas y funcionales de los pacientes mayores de 75 años ingresados en un hospital terciario durante la primera ola pandémica por SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and functional characteristics of patients admitted to the University Hospital of Navarra due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the predictors of mortality, during the first wave of the pandemic caused by this virus. METHODOLOGY: An observational, retrospective study was performed, including all hospitalized patients older than 75 years. Information has been obtained on multiple variables, among which it is worth mentioning previous geriatric syndromes or those that have appeared during hospitalization, or past medical history considered relevant in SARS-CoV-2 infection. A descriptive analysis of the data, comparisons according to various factors of interest and multivariate analysis to analyze factors associated with mortality were carried out. RESULTS: Data have been obtained from a total of 426 patients with a mean age of 83.2 years (52.6% men). 34.7% died in hospital and 4.5% within 1 month after hospital discharge. The factors related to mortality were: worse baseline functional status, chronic kidney disease, and fever or dyspnea as forms of presentation. The most frequent typical symptoms were: fever, dyspnea, cough, asthenia and hyporexia. Up to 42.1% presented delirium as a symptom of atypical onset. We observed a functional deterioration that was not recover after a month of follow-up (baseline Barthel index 81.12; 70.08 at discharge; 75.55 after a month). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused high mortality rates in older adults. In this age group, the atypical presentation of this disease and functional deterioration during hospitalization are frequent. In the present study, a worse previous functional status has been identified as a predictor of mortality. More studies are needed to evaluate the impact that the disease and hospitalization have on the older patient, with the aim of implementing preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic measures that are necessary to avoid functional deterioration and adverse health events related to it.

Immediate effects and duration of a short and single application of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on P300 event related potential.

Introduction: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a neuromodulatory technique that stimulates the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The modulation of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) network is one of the potential working mechanisms of this method. Our aims were 1-to investigate if short and single applications of taVNS can modulate the P300 cognitive event-related potential (ERP) as an indirect marker that reflects NE brain activation under control of the LC, and 2-to evaluate the duration of these changes. Methods: 20 healthy volunteers executed an auditory oddball paradigm to obtain P300 and reaction time (RT) values. Then a 7 min active or sham taVNS period was initiated and simultaneously a new P300 paradigm was performed. We successively repeated the paradigm on 4 occasions with different time intervals up to 56 min after the stimulation onset. Results: During active taVNS an immediate and significant effect of increasing the amplitude and reducing the latency of P300, as well as a shortening in the RT was observed. This effect was prolonged in time up to 28 min. The values then returned to pre-stimulation levels. Sham stimulation did not generate changes. Discussion: Our results, demonstrate differential facilitating effects in a concrete time window after taVNS. Literature about the modulatory effect of taVNS over P300 ERP shows a wide spread of results. There is not a standardized system for taVNS and currently the great heterogeneity of stimulation approaches concerning targets and parameters, make it difficult to obtain conclusions about this relationship. Our study was designed optimizing several stimulation settings, such as a customized earbud stimulator, enlarged stimulating surface, simultaneous stimulation over the cymba and cavum conchae, a Delayed Biphasic Pulse Burst and current controlled stimulation that adjusted the output voltage and guaranteed the administration of a preset electrical dose. Under our stimulation conditions, targeting vagal nerve fibers via taVNS modulates the P300 in healthy participants. The optimal settings of modulatory function of taVNS on P300, and their interdependency is insufficiently studied in the literature, but our data provides several easily optimizable parameters, that will produce more robust results in future.

