Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors in Older Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency of malnutrition in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigate associated risk factors. METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included participants aged ≥65 years who met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for RA. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and based on variables, such as albumin level, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and vitamin D. Data were also collected on epidemiological variables, inflammatory disease activity, quality of life, physical function, and frailty. Multivariate models were used to study factors associated with nutritional status. RESULTS: The study population comprised 76 RA patients aged ≥65 years, of whom 68.4% had a normal nutritional status, and 31.5% had an impaired nutritional status: 28.9% were at risk of malnutrition, and 2.6% were malnourished. Additionally, 10% had albumin levels <3.8 g/L. Patients with impaired nutritional status had poorer quality of life and physical function. The factors associated with compromised nutritional status (OR [95% CI]) were age (1.0 [1.0-1.1]; p = 0.035), DAS28-ESR (1.8 [1.0-3.2]; p = 0.024), and EuroQoL-5D-5L (0.9 [0.9-0.9]; p = 0.040). Furthermore, the GNRI was associated with the MNA score (0.06 [0.0-0.1]; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of older patients with RA have impaired nutritional status. Older age, higher inflammatory disease activity, and decreased quality of life are associated with impaired nutritional status. The MNA and GNRI are valuable tools for assessing the nutritional status of patients with RA.

Nursing Recommendations in the Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Delphi Consensus.

Introduction: Nurses' role in the management of people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is essential. Specific guidelines for nurses have not been previously developed in Spain. This project aimed to try to develop comprehensive and validated recommendations for nurses regarding the management of people with SLE. Method: A Delphi questionnaire with 90 general and specific recommendations was designed by the scientific committee and underwent two rounds of participation. Results: Panellists reached a consensus on "agreement" for 85 recommendations during the first round and for 87 recommendations after the second and final rounds. Panellists agreed that people with SLE should be managed within a multidisciplinary team, and that this team should include specialized nurses. Panellists stated that most of the services lack specialized nurses. Experts identified lack of specific training programs targeted to nurses as the main barrier for application of recommendations. Panellists recommended an extended role for nurses in the management of people with SLE, including diagnosis, patient education, treatment monitoring and administration, and follow-up. Conclusions: This study is the first consensus that provides nursing recommendations from experts on the management of people with SLE in Europe. Design of standardized training programs targeted to nurses would facilitate the application of the recommendations.

Sarcopenia and Nutrition in Elderly Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study to Determine Prevalence and Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of sarcopenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients aged ≥65 years and identify the risk factors associated with sarcopenia. METHODS: This is a multicenter, controlled, cross-sectional study of 76 RA patients and 76 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Sarcopenia was defined according to the revised criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed. Binary regression was used to assess the relationship between sarcopenia and sex, age, duration of RA, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score in patients with RA. RESULTS: Nearly 80% of participants were female, and the average age was >70 years. Patients with RA had lower muscle mass and greater adiposity (fat-to-muscle ratio mean [SD] 0.9 [0.2] vs. 0.8 [0.2]; p = 0.017) than controls, mainly in the central area (android/gynoid ratio, median [p25-p75]: 1.0 [0.9-1.2] vs. 0.9 [0.8-1.1]; p < 0.001). Twelve patients (15.8%) and three controls (3.9%) had confirmed sarcopenia (p = 0.014). Sarcopenic obesity was observed in 8/76 patients with RA (10.5%) and in 1/76 controls (1.3%) (p = 0.016). The factors associated with sarcopenia were male sex (OR [95% CI]: 9.3 [1.1-80.4]; p = 0.042), disease duration (OR [95% CI]: 1.1 [1.0-1.2]; p = 0.012), and nutritional status according to the MNA (OR [95% CI]: 0.7 [0.5-0.9]; p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that patients with RA aged ≥65 years may be at increased risk for sarcopenia, adiposity, and malnutrition (especially male patients with long-standing disease) and have poor nutritional status.

Safety and efficacy in the nursing care of people with rheumatic diseases on janus kinase inhibitor therapy.

