[Assessment of blood eosinophil count in respiratory disease from primary care]. / Valoración del recuento sanguíneo de eosinófilos en la patología respiratoria desde atención primaria.

Most physicians in general, and family physicians in particular, are familiar with certain parameters when ordering a hematological study, such as hemoglobin (including hematocrit and its features), leukocytes (including lymphocytes) and platelets. Nevertheless, there are two values that we use to overlook which are eosinophils and basophils. Specifically, eosinophils have a tendency to increase with allergic pathology. This article focuses on this type of cells, helping to interpret the values obtained and highlighting their importance in two of the most frequent respiratory pathologies in primary care: asthma and COPD. In addition to observing how the increase or normality of these parameters condition the diagnosis, phenotype and even the treatment.

Utilidad de una aplicación web interactiva en la mejora del control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Proyecto Control-RC / Impact of an interactive web application on the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors control. Control-RCV project

Objetivo Valorar la utilidad de una aplicación web interactiva en la mejora del control del riesgo cardiovascular (CV). Métodos Estudio observacional en el que médicos de Atención Primaria, incluyeron consecutivamente a pacientes con un riesgo CV elevado/muy elevado y al menos uno de los siguientes factores de riesgo mal controlado: hipertensión, dislipidemia o diabetes. Al introducir los datos, la aplicación generaba un informe indicando los objetivos recomendados y los reales, y el médico podía modificar la actitud terapéutica. El estudio consistió en 2visitas: basal y a los 4-6 meses. Resultados Se incluyó a 379 pacientes (66,4 ± 9,0 años; 67,3% varones; 67,5/32,5% con un riesgo CV elevado/muy elevado). Basalmente, la mayoría recibió recomendaciones sobre la restricción de sal (90,2%), dieta (94,2%) y actividad física (94,5%). En cuanto al tratamiento farmacológico, el 53,6% no tomaba combinaciones fijas. Solo el 35,1% cumplía siempre con el tratamiento. En el 95,8% se realizó educación sanitaria, en el 29,8% se empleó la polipíldora y en el 24,3% se incidió sobre los cambios en hábitos de vida. En la segunda visita se objetivó una mejoría significativa de los cambios en el estilo de vida (menor tabaquismo y consumo de alcohol, y mayor actividad física, restricción de sal, dieta), factores de riesgo CV (menor obesidad, presión arterial, lípidos, HbA1c), así como una reducción del riesgo CV. El cumplimiento terapéutico mejoró. Conclusiones El empleo de la aplicación permite mejorar los estilos de vida y el control de los factores de riesgo, reduciendo el riesgo CV y mejorando el cumplimiento terapéutico (AU)

Objective To ascertain the utility of an interactive web application in the improvement of cardiovascular (CV) risk control. Methods Observational study in which primary care physicians consecutively included high/very high CV risk patients with at least one of the following risk factors poorly controlled: hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes. After the introduction of data, the application generated a report comparing the recommended and the real targets. Then, the physicians could modify the therapeutic approach. The study consisted of 2 visits, at baseline and after 4-6 months. Results A total of 379 patients (66.4±9.0 years; 67.3% male; 67.5/32.5% with high/very high CV risk) were included. At baseline, most patients received recommendations about salt restriction (90.2%), diet (94.2%), and physical activity (94.5%). With regard to pharmacological treatments, 53.6% of patients were not taking fixed-dose combinations. Only 35.1% met always with treatment. In 95.8% of patients sanitary education was given, in 29.8% the polypill was prescribed and in 24.3% lifestyle changes were recommended. During the second visit, a significant improvement in lifestyle changes (less smoking and alcohol consumption, and more physical activity, salt restriction and diet), CV risk factors (less obesity, blood pressure, lipids, HbA1c), as well as CV risk reduction were observed. The therapeutic compliance also improved. Conclusions The use of the application allows improving lifestyle and CV risk factors control, leading to a reduction of CV risk and an improvement of therapeutic compliance (AU)

[Impact of an interactive web application on the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors control. Control-RCV project]. / Utilidad de una aplicación web interactiva en la mejora del control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Proyecto Control-RCV.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the utility of an interactive web application in the improvement of cardiovascular (CV) risk control. METHODS: Observational study in which primary care physicians consecutively included high/very high CV risk patients with at least one of the following risk factors poorly controlled: hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes. After the introduction of data, the application generated a report comparing the recommended and the real targets. Then, the physicians could modify the therapeutic approach. The study consisted of 2 visits, at baseline and after 4-6 months. RESULTS: A total of 379 patients (66.4±9.0 years; 67.3% male; 67.5/32.5% with high/very high CV risk) were included. At baseline, most patients received recommendations about salt restriction (90.2%), diet (94.2%), and physical activity (94.5%). With regard to pharmacological treatments, 53.6% of patients were not taking fixed-dose combinations. Only 35.1% met always with treatment. In 95.8% of patients sanitary education was given, in 29.8% the polypill was prescribed and in 24.3% lifestyle changes were recommended. During the second visit, a significant improvement in lifestyle changes (less smoking and alcohol consumption, and more physical activity, salt restriction and diet), CV risk factors (less obesity, blood pressure, lipids, HbA1c), as well as CV risk reduction were observed. The therapeutic compliance also improved. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the application allows improving lifestyle and CV risk factors control, leading to a reduction of CV risk and an improvement of therapeutic compliance.

