Comparison of methods to testing for differential treatment effect under non-proportional hazards data.

Many tests for comparing survival curves have been proposed over the last decades. There are two branches, one based on weighted log-rank statistics and other based on weighted Kaplan-Meier statistics. If we carefully choose the weight function, a substantial increase in power of tests against non-proportional alternatives can be obtained. However, it is difficult to specify in advance the types of survival differences that may actually exist between two groups. Therefore, a combination test can simultaneously detect equally weighted, early, late or middle departures from the null hypothesis and can robustly handle several non-proportional hazard types with no a priori knowledge of the hazard functions. In this paper, we focus on the most used and the most powerful test statistics related to these two branches which have been studied separately but not compared between them. Through a simulation study, we compare the size and power of thirteen test statistics under proportional hazards and different types of non-proportional hazards patterns. We illustrate the procedures using data from a clinical trial of bone marrow transplant patients with leukemia.

Measuring Hidden Support for Physical Intimate Partner Violence: A List Randomization Experiment in South-Central Ethiopia.

Understanding how and why physical intimate partner violence (IPV) persists in high-risk communities has proven difficult. As IPV is both sensitive and illegal, people may be inclined to misreport their views and experiences. By embedding a list randomization experiment (LRE), which increases respondent privacy, in a survey of 809 adult Arsi Oromo men and women in rural south-central Ethiopia, we test the reliability of direct questioning survey methods (e.g., used in the Demographic and Health Surveys) for measuring attitudes that underpin the acceptability of IPV. Participants were randomly assigned versions of the survey in which they were asked either directly or indirectly about the acceptability of wife-beating. By comparing responses across these surveys, we identify the extent to which views are being misreported using direct questioning methods, as well as identifying the "true" predictors of continued support for wife-beating. Indirect questioning reveals that almost one third of the sample believe that wife-beating is acceptable. Adults (particularly men) who are less educated (<3 years schooling) or living in households where women do not participate in economic decision making are among those most likely to identify wife-beating as justifiable (>50% endorsement). These individuals, however, are also more inclined to hide their approval when asked directly by an interviewer. That we find high but underreported support for wife-beating among some members of the community demonstrates a clear need to encourage a more open dialogue, to prevent violence toward women remaining undetected and thus unchanged. This finding also raises questions about the accuracy of traditional direct questioning for capturing information on IPV attitudes and norms. Of relevance to policy, we find that wife-beating is entirely absent only among adults with higher levels of education, living in households where decision making is shared between couples.

The Effects of Early Onset Tranquilizers, Sedatives, and Sleeping Pills Use on Recent Consumption Among Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents' consumption of tranquilizers, sedatives, and sleeping pills (TSSp) has increased during the last few decades, and TSSp are currently among the substances with the lowest age-of-onset. We characterized current-use patterns of TSSp consumers by age when first taken. METHODS: This study used individualized secondary data retrieved from the 2016 Spanish State Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education (16-18-year-olds), and included all subjects who reported having taken TSSp at any point, but excluded those who had started during the previous year (n = 1502). Logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for associations between early TSSp consumption (<14 years) and current TSSp use patterns, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: About 17.9% of respondents had taken TSSp (average age-of-onset = 13.7) and 45% of these without a prescription. TSSp consumption at <14 years was higher for males and nonrepeaters. Having begun to use TSSp < 14 years was associated with both higher probability of consumption in the last month (aOR = 1.41; 95%CI:1.12-1.77) and daily/almost daily consumption in the last month (aOR = 1.56; 95CI%:1.16-2.08). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show there is a high proportion of 16 to 18 TSSp student consumers - both prescribed and nonprescribed; it also establishes that early onset-of-use is associated with higher levels of intensive use later on.

Indirect questioning methods for sensitive survey questions: Modelling criminal behaviours among a prison population.

Information such as the prevalence and frequency of criminal behaviour is difficult to estimate using standard survey techniques because of the tendency of respondents to withhold or misrepresent information. Social desirability bias is a significant threat to the validity of self-reported data, especially when supplied by persons such as sexual offenders or those convicted of theft or substance abuse. The randomized response approach is an alternative to the standard interview method and offers great potential for researchers in the field of criminal justice. By means of a survey of 792 prison inmates, incorporating both indirect and direct response techniques, we investigate if the prison population also has problems recognizing their participation in criminal acts such as theft, illicit drug use, violence against property, reckless driving and arson. Our research findings suggest that self-reported criminal behaviour among a prison population is affected by social desirability bias and that the behaviour considered is significantly associated with the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The results also demonstrate the inadequacy of traditional, yet widely used, direct questioning methods, and the great potential for indirect questioning techniques to advance policy formation and evaluation in the field of criminal behaviour.