Effects of extended oral antibiotic prophylaxis on surgical site infections after instrumented spinal fusion: a cohort study of 901 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether an extended oral antibiotic prophylaxis protocol may reduce the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing instrumented spinal fusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study comprise 901 consecutive patients subjected to spinal fusion between September 2011 and December 2018 with a minimum 1-year follow-up. 368 patients operated on between September 2011 and August 2014 were administered standard intravenous prophylaxis. 533 patients operated on between September 2014 and December 2018 were administered an extended protocol with 500 mg of oral cefuroxime axetil every 12 hours (clindamycin or levofloxacin in allergic individuals) until the removal of sutures. SSI was defined following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The association between risk factors and the incidence of SSI was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) with a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: The bivariate analysis showed a statistically significant association between SSI and the type of prophylaxis used ("extended"' = 1.7% vs. "standard" = 6.2%, p= 0.001), with a lower proportion of superficial SSIs with the extended regimen (0.8% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.001). The multiple logistic regression model showed an OR = 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.53) for extended prophylaxis and an OR = 3.5 (CI 1.3-8.1) for non-beta-lactams antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Extended antibiotic prophylaxis seems to be associated with a reduction in the incidence of superficial SSI in instrumented spine surgery.

Cohort Profile: CArdiovascular Risk in patients with DIAbetes in NAvarra (CARDIANA cohort).

PURPOSE: The CArdiovascular Risk in patients with DIAbetes in Navarra (CARDIANA cohort) cohort was established to assess the effects of sociodemographic and clinical variables on the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes, with a special focus on socioeconomic factors, and to validate and develop cardiovascular risk models for these patients. PARTICIPANTS: The CARDIANA cohort included all patients with T1D and T2D diabetes registered in the Public Health Service of Navarra with prevalent disease on 1 January 2012. It consisted of 1067 patients with T1D (ages 2-88 years) and 33842 patients with T2D (ages 20-105 years), whose data were retrospectively extracted from the Health and Administrative System Databases. FINDINGS TO DATE: The follow-up period for wave 1 was from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. During these 5 years, 9 patients (0.8%; 95% CI (0.4% to 1.6%)) in the T1D cohort developed a cardiovascular disease event, whereas for the T2D cohort, 2602 (7.7%; 95% CI (7.4% to 8.0%)) had an event. For the T2D cohort, physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, with adjusted estimated ORs equal to 0.84 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.07) for the partially active group and 0.71 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.91) for the active group, compared with patients in the non-active group. FUTURE PLANS: The CARDIANA cohort is currently being used to assess the effect of sociodemographic risk factors on CV risk at 5 years and to externally validate cardiovascular predictive models. A second wave is being conducted in late 2022 and early 2023, to extend the follow-up other 5 years, from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. Periodic data extractions are planned every 5 years.

Multisystem chronic illness prognostication in non-oncologic integrated care.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a mortality-predictive model for correct identification of patients with non-cancer multiple chronic conditions who would benefit from palliative care, recognise predictive indicators of death and provide with tools for individual risk score calculation. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study with multivariate logistic regression models. PARTICIPANTS: All patients with high-risk multiple chronic conditions incorporated into an integrated care strategy that fulfil two conditions: (1) they belong to the top 5% of the programme's risk pyramid according to the adjusted morbidity groups stratification tool and (2) they suffer simultaneously at least three selected chronic non-cancer pathologies (n=591). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: 1 year mortality since patient inclusion in the programme. RESULTS: Among study participants, 201 (34%) died within the 1 year follow-up. Variables found to be independently associated to 1 year mortality were the Barthel Scale (p<0.001), creatinine value (p=0.032), existence of pressure ulcers (p=0.029) and patient global status (p<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for our model was 0.751, which was validated using bootstrapping (AUC=0.751) and k-fold cross-validation (10 folds; AUC=0.744). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p=0.761) showed good calibration. CONCLUSIONS: This study develops and validates a mortality prediction model that will guide transitions of care to non-cancer palliative care services. The model determines prognostic indicators of death and provides tools for the estimation of individual death risk scores for each patient. We present a nomogram, a graphical risk calculation instrument, that favours a practical and easy use of the model within clinical practices.

