Impact of an Intervention to Promote the Vaccination of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a dysregulated immune system, being at high risk of opportunistic infections. Low vaccination rates hinder the prevention of such diseases. Therefore, we implemented an intervention to increase vaccination rates, and we aimed to evaluate the effect. We determined the change in professionals and the change in the vaccination rates after the intervention. A quasi-experimental study was carried out using data from 31 December 2016 to 31 December 2021. First, healthcare professionals specializing in IBD agreed on a vaccination protocol; then, this protocol was passed on to the professionals involved in vaccination. We evaluated the perception of knowledge, capacity, and intention to vaccinate patients with IBD among the professionals before and after the intervention with a survey. We also described the effectiveness of the intervention for already diagnosed patients and compared the vaccination rates between patients diagnosed prior to the intervention and newly diagnosed patients. The intervention resulted in an improved perception of knowledge, capacity, and intention to vaccinate patients with IBD among the professionals (p < 0.05). Moreover, during the post-intervention period, in the 315 patients, the vaccination rate increased for all immune-preventable diseases (p < 0.05). The professionals positively valued the intervention, and compliance with the recommended vaccination protocol in patients with IBD improved significantly.

Population Older than 69 Had Similar Fatality Rates Independently If They Were Admitted in Nursing Homes or Lived in the Community: A Retrospective Observational Study during COVID-19 First Wave.

The aim of this study is to assess the influence of living in nursing homes on COVID-19-related mortality, and to calculate the real specific mortality rate caused by COVID-19 among people older than 20 years of age in the Balaguer Primary Care Centre Health Area during the first wave of the pandemic. We conducted an observational study based on a database generated between March and May 2020, analysing COVID-19-related mortality as a dependent variable, and including different independent variables, such as living in a nursing home or in the community (outside nursing homes), age, sex, symptoms, pre-existing conditions, and hospital admission. To evaluate the associations between the independent variables and mortality, we calculated the absolute and relative frequencies, and performed a chi-square test. To avoid the impact of the age variable on mortality and to assess the influence of the "living in a nursing home" variable, we established comparisons between infected population groups over 69 years of age (in nursing homes and outside nursing homes). Living in a nursing home was associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19 infection, but not with higher mortality in patients over 69 years of age (p = 0.614). The real specific mortality rate caused by COVID-19 was 2.270/00. In the study of the entire sample, all the comorbidities studied were associated with higher mortality; however, the comorbidities were not associated with higher mortality in the infected nursing home patients group, nor in the infected community patients over 69 years of age group (except for neoplasm history in this last group). Finally, hospital admission was not associated with lower mortality in nursing home patients, nor in community patients over 69 years of age.

Enhancing Night and Day Circadian Contrast through Sleep Education in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence supports a causal relationship between circadian disturbance and impaired glucose homeostasis. METHODS: To determine the effect of an educational intervention delivered by primary care nurses to improve sleep hygiene, a parallel, open-label clinical trial in subjects aged 18 and older with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was performed. Study variables were sex, age, fasting glucose, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep duration and efficiency, body mass index, antidiabetic treatment, diet and physical exercise. An individual informative educational intervention was carried out following a bidirectional feedback method. The intervention aimed to develop skills to improve sleep through nine simple tips. An analysis of covariance was performed on all the mean centred outcome variables controlling for the respective baseline scores. RESULTS: In the intervention group, PSQI dropped, the duration and quality of sleep increased, and a decrease in fasting glucose and in HbA1c levels was observed. CONCLUSION: The proposed intervention is effective for improving sleep quality, length and efficiency, and for decreasing fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in only 3 months. These findings support the importance of sleep and circadian rhythm education focused on improving IFG and T2DM.