Measuring Inappropriate Sexual Behavior Among University Students: Using the Randomized Response Technique to Enhance Self-Reporting.

This article analyzes the efficacy of the randomized response technique (RRT) in achieving honest self-reporting about sexual behavior, compared with traditional survey techniques. A complex survey was conducted of 1,246 university students in Spain, who were asked sensitive quantitative questions about their sexual behavior, either via the RRT (n = 754) or by direct questioning (DQ) (n = 492). The RRT estimates of the number of times that the students were unable to restrain their inappropriate sexual behavior were significantly higher than the DQ estimates, among both male and female students. The results obtained suggest that the RRT method elicits higher values of self-stigmatizing reports of sexual experiences by increasing privacy in the data collection process. The RRT is shown to be a useful method for investigating sexual behavior.

Indirect questioning method reveals hidden support for female genital cutting in South Central Ethiopia.

Female genital cutting (FGC) has major implications for women's physical, sexual and psychological health, and eliminating the practice is a key target for public health policy-makers. To date one of the main barriers to achieving this has been an inability to infer privately-held views on FGC within communities where it is prevalent. As a sensitive (and often illegal) topic, people are anticipated to hide their true support for the practice when questioned directly. Here we use an indirect questioning method (unmatched count technique) to identify hidden support for FGC in a rural South Central Ethiopian community where the practice is common, but thought to be in decline. Employing a socio-demographic household survey of 1620 Arsi Oromo adults, which incorporated both direct and indirect direct response (unmatched count) techniques we compare directly-stated versus privately-held views in support of FGC, and individual variation in responses by age, gender and education and target female (daughters versus daughters-in-law). Both genders express low support for FGC when questioned directly, while indirect methods reveal substantially higher acceptance (of cutting both daughters and daughters-in-law). Educated adults (those who have attended school) are privately more supportive of the practice than they are prepared to admit openly to an interviewer, indicating that education may heighten secrecy rather than decrease support for FGC. Older individuals hold the strongest views in favour of FGC (particularly educated older males), but they are also more inclined to conceal their support for FGC when questioned directly. As these elders represent the most influential members of society, their hidden support for FGC may constitute a pivotal barrier to eliminating the practice in this community. Our results demonstrate the great potential for indirect questioning methods to advance knowledge and inform policy on culturally-sensitive topics like FGC; providing more reliable data and improving understanding of the "true" drivers of FGC.

Estimating the prevalence of phenotypes in patients with pulmonary obstructive disease. ADEPOCLE study / Estimación de la prevalencia de los fenotipos en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Estudio ADEPOCLE.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotypes in the province of Leon. Methods: Multicenter epidemiological cross-sectional study (30 health centers in the province of Leon). It included patients older than 35 years diagnosed and treated for COPD. Study variables: age, sex, habitat, anthropometric data, smoking, postbronchodilator spirometry, dyspnea (mMRC), exacerbations, severity (Bodex Index), hospitalization, treatment, monitoring and characterization of the phenotype (GesEOPC 2014). Results are expressed with CI 95.5%. Results: 833 patients were included. 85.8% male with an average age of 64.69 (53.66 to 75.61) and 20.65 years (4.47 to 36.8) years course of COPD. 86.67% (80.30 to 93.30) had smoked. Prevalence of phenotypes: 58.8% (55.2 to 61.9) not exacerbator, 13.6% (11.3 to 16.3) FMEA, 10.8% (8.8 to 13.3) exacerbator with emphysema and 16.7% (14.2 to 19.3) exacerbator with chronic bronchitis, p < 0.05. In the not exacerbator phenotype mild forms predominate and are controlled by general practitioner doctors. In the exacerbator phenotypes severe forms predominate and monitoring is shared by GP doctors and pulmonologists. Exacerbations are more common in exacerbator phenotypes with chronic bronchitis (40%), emphysema (27%) and FMEA (23%), p = 0.004. The exacerbator phenotype with chronic bronchitis have exacerbations an average of 6.4, 4 hospitalitations and 4 drugs prescribed/year. The exacerbator phenotype with emphysema have 5.7 exacerbations, 2.8 hospitalitations and 3.1 drugs prescribed/year. The FMEA have an average of 5 exacerbations, 1 hospitalitation and 2.6 prescribed drugs/year, p < 0.001. Conclusions: The clinical phenotypes are postulated as prognostic and therapeutic targets. Knowing its prevalence enables personalized treatment planning and better reallocation of resources for control and monitoring of COPD.

Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de los fenotipos de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en la provincia de León. Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, espirometría posbroncodilatadora, disnea (mMRC), reagudizaciones, gravedad (índice Bodex), hospitalizaciones, tratamiento, seguimiento y caracterización del fenotipo (GesEOPC 2014). Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%. Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 (53,66-75,61) años y 20,65 (4,47-36,8) años de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) habían fumado. Prevalencia de fenotipos: 58,8% (55,2-61,9) no agudizador, 13,6% (11,3-16,3) FMEA, 10,8% (8,8-13,3) agudizador con enfisema y 16,7% (14,2-19,3) agudizador con bronquitis crónica, p < 0,05. En el fenotipo no reagudizador predominan las formas leves y son controlados por médicos de familia. En los agudizadores predominan las formas graves y el seguimiento es compartido por médicos de familia y neumólogos. Las reagudizaciones son más frecuentes en los fenotipos agudizadores con bronquitis crónica (40%), con enfisema (27%) y FMEA (23%), p = 0,004. Los fenotipos agudizadores con bronquitis crónica tienen una media de 6 reagudizaciones, 4 ingresos y 4 fármacos prescritos/año. Los fenotipos agudizadores con enfisema 5,7 reagudizaciones, 2,8 ingresos y 3,1 fármacos prescritos/año. Los FMEA 5 reagudizaciones, 1 ingreso y 2,6 fármacos prescritos/año, p < 0,001. Conclusiones: los fenotipos clínicos se postulan como dianas terapéuticas y pronósticas. Conocer su prevalencia permitirá una planificación terapéutica personalizada y mejor reasignación de recursos para el control y seguimiento de la EPOC.

Estimación de la prevalencia de los fenotipos en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Estudio ADEPOCLE / Estimating the prevalence of phenotypes in patients with pulmonary obstructive disease. ADEPOCLE study

Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de los fenotipos de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en la provincia de León. Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, espirometría posbroncodilatadora, disnea (mMRC), reagudizaciones, gravedad (índice Bodex), hospitalizaciones, tratamiento, seguimiento y caracterización del fenotipo (GesEOPC 2014). Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%. Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 (53,66-75,61) años y 20,65 (4,47-36,8) años de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) habían fumado. Prevalencia de fenotipos: 58,8% (55,2-61,9) no agudizador, 13,6% (11,3-16,3) FMEA, 10,8% (8,8-13,3) agudizador con enfisema y 16,7% (14,2-19,3) agudizador con bronquitis crónica, p < 0,05. En el fenotipo no reagudizador predominan las formas leves y son controlados por médicos de familia. En los agudizadores predominan las formas graves y el seguimiento es compartido por médicos de familia y neumólogos. Las reagudizaciones son más frecuentes en los fenotipos agudizadores con bronquitis crónica (40%), con enfisema (27%) y FMEA (23%), p = 0,004. Los fenotipos agudizadores con bronquitis crónica tienen una media de 6 reagudizaciones, 4 ingresos y 4 fármacos prescritos/año. Los fenotipos agudizadores con enfisema 5,7 reagudizaciones, 2,8 ingresos y 3,1 fármacos prescritos/ año. Los FMEA 5 reagudizaciones, 1 ingreso y 2,6 fármacos prescritos/año, p < 0,001. Conclusiones: los fenotipos clínicos se postulan como dianas terapéuticas y pronósticas. Conocer su prevalencia permitirá una planificación terapéutica personalizada y mejor reasignación de recursos para el control y seguimiento de la EPOC (AU)

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotypes in the province of Leon. Methods: Multicenter epidemiological cross-sectional study (30 health centers in the province of Leon). It included patients older than 35 years diagnosed and treated for COPD. Study variables: age, sex, habitat, anthropometric data, smoking, postbronchodilator spirometry, dyspnea (mMRC), exacerbations, severity (Bodex Index), hospitalization, treatment, monitoring and characterization of the phenotype (GesEOPC 2014). Results are expressed with CI 95.5%. Results: 833 patients were included. 85.8% male with an average age of 64.69 (53.66 to 75.61) and 20.65 years (4.47 to 36.8) years course of COPD. 86.67% (80.30 to 93.30) had smoked. Prevalence of phenotypes: 58.8% (55.2 to 61.9) not exacerbator, 13.6% (11.3 to 16.3) FMEA, 10.8% (8.8 to 13.3) exacerbator with emphysema and 16.7% (14.2 to 19.3) exacerbator with chronic bronchitis, p < 0.05. In the not exacerbator phenotype mild forms predominate and are controlled by general practitioner doctors. In the exacerbator phenotypes severe forms predominate and monitoring is shared by GP doctors and pulmonologists. Exacerbations are more common in exacerbator phenotypes with chronic bronchitis (40%), emphysema (27%) and FMEA (23%), p = 0.004. The exacerbator phenotype with chronic bronchitis have exacerbations an average of 6.4, 4 hospitalitations and 4 drugs prescribed/year. The exacerbator phenotype with emphysema have 5.7 exacerbations, 2.8 hospitalitations and 3.1 drugs prescribed/year. The FMEA have an average of 5 exacerbations, 1 hospitalitation and 2.6 prescribed drugs/year, p < 0.001. Conclusions: The clinical phenotypes are postulated as prognostic and therapeutic targets. Knowing its prevalence enables personalized treatment planning and better reallocation of resources for control and monitoring of COPD (AU)