Effects of a Tailored Exercise Intervention in Acutely Hospitalized Oldest Old Diabetic Adults: An Ancillary Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of a tailored exercise intervention in acutely hospitalized elderly diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This is an ancillary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 103 acutely hospitalized elderly adults (mean age ~87 years) with type II diabetes were randomized to an intervention (exercise, n = 54) or control group (usual care, n = 49). The primary endpoint was change in functional status from baseline to hospital discharge as assessed with the Barthel Index and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Secondary endpoints comprised cognitive function and mood status, quality of life (QoL), incidence of delirium, and handgrip strength. Exercise-related side effects, length of hospital stay, and incidence of falls during hospitalization were also assessed, as well as transfer to nursing homes, hospital readmission, and mortality during a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The median length of stay was 8 days (interquartile range, 4) for both groups. The intervention was safe and provided significant benefits over usual care on SPPB (2.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8, 3.5]) and Barthel Index (8.5 [95% CI: 3.9, 13.1]), as well as on other secondary endpoints such as cognitive status, depression, QoL, and handgrip strength (all P < 0.05). No significant between-group differences were found for the remainder of secondary endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: An in-hospital individualized multicomponent exercise intervention was safe and effective for the prevention of functional and cognitive decline in acutely hospitalized elderly diabetic patients, although it had no influence on other endpoints assessed during hospitalization or at the 3-month follow-up after discharge.

Initial Therapy, Regimen Change, and Persistence in a Spanish Cohort of Newly Treated Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Retrospective, Observational Study Using Real-World Data.

The World Health Organization considers the non-adherence to medication a significant issue with global impact, especially in chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. We aim to study antidiabetic treatment initiation, add-on, treatment switching, and medication persistence. We conducted an observational study on 4247 individuals initiating antidiabetic treatment between 2013 and 2014 in the EpiChron Cohort (Spain). We used Cox regression models to estimate the likelihood of non-persistence after a one-year follow-up, expressed as hazard ratios (HRs). Metformin was the most frequently used first-line antidiabetic (80% of cases); combination treatment was the second most common treatment in adults aged 40-79 years, while dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors were the second most common in individuals in their 80s and over, and in patients with renal disease. Individuals initiated on metformin were less likely to present addition and switching events compared with any other antidiabetic. Almost 70% of individuals initiated on monotherapy were persistent. Subjects aged 40 and over (HR 0.53-0.63), living in rural (HR 0.79) or more deprived areas (HR 0.77-0.82), or receiving polypharmacy (HR 0.84), were less likely to show discontinuation. Our findings could help identify the population at risk of discontinuation, and offer them closer monitoring for proper integrated management to improve prognosis and health outcomes.

Variation in Antiosteoporotic Drug Prescribing and Spending Across Spain. A Population-Based Ecological Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Evidence has shown that utilization of antiosteoporotic medications does not correspond with risk, and studies on other therapies have shown that adequacy of pharmaceutical prescribing might vary between regions. Nevertheless, very few studies have addressed the variability in osteoporotic drug consumption. We aimed to describe variations in pharmaceutical utilization and spending on osteoporotic drugs between Health Areas (HA) in Spain. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional ecological study of expenditure and utilization of the five therapeutic groups marketed for osteoporosis treatment in Spain in 2009. Small area variation analysis (SAVA) methods were used. The units of analysis were the 168 HA of 13 Spanish regions, including 7.2 million women aged 50 years and older. The main outcomes were the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants and day (DDD/1000/Day) dispensed according to the pharmaceutical claims reimbursed, and the expenditure on antiosteoporotics at retail price per woman ≥50 years old and per year. Results: The average osteoporosis drug consumption was 116.8 DDD/1000W/Day, ranging from 78.5 to 158.7 DDD/1000W/Day between the HAs in the 5th and 95th percentiles. Seventy-five percent of the antiosteoporotics consumed was bisphosphonates, followed by raloxifene, strontium ranelate, calcitonins, and parathyroid hormones including teriparatide. Regarding variability by therapeutic groups, biphosphonates showed the lowest variation, while calcitonins and parathyroid hormones showed the highest variation. The annual expenditure on antiosteoporotics was €426.5 million, translating into an expenditure of €59.2 for each woman ≥50 years old and varying between €38.1 and €83.3 between HAs in the 5th and 95th percentiles. Biphosphonates, despite accounting for 79% of utilization, only represented 63% of total expenditure, while parathyroid hormones with only 1.6% of utilization accounted for 15% of the pharmaceutical spending. Conclusion: This study highlights a marked geographical variation in the prescription of antiosteoporotics, being more pronounced in the case of costly drugs such as parathyroid hormones. The differences in rates of prescribing explained almost all of the variance in drug spending, suggesting that the difference in prescription volume between territories, and not the price of the drugs, is the main source of variation in this setting. Data on geographical variation of prescription can help guide policy proposals for targeting areas with inadequate antiosteoporotic drug use.

