Papel de N-acetilcisteína (NAC) en pacientes con tabaquismo / Role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients with smoking

Antecedentes y objetivo. El tabaquismo es el principal factor de riesgo de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). N-acetilcisteína (NAC) es un agente mucolítico con propiedades antioxidantes y antiinflamatorias que ha demostrado ser eficaz en la reducción de la tasa de exacerbaciones y mejoría clínica de los pacientes con EPOC. El objetivo del trabajo es conocer la opinión de terapeutas expertos acerca del perfil o perfiles de los pacientes fumadores que pueden ser candidatos al uso de NAC. Métodos. Se efectuó una encuesta distribuida a las unidades de tabaquismo de España y una Reunión de Expertos en tabaquismo y EPOC, en la que los Expertos pudieron debatir abiertamente los tópicos seleccionados. Resultados. Los expertos reconocieron el papel del tabaquismo en la generación de estrés oxidativo y concordaron en emplear la terapia mucolítica/antioxidante para fumadores o exfumadores con síntomas respiratorios. Se debatió la necesidad de ampliar las indicaciones de esta terapia a otros perfiles de pacientes. Se señaló también el potencial efecto preventivo de la NAC sobre el daño pulmonar por su acción antioxidante, aunque se necesitaría más evidencia en este ámbito específico del tabaquismo. Se puso énfasis en diferenciar la dosis de NAC como mucolítico (600 mg/día)o antioxidante (1.200 mg/día). Conclusiones. Los expertos valoraron a NAC como un fármaco bien tolerado, de sencillo uso, con un conocido buen perfil de seguridad y un gran potencial para lograr los objetivos terapéuticos por su alta capacidad antioxidante. (AU)

Background and objective. The smoking habit is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that has been demonstrated to be effective in the reduction of the rate of exacerbations and clinical improvement of patients with COPD. This study aims to know the opinion of the expert therapists on the profile(s) of the patients who smoke and who may be candidates for the use of NAC. Methods. A survey was performed, distributing it to the smoking units in Spain and to a Meeting of Experts on the smoking habit and COPD in which the Experts could openly debate on the selected topics. Results. The experts recognized the role of the smoking habit in the generation of oxidative stress and agreed to use the mucolytic/antioxidant treatment for smokers or ex-smokers with respiratory symptoms. The need to extend the indications of this therapy to other patient profiles was debated. The potential preventive effect of NAC on lung damage due to its antioxidant action was also pointed out, although more evidence in this special area of the smoking habit would be necessary. Emphasis was placed on differentiating the NAC dose as a mucolytic (600 mg/day) or as an antioxidant (1,200 mg/day). Conclusions. The experts evaluated NAC as a drug that is well-tolerated, easy-to-use, with a known good safety profile and having great potential to achieve the therapeutic objectives due to its high antioxidant capacity. (AU)

Cost-benefit analysis of funding smoking cessation before surgery.

BACKGROUND: Smoking at the time of surgery is associated with postoperative complications. Quitting smoking before surgery is linked to fewer complications during the hospital stay. This work analysed whether a smoking cessation intervention before surgery is economically worthwhile when funded by the National Health System (NHS) in Spain. METHODS: The economic analysis considered costs and benefits of the intervention to the NHS for the year 2016. The population who would benefit comprised adult smokers who were ready to quit and for whom surgery requiring admission to hospital was planned. The intervention, a combination of medical counselling and use of a smoking cessation drug which should occur 12 weeks before surgery, considered one attempt only to quit smoking. Benefits were costs avoided by averting postoperative complications if cessation was successful. The analysis compared the net economic outcome (benefit minus cost of intervention) and the return on investment, for intervention funded by the NHS versus the current situation without funding. RESULTS: Smoking cessation increased by 21·7 per cent with funding; the rate was 32·5 per cent when funded versus 10·7 per cent without funding, producing 9611 extra quitters. The cost per averted smoker was €1753 with a benefit of €503, achieving a net economic benefit of €4·8 million per year. Given the annual cost of the intervention (€17·4 million, of which €5·6 million (32·5 per cent) represents drugs), the return on investment was 28·7 per cent annually, equivalent to €1·29 per €1 of investment. CONCLUSION: From the perspective of the Spanish NHS, the benefit of funding smoking cessation before surgery, in terms of healthcare cost savings, appears to greatly outweigh the costs.