Application of randomized response techniques for investigating cannabis use by Spanish university students.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in developed countries, and has a significant impact on mental and physical health in the general population. Although the evaluation of levels of substance use is difficult, a method such as the randomized response technique (RRT), which includes both a personal component and an assurance of confidentiality, provides a combination which can achieve a considerable degree of accuracy. Various RRT surveys have been conducted to measure the prevalence of drug use, but to date no studies have been made of the effectiveness of this approach in surveys with respect to quantitative variables related to drug use. This paper describes a probabilistic, stratified sample of 1146 university students asking sensitive quantitative questions about cannabis use in Spanish universities, conducted using the RRT. On comparing the results of the direct question (DQ) survey and those of the randomized response (RR) survey, we find that the number of cannabis cigarettes consumed during the past year (DQ = 3, RR = 17 approximately), and the number of days when consumption took place (DQ = 1, RR = 7) are much higher with RRT. The advantages of RRT, reported previously and corroborated in our study, make it a useful method for investigating cannabis use. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Estimación del porcentaje de pacientes con EPOC adiestrados en consulta para el manejo de inhaladores. Estudio ADEPOCLE.

Objetivos: estimar el porcentaje de pacientes con EPOC adiestrados en la consulta para el manejo de inhaladores en la provincia de León.Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, estado nutricional, tabaquismo, espirometría postboroncodilatadora, disnea (mMRC), reagudizaciones, gravedad (Índice Bodex), hospitalizaciones, tratamiento, seguimiento y caracterización del fenotipo (GesEOPC 2014). Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%.Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, con edad media de 64,69 (53,66-75,61) años y 20,65 (4,47-36,8) años evolución de la EPOC. Empleaban 1,88 (1,64-2,16) dispositivos inhaladores de media, p = 0,006, (57% de forma correcta, 23% regular y el 20% incorrecta). El 20,9% no recibieron adiestramiento para usar inhaladores frente al 79,1% adiestrados, p < 0,001, (9,4% por neumólogos, 20,3% enfermeras y 43,5% médicos familia, p = 0,002). Los pacientes bien adiestrados realizan mejor el tratamiento, en el 60,60% (58,91-62,29), p = 0,002. No hubo diferencias significativas en el adiestramiento por tabaquismo, gravedad, ingresos hospitalarios, ni calidad de vida, obteniendo una reducción significativa del número de agudizaciones, siendo de 1,59 (1,12-2,15) reagudizaciones medias en el grupo adiestrado frente a 3,29 (2,50-4,11) en los no adiestrados, p = 0,002.Conclusiones: el nivel de adiestramiento en el uso de inhaladores en los pacientes con EPOC es insuficiente en nuestro medio. La mejor formación de los profesionales y la simplificación de los dispositivos contribuirán a que un mayor número de pacientes realicen el tratamiento de forma adecuada.

Estimación del porcentaje de pacientes con EPOC adiestrados en consulta para el manejo de inhaladores. Estudio ADEPOCLE / Estimating the percentage of patients with COPD trained in the consultation for the management of inhalers. ADEPOCLE study

Objetivos: estimar el porcentaje de pacientes con EPOC adiestrados en la consulta para el manejo de inhaladores en la provincia de León. Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, estado nutricional, tabaquismo, espirometría postboroncodilatadora, disnea (mMRC), reagudizaciones, gravedad (Índice Bodex), hospitalizaciones, tratamiento, seguimiento y caracterización del fenotipo (GesEOPC 2014). Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%. Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, con edad media de 64,69 (53,66-75,61) años y 20,65 (4,47-36,8) años evolución de la EPOC. Empleaban 1,88 (1,64-2,16) dispositivos inhaladores de media, p = 0,006, (57% de forma correcta, 23% regular y el 20% incorrecta). El 20,9% no recibieron adiestramiento para usar inhaladores frente al 79,1% adiestrados, p < 0,001, (9,4% por neumólogos, 20,3% enfermeras y 43,5% médicos familia, p = 0,002). Los pacientes bien adiestrados realizan mejor el tratamiento, en el 60,60% (58,91-62,29), p = 0,002. No hubo diferencias significativas en el adiestramiento por tabaquismo, gravedad, ingresos hospitalarios, ni calidad de vida, obteniendo una reducción significativa del número de agudizaciones, siendo de 1,59 (1,12-2,15) reagudizaciones medias en el grupo adiestrado frente a 3,29 (2,50-4,11) en los no adiestrados, p = 0,002. Conclusiones: el nivel de adiestramiento en el uso de inhaladores en los pacientes con EPOC es insuficiente en nuestro medio. La mejor formación de los profesionales y la simplificación de los dispositivos contribuirán a que un mayor número de pacientes realicen el tratamiento de forma adecuada (AU)