The Risk of Hospitalization in COVID-19 Patients Can Be Predicted by Lung Ultrasound in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of Lung Ultrasound (LUS) for the diagnosis of interstitial syndrome caused by COVID-19 has been broadly described. The aim of this study was to evaluate if LUS may predict the complications (hospital admission) of COVID-19 pneumonia in primary care patients. METHODS: This observational study collects data from a cohort of 279 patients with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 pneumonia who attended the Balaguer Primary Health Care Area between 16 March 2020 and 30 September 2020. We collected the results of LUS scans reported by one general practitioner. We created a database and analysed the absolute and relative frequencies of LUS findings and their association with hospital admission. We found that different LUS patterns (diffuse, attenuated diffuse, and predominantly unilateral) were risk factors for hospital admission (p < 0.05). Additionally, an evolutionary pattern during the acute phase represented a risk factor (p = 0.0019). On the contrary, a normal ultrasound pattern was a protective factor (p = 0.0037). Finally, the presence of focal interstitial pattern was not associated with hospital admission (p = 0.4918). CONCLUSION: The lung ultrasound was useful to predict complications in COVID-19 pneumonia and to diagnose other lung diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism, chronic interstitial pneumopathy, pleuropericarditis, pneumonia or heart failure.

Higher Accuracy of Lung Ultrasound over Chest X-ray for Early Diagnosis of COVID-19 Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly strained healthcare systems worldwide. The reference standard for diagnosis is a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, but results are not immediate and sensibility is variable. AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound compared to chest X-ray for COVID-19 pneumonia. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective analysis of symptomatic patients admitted into one primary care centre in Spain between March and September 2020. METHOD: Patients' chest X-rays and lung ultrasounds were categorized as normal or pathologic. RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 infection. Pathologic lung ultrasound images were further categorized as showing either local or diffuse interstitial disease. McNemar and Fisher tests were used to compare diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Most of the 212 patients presented fever at admission, either as a standalone symptom (37.74% of patients) or together with others (72.17% of patients). The positive predictive value of the lung ultrasound was 90% for the diffuse interstitial pattern and 46.92% for local pattern. The lung ultrasound had a significantly higher sensitivity (82.75%) (p < 0.001), but lower specificity (71%) than the chest X-ray (54.02% and 86%, respectively) (p = 0.008) for identifying interstitial lung disease. Moreover, sensitivity of the lung ultrasound for severe interstitial disease was 100%, and was significantly higher than the chest X-ray (58.33%) (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The lung ultrasound is more accurate than the chest X-ray for identifying patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and it is especially useful for those presenting diffuse interstitial disease.

Cálculo del riesgo aterogénico en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. Una valoración complementaria en el riesgo cardiovascular / Estimating the atherogenic risk in patients with chronic kidney disease: a complementary evaluation in cardiovascular risk

OBJETIVO: con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) así como explorar la influencia del sexo y la diabetes mellitus (DM) en dicho riesgo. MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo transversal en pacientes con ERC del Área Básica de Salud Balaguer (n= 1.852). Variables analizadas: sexo, DM, cHDL-cLDL-triglicéridos (cTG)-colesterol total (CT), índices: CT/cHDL, cLDL/cHDL, TG/cHDL, No-cHDL. Análisis estadístico mediante Chi cuadrado/U-Mann-Whitney con el programa SPSS. RESULTADOS: un total de 1.834 pacientes cumplían los criterios de inclusión. Se observaron valores óptimos de control lipídico (62,6% con CT< 200 mg/dl), aunque prevalencias elevadas de RA alto (73,3% según cociente CT/cHDL). Las mujeres (con o sin DM) presentaron valores lipídicos más altos que los hombres: CT 190 mg/dL (DE: 41,3) con DM y 198 mg/dl (DE: 39,1) sin DM, frente a 175 mg/dl (DE: 37,2) con DM y 183 mg/dl (DE: 38,9) sin DM (p< 0,001). El cálculo del RA para las mujeres fue superior en todos los cocientes excepto cTG/cHDL. Las personas no diabéticas presentaron una mayor prevalencia de RA elevado en comparación con las diabéticas; fue superior en cLDL/cHDL (44,4% sin DM frente a 39,8% con DM) y No-cHDL (68,0% sin DM frente a 59,3% con DM), pero inferior en cTG/cHDL (57,7% sin DM frente a 76,6% con DM) y CT/cHDL (72,7% sin DM frente a 74,4% con DM). CONCLUSIONES: parece que tanto los valores de RA como el control lipídico (CT, cLDL) son mejores en personas con DM (posible intensidad terapéutica) y peores en mujeres. Destaca el No-cHDL como mejor predictor entre todos los índices de cálculo del RA

