Epidemic Diffusion Network of Spain: A Mobility Model to Characterize the Transmission Routes of Disease.

Human mobility drives the geographical diffusion of infectious diseases at different scales, but few studies focus on mobility itself. Using publicly available data from Spain, we define a Mobility Matrix that captures constant flows between provinces by using a distance-like measure of effective distance to build a network model with the 52 provinces and 135 relevant edges. Madrid, Valladolid and Araba/Álaba are the most relevant nodes in terms of degree and strength. The shortest routes (most likely path between two points) between all provinces are calculated. A total of 7 mobility communities were found with a modularity of 63%, and a relationship was established with a cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in 14 days (CI14) during the study period. In conclusion, mobility patterns in Spain are governed by a small number of high-flow connections that remain constant in time and seem unaffected by seasonality or restrictions. Most of the travels happen within communities that do not completely represent political borders, and a wave-like spreading pattern with occasional long-distance jumps (small-world properties) can be identified. This information can be incorporated into preparedness and response plans targeting locations that are at risk of contagion preventively, underscoring the importance of coordination between administrations when addressing health emergencies.

Effectiveness and equity of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions in pediatric type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

AIMS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-randomized studies (NRS) to assess the effectiveness and equity of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions (CSII) versus multiple-daily injections (MDI) on glycemic outcomes. METHODS: Searches were conducted between 2000 and 2019 in MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE and HTA. Included studies compared the CSII vs MDI in children and young people (CYP) ≤ 20 years with type 1 diabetes. Two independent reviewers screened the articles, extracted the data, assessed the risk of bias, evaluated the quality of evidence, and identified equity data. Results were pooled with a random-effects model. RESULTS: Of the 578 articles screened, 16 RCT (545 CYP on CSII) and 70 NRS (73253 on CSII) were included in the meta-analysis. There was moderate-level evidence that the CSII lower HbA1c in RCT (pooled mean difference [MD]: -0.22%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.33, -0.11%; I2:34%) and insufficient in NRS (pooled MD: -0.45%; 95%CI: -0.52, -0.38%; I2:99%). The pooled incidence rate ratio of severe hypoglycemia on CSII vs MDI in RCT was 0.87 (95%CI: 0.55, 1.37; I2:0%; low-level evidence), and 0.71 (95%CI: 0.63, 0.81; I2:57%, insufficient evidence) in NRS. Health-related quality of life presented insufficient evidence. Equity data were scarcely reported. CONCLUSIONS: CSII modestly lower HbA1c when compared with MDI. Current literature does not provide adequate data on other glycemic outcomes. Future assessment on diabetes technology should include individual and area-level socioeconomic data. The study protocol was pre-registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018116474).

New insulin delivery devices and glycemic outcomes in young patients with type 1 diabetes: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Optimal type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) care requires lifelong appropriate insulin treatment, which can be provided either by multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin or by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). An increasing number of trials and previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMA) have compared both CSII and MDI but have provided limited information on equity and fairness regarding access to, and the effect of, those insulin devices. This study protocol proposes a clear and transparent methodology for conducting a SRMA of the literature (1) to assess the effect of CSII versus MDI on glycemic and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among young patients with T1D and (2) to identify health inequalities in the use of CSII. METHODS: This protocol was developed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P), the PRISMA-E (PRISMA-Equity 2012 Guidelines), and the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. We will include randomized clinical trials and non-randomized studies published between January 2000 and June 2019 to assess the effectiveness of CSII versus MDI on glycemic and PROs in young patients with T1D. To assess health inequality among those who received CSII, we will use the PROGRESS framework. To gather relevant studies, a search will be conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database. We will select studies that compared glycemic outcomes (the glycosylated hemoglobin values, severe hypoglycemia episodes, diabetic ketoacidosis events, and/or time spent in range or in hyper-hypoglycemia), and health-related quality of life, as a PRO, between therapies. Screening and selection of studies will be conducted independently by two researchers. Subgroup analyses will be performed according to age group, length of follow-up, and the use of adjunctive technological therapies that might influence glycemic outcomes. DISCUSSION: Studies of the average effects of CSII versus MDI may have not assessed their impact on health equity, as some intended populations have been excluded. Therefore, this study will address health equity issues when assessing effects of CSII. The results will be published in a peer-review journal. Ethics approval will not be needed. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018116474.