Objectives: To estimate the percentage of patients with COPD trained in the consultation for the management of inhalers in the province of Leon. Methods: Multicenter epidemiological cross-sectional study (30 health centers in the province of Leon). It included patients older than 35 years diagnosed and treated for COPD. Study variables: age, sex, habitat, anthropometric data, nutritional status, smoking, post bronchodilator spirometry, dyspnea (mMRC), exacerbations, severity (Bodex Index), hospitalization, treatment, monitoring and characterization of the phenotype (GesEPOC 2014). Results are expressed with CI 95.5%. Results: Eight hundred and thirty-three patients were included. 85.8% male with an average age of 64.69 (53.66 to 75.61) and 20.65 years (4.47 to 36.8) years course of COPD. An average of 1.88% (1.64 to 2.16) employed inhaler devices, p = 0.006, (57% correctly, 23% regularly ok and 20% incorrectly). 20.9% received no training to use inhalers against 79.1% who were trained to do so, p < 0.001 (9.4% by pneumologists, 20.3% by nurses and 43.5% by family physicians, p = 0.002). Well-trained patients performed better the treatment in 60.60% of the cases (58.91 to 62.29), p = 0.002. There were no significant differences in training by smoking, severity, hospital admissions, or quality of life, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of exacerbations, being 1.59 (1.12 to 2.15) the average of exacerbations in the trained group versus 3.29 (2.50 to 4.11) in the untrained, p = 0.002. Conclusions: The degree of training in the use of inhalers in patients with COPD is poor in our midst. A better training of our professionals and simplifying the inhaler devices contribute to an increased number of patients who fulfill the treatment properly (AU)

Estimación de actividades preventivas en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Estudio ADEPOCLE.

Objetivos: estimar las actividades preventivas que realizan los pacientes diagnosticados de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en la provincia de León.Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, estado nutricional, ejercicio físico, vacunación antigripal, vacunación, antineumocócica (VNP23 y VNC13), fenotipo, gravedad, reagudizaciones y hospitalizaciones. Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%.Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 años (53,66-75,61) y 20,65 años (4,47-36,8) de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo (n = 722), de 35,26 años de evolución (17,87-52,64), consumían 28,36 paquetes al año (9,60-46,86), p < 0,001, siendo el 58% fumadores severos. En fumadores activos (n = 288) la intervención más efectiva fue terapia cognitivo-conductual más vareniclina, con abstinencias del 29,86%. En total dejaron de fumar el 51,05% (49,49-52,70) de los pacientes con EPOC, p < 0,001. El 73,67% (71,78-75,65) realizaba ejercicio prescrito, el 88,76% (84,82-90,7) realizaba dieta equilibrada, el 89,7% (87,8-91,8) estaba vacunado frente a la gripe, siendo esta más frecuente en los mayores de 65 años y hospitalizados, p < 0,001. El 9,61% (7,7-11,6) de los no vacunados tuvo reagudizaciones que requirieron ingreso hospitalario, p < 0,001. La tasa de vacunación con VNP23 fue del 52,8% (49,3-56,4) vs.4,97% (3,0-6,61) de VNC13, p < 0,05.Conclusiones: las actividades preventivas en los pacientes con EPOC se realizan de forma óptima en nuestro entorno, superior a la media nacional, aunque se deben lograr mayores tasas de cobertura de vacunación frente al neumococo.

Estimación de actividades preventivas en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Estudio ADEPOCLE / Estimation of preventive activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ADEPOCLE Study

Objetivos: estimar las actividades preventivas que realizan los pacientes diagnosticados de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en la provincia de León. Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros de salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables a estudio: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, estado nutricional, ejercicio físico, vacunación antigripal, vacunación, antineumocócica (VNP23 y VNC13), fenotipo, gravedad, reagudizaciones y hospitalizaciones. Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%. Resultados: se incluyeron 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 años (53,66-75,61) y 20,65 años (4,47-36,8) de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo (n = 722), de 35,26 años de evolución (17,87-52,64), consumían 28,36 paquetes al año (9,60-46,86), p < 0,001, siendo el 58% fumadores severos. En fumadores activos (n = 288) la intervención más efectiva fue terapia cognitivo-conductual más vareniclina, con abstinencias del 29,86%. En total dejaron de fumar el 51,05% (49,49-52,70) de los pacientes con EPOC, p < 0,001. El 73,67% (71,78-75,65) realizaba ejercicio prescrito, el 88,76% (84,82-90,7) realizaba dieta equilibrada, el 89,7% (87,8-91,8) estaba vacunado frente a la gripe, siendo esta más frecuente en los mayores de 65 años y hospitalizados, p < 0,001. El 9,61% (7,7-11,6) de los no vacunados tuvo reagudizaciones que requirieron ingreso hospitalario, p < 0,001. La tasa de vacunación con VNP23 fue del 52,8% (49,3-56,4) vs. 4,97% (3,0-6,61) de VNC13, p < 0,05. Conclusiones: las actividades preventivas en los pacientes con EPOC se realizan de forma óptima en nuestro entorno, superior a la media nacional, aunque se deben lograr mayores tasas de cobertura de vacunación frente al neumococo (AU)