Nurses's support of patients needs an evidence base as much as that of specialists management. However, some more practical aspects need specific questions that are not addressed in medical societies' recommendations. Our objective was to investigate the effect of Janus kinase inhibitors (jakinibs) on efficacy, safety, infections, cardiovascular risk, vaccination, pregnancy and lactation, interactions, surgery, and switch in adult patients with rheumatic diseases. We used the methodology for rapid reviews. Medline was searched for systematic reviews of randomised clinical trials and longitudinal observational studies reporting on the target aspects, without limits, yielding 540 titles, of which 70 articles were selected for detailed reading after the screening of title and abstract. In the case of no systematic review being published on a specific question, we resorted to the information provided by primary studies. The efficacy and safety profiles are similar to that of TNF-inhibitors to which they are compared in most studies; however, there is an increased risk of herpes zoster infections with jakinibs. The evidence on pregnancy, surgery and switches between jakinibs is very limited, although, so far, there are no major issues to inform patients about or to implement specific measures. In general, evidence to support nursing management in patients being treated with jakinibs is of moderate quality and scarce, ought to the recent incursion of jakinibs as a treatment.

An analysis of the competitiveness of the tourism industry in a context of economic recovery following the COVID19 pandemic.

Business activities within the tourism industry are especially suffering from the consequences of the COVID19 pandemic. Those countries whose economy depends largely on tourism will experience a troublesome situation for years to come. Their return to a normal situation will be conditioned by the competitiveness of their tourism sector. The study begins by pinpointing the countries that have been more hardly stricken by the pandemic and in which tourism accounts for a greater share of the GDP. A comparative analysis of the competitiveness of these countries with that of world-leading countries will be carried out so as to conclude which will face the recovery period in a more vulnerable situation. The measurement of tourism competitiveness will be supported by the creation of a synthetic indicator based on the P2 distance method. A group of 13 countries has been identified as the most vulnerable, and it is advisable to act urgently in the following areas: the promotion of cultural elements and the historical and artistic heritage, the protection of natural areas, the availability of information and communication technologies, the international openness of the destination, and the availability of transportation infrastructures and tourist services.

Human rights in the Horn of Africa: an index of child and maternal health / Los derechos humanos en el Cuerno de África: un índice de salud infantil y materna

OBJECTIVE: To construct a territorial measure and classification of child and maternal health in the countries of the Horn of Africa based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. METHOD: The design of our index includes the variables child and maternal health defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enable territorial ranking of the countries. For this purpose, we used Pena's distance method for 2017. RESULTS: The results indicate a relatively high territorial disparity in maternal health between the countries of the Horn of Africa according to the differing values of the SDGs variables of child and maternal health. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a territorial classification in the countries of the Horn of Africa. We believe that the most striking differences between countries relate to basic variables of maternal health such as being attended by skilled health personnel

OBJETIVO: Elaborar una medida y clasificación territorial de la salud infantil y materna en los países del Cuerno de África, basada en la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible, que fue adoptada por todos los Estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas en 2015. MÉTODO: El diseño del índice incluye variables de salud infantil y materna definidas en los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), para permitir la clasificación territorial de los países. Para este propósito, utilizamos el método de distancia de Pena para 2017. RESULTADOS: Los resultados revelan una disparidad territorial relativamente alta en salud materna entre los países del Cuerno de África, de acuerdo con los diferentes valores de las variables ODS. CONCLUSIONES: Proponemos una clasificación territorial en el Cuerno de África. Consideramos que las mayores diferencias entre los países se relacionan con variables básicas de salud materna, como la asistencia de personal de salud cualificado

Human rights in the Horn of Africa: an index of child and maternal health.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a territorial measure and classification of child and maternal health in the countries of the Horn of Africa based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. METHOD: The design of our index includes the variables child and maternal health defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enable territorial ranking of the countries. For this purpose, we used Pena's distance method for 2017. RESULTS: The results indicate a relatively high territorial disparity in maternal health between the countries of the Horn of Africa according to the differing values of the SDGs variables of child and maternal health. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a territorial classification in the countries of the Horn of Africa. We believe that the most striking differences between countries relate to basic variables of maternal health such as being attended by skilled health personnel.