Satisfacción de las personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 tras iniciar tratamiento con insulina / Satisfaction of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after starting treatment with insulin

Objetivos. El 'miedo al pinchazo' de muchos pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 (DM2) puede retrasar el inicio del tratamiento con insulina. Nuestro objetivo es valorar si superar dicha barrera e iniciar el tratamiento con insulina mejora el control clínico y produce mayor satisfacción del paciente con su tratamiento. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional, multicéntrico, de pacientes con DM2 —realizado en atención primaria— con un mal control glucémico (A1c≥8%), en tratamiento con antidiabéticos orales y a los que se aplicó una intervención motivacional para vencer el miedo al pinchazo y se inició el tratamiento con insulina. Se valoró el grado de satisfacción con el tratamiento mediante el Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). Resultados. Quinientos setenta y tres pacientes, 64±10 años. Puntuación global media del cuestionario DTSQs de 18,3±6,3. El cambio de tratamiento produjo una mejoría de la satisfacción del paciente con respecto al tratamiento anterior (puntuación media DTSQc 8,8±5,9). La A1c descendió desde 8,7% (desviación típica 0,8) hasta 7,5% (desviación típica 0,7) (p<0,001). La frecuencia de hiperglucemia percibida fue significativamente menor después de superar el miedo al pinchazo (35,6% frente a 11,5%; p<0,001), sin encontrar diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la frecuencia de hipoglucemias (32% frente a 35%; p=0,059). Conclusión. En pacientes con DM2 mal controlados con antidiabéticos orales, vencer el miedo al pinchazo e iniciar el tratamiento con insulina se asoció a una mejoría global de la satisfacción con el tratamiento, y disminuyó la percepción de episodios de hiperglucemia. El control glucémico y el perfil metabólico de los pacientes también mejoraron de forma estadísticamente significativa (AU)

Objectives. The objective of this study is to evaluate if overcoming the barrier of starting treatment with insulin can lead to better clinical control and a higher level of patient satisfaction with their treatment. Material and methods. This is an observational, multicentre study of patients diagnosed with DM2 who attended primary care centres with poor glycaemic control (A1c≥8%) under treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and who were given motivational treatment to overcome their fear of injections, and started treatment with insulin. The level of satisfaction with the treatment was evaluated using the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). The questionnaire was used before initiating the treatment with insulin and in the follow-up visit (3-4 months from the beginning of treatment with basal insulin). Results. A total of 573 patients with a mean age of 64±10 years were recruited. The overall mean score from the DTSQs satisfaction questionnaire was 18.3±6.3, and the change of treatment led to an improvement in patient satisfaction compared to the previous treatment (DTSQc mean score 8.8±5.9). A1c dropped from an initial value of 8.7% (SD 0.8) to 7.5% (SD 0.7) (P<.001). The frequency of hyperglycaemic episodes perceived by the patients was significantly lower after they overcame their fear of injections (35.6% compared to 11.5%; P<.001), but no statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes (32% compared to 35%; P=.059). Conclusion. In patients with DM2 poorly controlled with OADs, overcoming a fear of injections and starting treatment with insulin was associated with an overall improvement in satisfaction with the new treatment, and decreased the perception of hyperglycaemic episodes. Glycaemic control and the metabolic profile of the patients also improved to a statistically significant degree with the change of treatment (AU)

[Satisfaction of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after starting treatment with insulin]. / Satisfacción de las personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 tras iniciar tratamiento con insulina.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate if overcoming the barrier of starting treatment with insulin can lead to better clinical control and a higher level of patient satisfaction with their treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational, multicentre study of patients diagnosed with DM2 who attended primary care centres with poor glycaemic control (A1c≥8%) under treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and who were given motivational treatment to overcome their fear of injections, and started treatment with insulin. The level of satisfaction with the treatment was evaluated using the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). The questionnaire was used before initiating the treatment with insulin and in the follow-up visit (3-4 months from the beginning of treatment with basal insulin). RESULTS: A total of 573 patients with a mean age of 64±10 years were recruited. The overall mean score from the DTSQs satisfaction questionnaire was 18.3±6.3, and the change of treatment led to an improvement in patient satisfaction compared to the previous treatment (DTSQc mean score 8.8±5.9). A1c dropped from an initial value of 8.7% (SD 0.8) to 7.5% (SD 0.7) (P<.001). The frequency of hyperglycaemic episodes perceived by the patients was significantly lower after they overcame their fear of injections (35.6% compared to 11.5%; P<.001), but no statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes (32% compared to 35%; P=.059). CONCLUSION: In patients with DM2 poorly controlled with OADs, overcoming a fear of injections and starting treatment with insulin was associated with an overall improvement in satisfaction with the new treatment, and decreased the perception of hyperglycaemic episodes. Glycaemic control and the metabolic profile of the patients also improved to a statistically significant degree with the change of treatment.