Objectives: To estimate the preventive activities carried out by the patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the province of Leon. Methods: Multicenter epidemiological, cross-sectional study (30 health centers in the province of Leon). It included patients older than 35 years diagnosed and treated for COPD. Study variables: age, sex, habitat, anthropometric data, smoking, nutritional status, physical exercise, infl uenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination (PCV13 and VNP23) phenotype, severity, exacerbations and hospitalizations. Results are expressed with their CI 95.5%. Results: 833 patients were included. 85.8% males; mean age: 64.69 (53.66-75.61) years and 20.65 (4.47-36.8) years of COPD evolution. The 86.67% (80.30-93.30) had previous history of tabaquism (n = 722) with 35.26 (17.87-52.64) years of evolution and an average consumption of 28,36 (9.60-46.86) packs per year p < 0,001, 58% being heavy smokers. In active smokers (n = 288) the most effective intervention was cognitive behavioral therapy combined with varenicline, with an abstinence of 29.86%. A total of 51.05% (49.49-52.70) of the patients with COPD quit smoking, p < 0,001. 73.67% (71.78 to 75.65) performed prescribed exercise, 88.76% (84.82 to 90.7) performed a balanced diet, 89.7% (87.8 to 91.8) were vaccinated against fl u, this being more common in patients older than 65 years and hospitalized patients, p < 0.001. 9.61% (7.7 to 11.6) of unvaccinated had exacerbations that required hospitalization, p < 0.001. The VNP23 vaccination rate was 52.8% (49.3 to 56.4) vs. 4.97% (3.0 to 6.61) of PCV13, p < 0.05. Conclusions: Preventive activities in patients with COPD are performed optimally in our environment, higher than the national average, tough higher coverage rates of vaccination against pneumococcus must be achieved (AU)

[Not Available]. / Diagnóstico y tratamiento del hábito tabáquico en pacientes con EPOC. Estudio ADEPOCLE.

Introducción: estimar la prevalencia del tabaquismo y analizar cómo se diagnostican y se trata a los fumadores diagnosticados de EPOC.Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables analizadas: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, número de paquetes/año, cooximetría, dependencia (escala analógico-visual), motivación (test de Fagerström), autoeficacia, estado anímico, intentos previos, terapia cognitivo-conductual, tratamiento farmacológico (TSN, bupropión, vareniclina) y recaídas. Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%.Resultados: se incluyó a 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 (53,66-75,61) años y 20,65 (4,47-36,8) años de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo (n = 722), de 35,26 (17,87-52,64) años de evolución, con consumo medio 28,36 (9,60-46,86) paquetes año, p < 0,001, siendo el 58% fumadores severos. El 57,4% (53,90-60,60) son exfumadores. El 29,3% (26,40-32,70) fumadores activos declarados vs. 35,11% (33,90-37,12) fumadores diagnosticados por cooximetría p < 0,05. Los 288 fumadores activos, presentaban baja motivación (49,80%), alta dependencia (49,5%), actitud negativa (52,60%), bajo estado de ánimo (32,05%), con 2,72 (1,74-3,67) intentos para dejar de fumar, p < 0,0001. La terapia conductivo-conductual (TCC) combinado con tratamiento farmacológico se realizó en el 55,8% (52,2-54,9), p < 0,05; La intervención más efectiva fue TCC combinada con vareniclina logrando una abstinencia del 29,86%. En total dejaron de fumar un 51,05% (49,49-52,70) de los pacientes con EPOC, p < 0,001.Conclusiones: la prevalencia de tabaquismo en la EPOC en nuestro medio continúa siendo inadmisiblemente elevada. Es necesaria una mayor implicación para disminuir su impacto en la salud de estos pacientes.