OBJECTIVE: to determine the atherogenic risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as to explore the influence of gender and diabetes mellitus (DM) in said risk. METHOD: a descriptive cross-sectional study in CKD patients from the Balaguer Basic Health Area (n= 1.852). Variables analyzed: gender, DM, HDLc-LDLc-triglycerides (TGc)-total cholesterol (TC); indexes: TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc, TG/HDLc, No-HDLc. Statistical analysis through Chi square-Mann-Whitney U with the SPSS program. RESULTS: in total, 1,834 patients met the inclusion criteria. Optimal values of lipid control were observed (62.6% with TC< 200 mg/dl), though there was a high prevalence of elevated AR (73.3% according to the TC/HDLc ratio). Women (with or without DM) presented higher lipid values than men: TC 190 mg/dL (SD: 41.3) with DM and 198 mg/dl (SD: 39.1) without DM, vs. 175 mg/dl (SD: 37.2) with DM and 183 mg/dl (SD: 38.9) without DM (p< 0.001). The estimation of AR for women was superior in all ratios except for TGc/HDLc. Non-diabetic persons presented a higher prevalence of high AR vs. diabetic persons; it was higher in LDLc/HDLc (44.4% without DM vs. 39.8% with DM), and No-HDLc (68.0% without DM vs. 59.3% with DM), but lower in TGc/HDLc (57.7% without DM vs. 76.6% with DM) and TC/HDLc (72.7% without DM vs. 74.4% with DM). CONCLUSIONS: it seems that both AR values and lipid control (TC, LDLc) are better in persons with DM (potential treatment intensity), and worse in women. No-HDLc stands out as the best predictor among all indexes for calculating AR

Compliance with the guidelines on recommended immunization schedule in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: implications on public health policies.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing opportunistic infections due to either the disease itself or to treatment with immunosuppressants. This risk can be reduced through vaccination. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of compliance with the guidelines on recommended immunization schedule in patients with IBD in the health district of Lleida, Spain. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study of data at December 31, 2016. The reference population was formed by adults with a clinical diagnosis of IBD. The dependent variable was "compliance with the guidelines on recommended immunization schedule". Variables were sex, age, residence, diagnosis, vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, tetanus-diphtheria, influenza, pneumococcus, meningococcus C, hepatitis B, and hepatitis A. Data were obtained from electronic medical records. For the data analysis, mean (standard deviation), prevalence with 95% confidence intervals, χ2 test and Mann-Whitney test were used. RESULTS: Compliance did not exceed 65% for any of vaccines analysed in the 1722 studied patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Significant differences across age groups were found in compliance for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria and influenza in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and for meningococcus C and hepatitis A exclusively in ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance in patients with IBD is low. Thus, prevention of immunopreventable diseases or their complications is not maximized in this kind of patients. Greater awareness of how vaccines can reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable infections is needed among both patients and healthcare professionals.

Identificación de infradiagnóstico de enfermedad renal crónica en Atención Primaria / Underdiagnosis identification of chronic kidney disease in primary care

Introducción: La enfermedad renal crónica afecta a un 9,16% de la población española. Su elevada prevalencia e infradiagnóstico requieren de coordinación interdisciplinar para mejorar la prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta patología. Así, nos planteamos identificar la prevalencia real de enfermedad renal crónica en nuestra Área Básica de Salud, detectando errores de codificación y diagnóstico. Material y Método: Estudio observacional transversal en pacientes mayores de 14 años pertenecientes al Área Básica de Salud de Balaguer. Los criterios de clasificación diagnóstica fueron: pacientes diagnosticados de enfermedad renal crónica o no codificados con alteración renal medida por filtrado glomerular, cociente albúmina/creatinina o albuminuria leve. Se consideraron como pérdidas los exitus y los pacientes con cambio de área básica de salud. Las variables estudiadas fueron: diagnóstico y estadio de enfermedad renal crónica, albuminuria leve, cociente albúmina/creatinina, filtrado glomerular y determinaciones analíticas. Se realizó una codificación a través de la revisión de la historia clínica. El análisis se basó en prevalencias. Resultados: La prevalencia aumentó del 3,98% inicial al 6,00% tras la revisión. Manteniéndose aún cifras de infradiagnóstico, con una detección de dos terceras partes de lo esperado. Añadiendo los pacientes pendientes de una segunda determinación analítica y los que padecen albuminuria leve, la prevalencia representaba el 80% de lo esperado (7,40%). Conclusiones: Se observa la existencia de infradiagnóstico en la detección precoz de ERC. Una revisión de los criterios de clasificación ayudan a mejorar las cifras de este infradiagnóstico