ANTECEDENTES: Ser fumador activo hasta el momento de la cirugía se asocia con complicaciones postoperatorias. Se ha descrito una disminución de las complicaciones durante la hospitalización al abandonar el hábito de fumar antes de la cirugía. Este trabajo analizó si una intervención preoperatoria para dejar de fumar es económicamente beneficiosa cuando se financia por el Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) en España. MÉTODOS: En el análisis económico se consideraron tantos los costes como los beneficios de la intervención para el SNS, en euros, correspondientes al año 2016. La población que se beneficiaría eran fumadores adultos dispuestos a dejar de fumar, en los que se programase una intervención quirúrgica con hospitalización. La intervención, una combinación de asesoramiento médico y tratamiento farmacológico para dejar de fumar, se llevó a cabo a las 12 semanas antes de la cirugía, considerando únicamente un intento para dejar de fumar. Los beneficios fueron los costes evitados por una reducción en la tasa de complicaciones postoperatorias en los casos en los que se hubiese conseguido la eliminación del hábito. El análisis comparó el resultado económico neto (beneficio menos coste de la intervención) y el retorno de la inversión (return on investment, ROI), cuando la intervención era financiada por el SNS en comparación con la situación actual sin financiamiento público. RESULTADOS: La tasa de abandono del hábito tabáquico aumentó en un 21,8%; 32,5% cuando se financiaba frente al 10,7% sin financiación, consiguiendo un extra de 9.611 personas que dejaron de fumar. El coste por fumador rescatado fue de €1753 con un beneficio de €503, por lo que el beneficio económico neto conseguido fue de €4,8 millones por año. Dado que el coste anual de la intervención (€17,4 millones, de los cuales €5,6 millones corresponden a fármacos (32%)), el ROI anual fue del 28,7% con un beneficio de €1,29 por cada €1 de inversión. CONCLUSIÓN: Desde la perspectiva del SNS español, los beneficios de financiar el abandono del hábito de fumar en el preoperatorio de los pacientes, en términos de ahorro de costes parecen ser muy superiores a los costes de la intervención.

[Smoking Prevalence in High School Students in the Barcelona Region (De Osona District)]. / Prevalencia del tabaquismo en los estudiantes de bachillerato de la Comarca de Osona (Barcelona).

The socio-cultural setting influences youth smoking and its prevalence presumibly has decreased. OBJECTIVES: To assess smoking prevalence in high school students, as well as the environmental influence on its onset in the Osona Disrtict of Barcelona (ODB), and to determine whether it has decreased. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on high school students in the ODB. In the anonymous questionnaire it was sked asked about smoking and the influence of the social and cultural setting on its onset. RESULTS: A total of 842 students participated, with 714 questionnaires completed, of which 705 were included as valid. A total of 203 (93.5%) students lived in an urban setting. There were 159 smoker students and 62% were women. The smokers were 70 (44%) christians, 3 (1.9%) muslims, 14 (8.%) students with other religions, and 72 (45.3%) non-denominational students. It was detected that 529 (76.3%) of the students consumed alcohol consumers, and 308 (46.5%) consumed other substances. There were 40 (61%) students that suffered a disease, and also 334 students who had ill relatives. There were 207 (29.4%) fathers and 152 (22%) mothers who smoked and 214 (59%) students declared family smoking. Finally 582 (82.6%) had smoker friends. Among fathers, 212 (30.1%), had high level studies, 331 (48.7%) had mid- level studies, and 137 (20.1%) fathers had primary studies. Among mothers, it was 279 (39.6%), 294 (41.7%), and 116 (16.5%). respectively. Being a smoker was associated with alcohol (P=.000) and other substances consumption (P=.000), being non-denominational (P=.000), did not to suffer any disease (P=.043), with having mother (P=.001), father (P=.005), brother or sister (P=.006), and family members (P=.016) who smoked, and smoker friends (P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: smoking prevalence in high school students in the ODB is high, but has decreased. Smoking was associated with alcohol and consumption of other substances, being non-denominational, and with friends, parents, and relatives who smoked. It is necessary to establish prevention programs addressed to teenagers, parents and teachers.