Diagnóstico y tratamiento del hábito tabáquico en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Estudio ADEPOCLE / Diagnosis and treatment of smoking in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ADEPOCLE study

Introducción y objetivos: El tabaco es la principal causa de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). El objetivo de este estudio es estimar la prevalencia del tabaquismo y analizar cómo se diagnostican y se trata a los fumadores diagnosticados de EPOC. Métodos: estudio epidemiológico, transversal, multicéntrico (30 centros salud de la provincia de León). Incluyó pacientes mayores de 35 años diagnosticados y tratados de EPOC. Variables analizadas: edad, sexo, hábitat, datos antropométricos, tabaquismo, número de paquetes/año, cooximetría, dependencia (escala analógico-visual), motivación (test de Fagerström), autoefi cacia, estado anímico, intentos previos, terapia cognitivo-conductual, tratamiento farmacológico (TSN, bupropión, vareniclina) y recaídas. Los resultados se expresan con sus IC al 95,5%. Resultados: se incluyó a 833 pacientes, el 85,8% varones, edad media: 64,69 (53,66-75,61) años y 20,65 (4,47-36,8) años de evolución de la EPOC. El 86,67% (80,30-93,30) tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo (n = 722), de 35,26 (17,87-52,64) años de evolución, con consumo medio 28,36 (9,60-46,86) paquetes año, p < 0,001, siendo el 58% fumadores severos. El 57,4% (53,90-60,60) son exfumadores. El 29,3% (26,40-32,70) fumadores activos declarados vs. 35,11% (33,90-37,12) fumadores diagnosticados por cooximetría p < 0,05. Los 288 fumadores activos, presentaban baja motivación (49,80%), alta dependencia (49,5%), actitud negativa (52,60%), bajo estado de ánimo (32,05%), con ,72 (1,74-3,67) intentos para dejar de fumar, p < 0,0001. La terapia conductivo-conductual (TCC) combinado con tratamiento farmacológico se realizó en el 55,8% (52,2-54,9), p < 0,05; La intervención más efectiva fue TCC combinada con vareniclina logrando una abstinencia del 29,86%. En total dejaron de fumar un 51,05% (49,49-52,70) de los pacientes con EPOC, p < 0,001. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de tabaquismo en la EPOC en nuestro medio continúa siendo inadmisiblemente elevada. Es necesaria una mayor implicación para disminuir su impacto en la salud de estos pacientes (AU)

Background and objectives: Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of smoking and analyze how the COPD smokers are diagnosed and treated. Methods: Multicenter, epidemiological, transversal study (30 health centers in the province of Leon, Spain). It included patients over 35 years old diagnosed and treated for COPD. The analyzed variables are: age, sex, habitat, anthropometric data, smoking, pack-years cooximetry, dependence (analog-visual scale), motivation (Fagerström test), self-effi cacy, mood, previous attempts, cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy (NRT, bupropion, varenicline) and relapses. Results are expressed with CI 95.5%. Results: 833 patients were included. 85.8% males; mean age: 64.69 (53.66-75.61) years and 20.65 (4.47-36.8) years of COPD evolution. The 86.67% (80.30-93.30) had previous history of tabaquism (n = 722) with 35.26 (17.87-52.64) years of evolution and an average consumption of 28.36 (9.60-46.86) packs per year p < 0.001, 58% being heavy smokers. 57.4% (53.90-60.60) are former smokers. 29.3% (26.40-32.70) Smoking declared assets vs. 35.11% (33.90-37.12) smokers diagnosed by cooximetry p < 0.05. 288 active smokers had low motivation (49.80%), high dependence (49.5%), negative attitude (52.60%), low mood (32.05%), with 2.72 (1.74-3.67) attempts to quit smoking, p < 0.0001. The conductive-behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with drug treatment was performed in 55.8% (52.2 to 54.9), p < 0.05; the most effective intervention was CBT combined with varenicline achieving an abstinence of 29.86%. A total of 51.05% (49.49 to 52.70) out of the patients with COPD stopped smoking, p < 0.001. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking in COPD in our environment remains unacceptably high. Greater involvement is required to reduce its impact on the health of these patients (AU)

RRTCS: An R Package for Randomized Response Techniques in Complex Surveys.

Randomized response (RR) techniques may be used to compile more reliable data, to protect the respondent's confidentiality, and to avoid an unacceptable rate of nonresponse when the information requested is sensitive (e.g., concerning racism, drug use, abortion, delinquency, AIDS, or academic cheating). Standard RR methods are used primarily in surveys that require a binary response to a sensitive question, and seek to estimate the proportion of people presenting a given (sensitive) characteristic. Nevertheless, some studies have addressed situations in which the response to a sensitive question results in a quantitative variable. RR methods are usually developed assuming that the sample is obtained using simple random sampling. However, in practice, most surveys are complex and involve stratification, clustering, and an unequal probability of selection of the sample. Data from complex survey designs require special consideration with regard to the estimation of finite population parameters and to the corresponding variance estimation procedures, due to the reality of significant departures from the simple random sampling assumption. In such a complex survey design, unbiased variance estimation is not easy to calculate, because of clustering and the involvement of (generally complex) second-order inclusion probabilities. In view of these considerations, a new computer program has been developed to provide a method for estimating the parameters of sensitive characteristics under a variety of complex sampling designs.