Comparing variation across European countries: building geographical areas to provide sounder estimates.

BACKGROUND: In geographical studies, population distribution is a key issue. An unequal distribution across units of analysis might entail extra-variation and produce misleading conclusions on healthcare performance variations. This article aims at assessing the impact of building more homogeneous units of analysis in the estimation of systematic variation in three countries. METHODS: Hospital discharges for six conditions (congestive heart failure, short-term complications of diabetes, hip fracture, knee replacement, prostatectomy in prostate cancer and percutaneous coronary intervention) produced in Denmark, England and Portugal in 2008 and 2009 were allocated to both original geographical units and new ad hoc areas. New areas were built using Ward's minimum variance methods. The impact of the new areas on variability was assessed using Kernel distribution curves and different statistic of variation such as Extremal Quotient, Interquartile Interval ratio, Systematic Component of Variation and Empirical Bayes statistic. RESULTS: Ward's method reduced the number of areas, allowing a more homogeneous population distribution, yet 20% of the areas in Portugal exhibited less than 100 000 inhabitants vs. 7% in Denmark and 5% in England. Point estimates for Extremal Quotient and Interquartile Interval Ratio were lower in the three countries, particularly in less prevalent conditions. In turn, the Systematic Component of Variation and Empirical Bayes statistic were slightly lower in more prevalent conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Building new geographical areas produced a reduction of the variation in hospitalization rates in several prevalent conditions mitigating random noise, particularly in the smallest areas and allowing a sounder interpretation of the variation across countries.

Shared component modelling as an alternative to assess geographical variations in medical practice: gender inequalities in hospital admissions for chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Small area analysis is the most prevalent methodological approach in the study of unwarranted and systematic variation in medical practice at geographical level. Several of its limitations drive researchers to use disease mapping methods -deemed as a valuable alternative. This work aims at exploring these techniques using - as a case of study- the gender differences in rates of hospitalization in elderly patients with chronic diseases. METHODS: Design and study setting: An empirical study of 538,358 hospitalizations affecting individuals aged over 75, who were admitted due to a chronic condition in 2006, were used to compare Small Area Analysis (SAVA), the Besag-York-Mollie (BYM) modelling and the Shared Component Modelling (SCM). Main endpoint: Gender spatial variation was measured, as follows: SAVA estimated gender-specific utilization ratio; BYM estimated the fraction of variance attributable to spatial correlation in each gender; and, SCM estimated the fraction of variance shared by the two genders, and those specific for each one. RESULTS: Hospitalization rates due to chronic diseases in the elderly were higher in men (median per area 21.4 per 100 inhabitants, interquartile range: 17.6 to 25.0) than in women (median per area 13.7 per 100, interquartile range: 10.8 to 16.6). Whereas Utilization Ratios showed a similar geographical pattern of variation in both genders, BYM found a high fraction of variation attributable to spatial correlation in both men (71%, CI95%: 50 to 94) and women (62%, CI95%: 45 to 77). In turn, SCM showed that the geographical admission pattern was mainly shared, with just 6% (CI95%: 4 to 8) of variation specific to the women component. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas SAVA and BYM focused on the magnitude of variation and on allocating where variability cannot be due to chance, SCM signalled discrepant areas where latent factors would differently affect men and women.

[Caesarean delivery in Andalusia, Spain: relationship with social, clinical and health services factors (2007-2009)]. / Frecuencia de la cesárea en Andalucía: relación con factores sociales, clínicos y de los servicios sanitarios (2007-2009).