Vacuna neumocócica en fumadores / No disponible

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La experiencia de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR) en la formación post-grado en tabaquismo / No disponible

La formación en diagnóstico y tratamiento del tabaquismo es una disciplina sobre la que cada día existe mayor interés. El área de tabaquismo de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica, SEPAR, fue pionera en la organización y desarrollo del primer curso de Experto en Tabaquismo proporcionado por una sociedad científica española. Hasta el momento actual se han realizado un total de siete cursos. El objetivo primordial de este artículo es comentar la metodología docente que se ha desarrollado y exponer los resultados. Metodología. El principal objetivo docente de los cursos ha sido dotar de conocimientos, aptitudes y habilidades al alumno para realizar una correcta prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento del tabaquismo. El curso se estructura en dos módulos, teórico y práctico, con 25 y 15 horas lectivas de duración, respectivamente. Los alumnos reciben diverso material docente. Al final del curso se realizan dos tipos de evaluaciones: una del curso, por parte de los alumnos y otra, de los alumnos, por parte del profesorado. Los alumnos que superen todas las evaluaciones obtendrán el diploma de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR) que les titula como Expertos en Tabaquismo. Resultados. A lo largo de los siete años de realización del curso, se han formado a un total de 235 alumnos, de los cuales 173 ( 73,4%) eran mujeres y el resto hombres. La edad media del grupo fue de 35,2 (12,56) años. Otros resultados de interés han sido los siguientes: a) el 96,6% de los discentes consideró que los objetivos que se habían planteado con la realización del curso se habían cumplido de manera muy alta o alta, b) hasta el 80% de alumnos consideró que la calidad de los materiales docentes que se distribuyeron fue muy alta, c) entre el 70 y el 73% de los alumnos valoró como alta, la calidad de la metodología para la adquisición de conocimientos teóricos y prácticos, d) el 80% de los discentes valoró al profesorado con calidad alta o muy alta y f) todos los alumnos superaron el examen tipo test, aunque sólo el 64,6% de ellos realizó el trabajo de investigación tutorizado. Conclusiones. La experiencia nos ha mostrado que la metodología utilizada es la adecuada y que sirve para el cumplimiento de los objetivos. La evaluación final del curso ha sido superada por el 64,5% de los alumnos (AU)

Training on smoking cessation is getting interest. The smoking prevention group of the Spanish Respiratory Society, SEPAR was the pioneer in organizing this type of courses. The main objective of this paper is to show the methodology and the results of these courses. Methodology. The main objective of these training courses was to increase the knowledge and to improve the skills on smoking control of the different health professionals. The course is comprised of two modules: theory and practice. Each module has 25 and 15 hours, respectively. At the end of the course there are two kind of evaluations: the course is evaluated by the pupils and the pupils are evaluated by the professors. Pupils who approve the exam and write up a small research in some aspects of smoking control will get an Accreditation from Spanish Respiratory Society, SEPAR as "Expert on Smoking Control". Results. We have undertaken seven training courses. 235 pupils have participated, 173 ( 73.4%) were women. Mean age 35.2 (12.56). Other results were as follows: a) 96.6% of pupils considered that the objectives had been accomplished, b) 96% of pupils qualified as high quality the contents of the courses , c) around 73% of pupils qualified as high quality the methodology of the course, d) 80% of pupils qualified as high quality the teachers of the course and f) all pupils approved the final exam but only 64.6% of them wrote up the research. Conclusions. The methodology is adequate and it helps to comply with the objectives. The final evaluation has been approved by 64.5% of pupils (AU)

Tabaco y lípidos: una asociación que incrementa el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular / Tobacco and lipids: a combination that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease

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Documento de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR) en relación con la modificación de la actual ley de medidas sanitarias frente al tabaquismo / Document of spanish respiratory society in relation with the modification of spanish anti-smoking law

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Epidemiología del tabaquismo pasivo en España antes de la ley 28/2005, de medidas sanitarias frente al tabaquismo. Resultados de un estudio de base poblacional / Passive smoking epidemiology in Spain before the law 28/2005, on health care measures against