Plasma metabolomics profiling for the prediction of cytomegalovirus DNAemia and analysis of virus­host interaction in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients.

Metabolomics analysis of biofluids is increasingly being recognized as a useful tool for the diagnosis and management of a number of infectious diseases. Here we showed that plasma metabolomics profiling by untargeted 1H nuclear magnetic resonance may allow the anticipation of the occurrence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia in allogeneic stem cell transplant. For this purpose, key discriminatory metabolites were total glutathione, taurine, methylamine, trimethylamine N-oxide and lactate, all of which were upregulated in patients eventually developing CMV DNAemia. The overall classification accuracy (predictability) of the projection to latent structure discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model in cross-validation technical replicates was 73 %. Increased levels of alanine, lactate and total fatty acids, and a shift in the fatty acid profile towards unsaturated species, were observed in patients with detectable CMV DNA in plasma. The classification accuracy of this PLS-DA model in cross-validation technical replicates was 81 %. Plasma metabolomics profiling may prove useful for identifying patients at highest risk for CMV DNAemia thus allowing early inception of antiviral therapy.

Role of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells and antibodies neutralizing virus epithelial infection in the control of CMV infection in an allogeneic stem-cell transplantation setting.

The role of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells and that of antibodies neutralizing virus epithelial infection (AbNEI) in the control of CMV DNAemia were investigated in 39 CMV-seropositive allogeneic stem-cell transplant (Allo-SCT) recipients with (n = 24) or without (n = 15) CMV DNAemia. AbNEI levels were monitored prospectively by means of a neutralization assay employing retinal epithelial cells (ARPE-19) and the recombinant CMV strain BADrUL131-Y4. Quantification of CMV-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells (expressing two or three of the following markers: IFN-γγ, TNF-α and CD107a) in whole blood was performed by flow cytometry for intracellular cytokine staining. We found no differences in the dynamic pattern of AbNEI in patients with or without subsequent CMV DNAemia. Baseline and peak AbNEI titres were not predictive of the dynamics of CMV replication within episodes. No correlation was found between CMV DNA loads and AbNEI levels during episodes of CMV DNAemia (ρ = 0.09; 95 % confidence interval - 0.52 to 0.64; P = 0.78). The detection of pp65/IE-1 CMV-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells was associated with low-level virus replication within subsequent episodes of CMV DNAemia. Interestingly, the presence of AbNEI titres (inverse) >4.7 log2 was predictive of the occurrence of CMV DNAemia (sensitivity, 83 %; specificity, 80 %). Our findings provide an insight to the role of humoral and cellular immunity in the control of CMV infection in an Allo-SCT setting.

Early kinetics of plasma cytomegalovirus DNA load in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients in the era of highly sensitive real-time PCR assays: does it have any clinical value?

We report that in a population of allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients, determination of the viral doubling time (dt) of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA plasma load predicted the eventual need for inception of preemptive antiviral therapy, whereas the level of the initial plasma CMV DNA load did not. The data thus indicated that determination of the dt of CMV DNA may be useful in the therapeutic management of CMV infection in this clinical setting.

An evaluation of the role of NKG2C+ natural killer cells in protection from cytomegalovirus DNAemia early following allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in affording protection against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients is largely unknown. The current study was aimed at determining whether NKG2C+ NK cells confer protection from CMV DNAemia early following transplantation in patients lacking mono and polyfunctional CMV pp65 and IE-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, as measured by flow cytometry for intracellular cytokine staining. Fourteen out of the 36 patients included in this study developed CMV DNAemia between days +30 and +60 after transplant. Three patients did so after day +60. Peripheral blood levels of CD56(bright) CD16(-/low) and CD56(dim) CD16+ NKG2C+ NK cells measured at day +30 and at day +60 in patients who had or had not subsequent CMV DNAemia did not differ significantly. In addition, no significant correlation was found between CD56(bright) CD16(-/low) (σ = -0.229; P = 0.39) and CD56(dim) CD16+ (σ = -0.285; P = 0.28) NKG2C+ NK-cell levels and initial plasma CMV DNA loads. In summary, the data presented do not support a direct implication of NKG2C+ NK cells in preventing the development of CMV DNAemia or modulating the magnitude of CMV replication at early stages during episodes of CMV DNAemia in allogeneic stem cell transplant patients with unreconstituted CMV-specific T-cell responses.