BACKGROUND: Increasing trend and geographical variations in the use of caesarean section suggest the influence of non-clinical factors. The objective was to describe the use of caesarean section in the Andalusian region in Spain by exploring the role of social, clinical, and health services variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out using vital statistics. It involves all births occurred in Andalusia during the period of 2007-2009. The dependent variable was the use of caesarean section and the set of covariates were classified into three groups: those with a clinical meaning, those related to the health services organization, and those with a social significance. Multivariate logistic regressions were used. RESULTS: In the data set of 293,558 births, the prevalence of caesarean delivery was 24.8%. The multivariate analysis highlights the labour complications as the clinical variable with the highest odds ratio (OR=19.36). Regarding the health services variables, the odds of experiencing a caesarean delivery were 55% higher on weekdays than on weekends. Cádiz was the province with the highest OR for caesarean section (comparison between Cádiz and Almería: OR=1,21) where the ratio between births in public and private hospitals was 3.7. The frequency of caesarean section was 34% higher in women with third level education than those with no education. CONCLUSIONS: Labour complication is the most influential variable for caesarean section. Caesarean birth rate is above the accepted standards for all social classes and increases with educational level. Inter-provincial differences reflect different patterns with regard to the use of private medicine.

Frecuencia de la cesárea en Andalucía. Relación con factores sociales, clínicos y de los servicios sanitarios (2007-2009) / Caesarean delivery in andalusia, Spain. Relationship with social, clinical and health services factors (2007-2009)

Fundamento: La tendencia creciente y variabilidad geográfica en el uso de la cesárea sugiere la existencia de factores explicativos no clínicos. El objetivo del estudio es analizar eluso de las cesáreas en Andalucía, explorando el papel de variables sociales, clínicas y de los servicios sanitarios. Métodos: Estudio transversal de todos los nacimientos de Andalucía (2007-2009) utilizando como fuente de información el Movimiento Natural de la Población. La variable dependiente fue la frecuencia de cesáreas y las explicativas se clasificaron en tres grupos: con significado clínico, relacionadas con el funcionamiento de los servicios sanitarios, y con significado social. Se realizó una regresión logística multivariante. Resultados: El 24,8% de los 293.558 nacimientos fue porcesárea. En el análisis multivariante se observó que la variable clínica con la mayor odds ratio (OR) fue la existencia de complicaciones (OR=19,36). En cuanto a las variables relacionadas con los servicios sanitarios hubo un 55% más cesáreas de lunes a viernes que en fines de semana y la provincia con mayor uso de cesárea fue Cádiz (OR de 1,21 frente a Almería) con unarazón de partos en centros públicos frente a privados de 3,7. La frecuencia de cesáreas fue un 34% superior en las mujeres conestudios de tercer grado que en las que no tenían estudios. Conclusiones: La variable con mayor influencia en la práctica de cesárea fue la existencia de complicaciones. La tasa decesárea estuvo por encima de los estándares aceptados en todas las clases sociales, con mayor incidencia a mayor nivel educativo. Las diferencias interprovinciales reflejan distintos patrones de uso de la medicina privada(AU)

Background: Increasing trend and geographical variationsin the use of caesarean section suggest the influence of non-clinical factors. The objective was to describe the use of caesareansection in the Andalusian region in Spain by exploring the role of social, clinical, and health services variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out usingvital statistics. It involves all births occurred in Andalusia during the period of 2007-2009. The dependent variable was theuse of caesarean section and the set of covariates were classified into three groups: those with a clinical meaning, those related tothe health services organization, and those with a social significance. Multivariate logistic regressions were used. Results: In the data set of 293,558 births, the prevalence ofcaesarean delivery was 24.8%. The multivariate analysis highlights the labour complications as the clinical variable with thehighest odds ratio (OR=19.36). Regarding the health services variables, the odds of experiencing a caesarean delivery were55% higher on weekdays than on weekends. Cádiz was the province with the highest OR for caesarean section (comparisonbetween Cádiz and Almería: OR=1,21) where the ratio betweenbirths in public and private hospitals was 3.7. The frequency of caesarean section was 34% higher in women with third leveleducation than those with no education. Conclusions: Labour complication is the most influentialvariable for caesarean section. Caesarean birth rate is above the accepted standards for all social classes and increases with educational level. Inter-provincial differences reflect different patterns with regard to the use of private medicine(AU)