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease affects 9.16% of the Spanish population. The high prevalence and underdiagnosis require interdisciplinary coordination to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this pathology. Thus, we propose to identify the real prevalence of chronic kidney disease in our Basic Health Area, to detect coding and diagnostic errors, and to increase detection. Material and Method: Cross-sectional observational study in patients older than 14 years residing in the Basic Health Area of Balaguer. The diagnostic classification criteria were patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or not coded with renal impairment, measured by glomerular filtration rate, albumin/creatinine ratio or mild albuminuria. Loss of follow-up were considered deaths and patients with change in Basic Health Area. The variables studied were: diagnosis and stage of chronic kidney disease, mild albuminuria, albumin/creatinine ratio, glomerular filtration and analytical determinations. A coding was performed through the review of the medical history. The analysis was based on prevalence. Results: The prevalence increased from an initial 3.98% to 6.00% after the review. Underdiagnosis figures were maintained, with a detection of two thirds of the expected. Adding the patients pending a second analytical determination and those suffering from mild albuminuria, the prevalence represented 80% of the expected (7.40%). Conclusion: The existence of underdiagnosis is observed in the early detection of CKD. A review of the classification criteria helps to improve underdiagnosis data

El ritmo circadiano de la presión arterial y su relación con los factores de riesgo cardiovascular / Circadian rhytm of blood pressure and the relation to cardiovascular risk factors

Introducción: Numerosos estudios han establecido tanto la hipertensión arterial como la hipertensión de bata blanca como factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Un ritmo circadiano anómalo de la presión arterial podría aumentar el riesgo cardiovascular. Objetivo: Determinar la existencia de una relación clínicamente relevante entre un ritmo circadiano anómalo de la presión arterial y un incremento del riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con hipertensión arterial o hipertensión de bata blanca. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo en 166 pacientes mayores de 18 años del Área Básica de Salud de Balaguer que tuvieran una monitorización ambulatoria de la presión arterial realizada entre junio de 2014 y marzo de 2018 y cumplieran los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Se realizó un análisis univariado y bivariado de las variables. Resultados: Se obtuvo que en casi todos los promedios de presión arterial nocturna destaca el patrón riser mostrando que el 25% tenía un riesgo cardiovascular mayor o igual al 10%, seguido del dipper extremo 16,67%, dipper 9,4% y no dipper 8,27%. Conclusión: Un ritmo circadiano alterado se relaciona con un riesgo cardiovascular más elevado y un peor control de los factores que conllevan al mismo

Introduction: Numerous studies have established both arterial hypertension and white coat hypertension as cardiovascular risk factors. An abnormal circadian rhythm of blood pressure may increase cardiovascular risk. Objective: To determine the existence of a clinically relevant relationship between an abnormal circadian rhythm of blood pressure and an increase in cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension or white coat hypertension. Methods: A descriptive study in 166 patients older than 18 years was carried out. Patients were from the Basic Health Area of Balaguer, who had an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, conducted between June 2014 and March 2018 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Univariate and bivariate analyses of the variables were performed. Results: In almost all means nighttime blood pressure, the riser pattern stands out, showing that 25% had a cardiovascular risk greater than or equal to 10%, followed by extreme dippers 16.67%, dippers 9.4% and non-dippers 8.27%. Conclusion: An altered circadian rhythm is related to a higher cardiovascular risk and a worse control of the related factors