Analysis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Spain: 2007-2012 National Study / Análisis de la tuberculosis extrapulmonar en España: Estudio Nacional 2007-2012

INTRODUCTION: This study sought to study the epidemiological characteristics of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in relation to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) from 2007 to 2012 in Spain, and plot its trend across the same period. METHODS: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in which the following variables were analysed: age; sex; disease site; history of antituberculosis treatment; country of birth; presence of HIV infection; and culture results. Age-related differences were ascertained using the test of comparison of proportions, and crude and adjusted ORs were calculated using linear regression models. RESULTS: Of the total of 44,050 cases of tuberculosis reported in the period 2007-2012 and included in the study, 31,508 (71.53%) were pulmonary tuberculosis and 12,542 (28.47%) were EPTB. EPTB rates decreased across all age groups. The main EPTB risk factor was presence of HIV infection (OR 1.39). Persons aged under 65 years had a lower risk of EPTB. CONCLUSIONS: Although persons aged over 65 years displayed the highest incidence, there was nevertheless a downward trend across all age groups. Whereas children showed a significant decrease in tuberculous meningitis, this was not so for all extrapulmonary forms. EPTB rates among persons born outside Spain were much higher than those among the Spanish population

INTRODUCCIÓN: Estudiamos las características epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis extrapulmonar (TBEP) en comparación con la tuberculosis pulmonar del 2007 al 2012 en España, y argumentamos las tendencias durante el mismo período. MÉTODOS: Realizamos un estudio transversal analítico en el cual analizamos las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, lugar de la tuberculosis, historia de tratamiento antituberculosis, país de nacimiento, presencia de infección por VIH y resultados de cultivo. Se realizó el test de comparación de proporciones para determinar los diferentes grupos de edad y calcular las OR brutas y ajustadas usando modelos de regresión lineal. RESULTADOS: De un total de 44,050 casos de tuberculosis reportados en el período 2007-2012 e incluidos en el estudio, 31,508 (71.53%) fueron tuberculosis pulmonar y 12,542 (28.47%) fueron TBEP. Las tasas de TBEP disminuyeron en todos los grupos de edad. El principal factor de riesgo para TBEP fue la presencia de infección por VIH (OR 1.39). El grupo de edad de menores de 65 años tuvo un menor riesgo de TBEP. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque las personas mayores de 65 años mostraron una mayor incidencia, en general en todos los grupos de edad hubo una tendencia al descenso. Mientras en los niños se observó un descenso significativo en la meningitis tuberculosa, dicha tendencia no se observó en el resto de las formas de tuberculosis extrapulmonar. La tasa de TBEP entre las personas nacidas fuera de España fue mucho mayor que entre las personas nacidas en España

Analysis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Spain: 2007-2012 National Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study sought to study the epidemiological characteristics of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in relation to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) from 2007 to 2012 in Spain, and plot its trend across the same period. METHODS: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in which the following variables were analysed: age; sex; disease site; history of antituberculosis treatment; country of birth; presence of HIV infection; and culture results. Age-related differences were ascertained using the test of comparison of proportions, and crude and adjusted ORs were calculated using linear regression models. RESULTS: Of the total of 44,050 cases of tuberculosis reported in the period 2007-2012 and included in the study, 31,508 (71.53%) were pulmonary tuberculosis and 12,542 (28.47%) were EPTB. EPTB rates decreased across all age groups. The main EPTB risk factor was presence of HIV infection (OR 1.39). Persons aged under 65 years had a lower risk of EPTB. CONCLUSIONS: Although persons aged over 65 years displayed the highest incidence, there was nevertheless a downward trend across all age groups. Whereas children showed a significant decrease in tuberculous meningitis, this was not so for all extrapulmonary forms. EPTB rates among persons born outside Spain were much higher than those among the Spanish population.