Objetivo: Conocer el porcentaje de personas no fumadoras que están expuestas al humo ambiental de tabaco en España, antes de la Ley28/2005, de medidas sanitarias frente al tabaquismo. Material y Métodos: Encuesta epidemiológica, observacional y transversal (sistema CATI), de una muestra aleatoria de 6.800 personas, representativa de la población española. Mediante muestreo aleatorio, polietápico, utilizando cuotas por grupos de sexo (hombre/mujer), edad (<13 años; 13-40 años; 41-65 años; y > 65 años), hábitat (rural/urbano) y Comunidad Autónoma de residencia. Resultados: El 49,5% de los no fumadores está expuesto al humo ambiental del tabaco (hogar 13,1%, escuela 17,8%, lugar de trabajo 25,8%, lugar de ocio, 37,4%). La tasa de exposición es mayor entre los hombres que entre las mujeres (50,9% vs 42,9%, p<0,0001) y mayor en el grupo de 13 a 40 años de edad (65,6%, p<0,0001). No hay diferencias en cuanto al hábitat ni a la Comunidad Autónoma de residencia.Conclusiones: El tabaquismo pasivo constituye un importantísimo problema sanitario en España, que afecta a la mitad de la población. Este estudio permitirá evaluar el impacto de la Ley 28/2005 mediante la repetición de la investigación y, en su caso, sugerir modificaciones a las autoridades sanitarias (AU)

Objective: To know the percentage of non-smokers who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in Spain in regards to the Law 28/2005on health care measures against smoking. Material and Methods: Epidemiological, observational and crosssectional survey (CATI system) of a random sample of 6800 persons, representative of the Spanish population. Random, multistage sampling was used with quotas for groups of gender (man/women), age (<13 years;13-40 years; 41-65 years; and > 65 years), site of residence (rural/urban) and Regional Community of residence. Results: A total of 49.5% of the non-smokers are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (home 13.1%, school 17.8%, place of work 25.8%, leisure activity site, 37.4%). Rate of exposure is greater among men than among women (50.9% vs 42.9%, p<0.0001) and greater in the 13 to 40 year old age group (65.6%, p<0.0001). There are no differences regarding residential site or the Regional Community of residence. Conclusions: Passive smoking is a very important health care problem in Spain, that affects half of the population. This study will make it possible to evaluate the impact of Law 28/2005 by repeating the investigation and, if appropriate, to suggest modifications to the regulatory health authorities (AU)

Año SEPAR 2007. Año para la prevención y el tratamiento del tabaquismo. Resumen de las actividades / Separ Year 2007. Year for the prevention and treatment of smoking. Summary of the activities

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Prevención y tratamiento del tabaquismo en el medio hospitalario / Prevention and treatment of the smoking habit in the hospital setting

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Recomendaciones para la docencia del tabaquismo / Recommendations for the teaching of smoking habit

El tabaquismo es la principal causa de morbi-mortalidad en los países desarrollados. Las Cortes españolas aprobaron el pasado diciembre del año 2005 la ley de medidas sanitarias frente al tabaquismo y reguladora de la venta, el suministro, el consumo y la publicidad de los productos del tabaco. La entrada en vigor de esta ley facilitará una mayor sensibilización de la población general para el control y el tratamiento del tabaquismo. Todos los profesionales sanitarios deberemos estar preparados para afrontar mayores demandas de nuestros pacientes en relación con el control del tabaquismo. No existe en nuestro país ningún tipo de regularización oficial sobre los contenidos docentes que deban ser expuestos a lo largo de un curso formativo en prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento del tabaquismo. El Área de Tabaquismo de la SociedadEspañola de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica siempre ha sido pionera, en nuestro país, en la redacción de normativas y recomendaciones sobre los diferentes aspectos del tabaquismo. En este artículo se aborda cuales deben ser los contenidos docentes que se enseñen en los cursos formativos sobre tabaquismo. Se hace una descripción de acuerdo a diferentes aspectos de esta disciplina: epidemiología, patología asociada al consumo del tabaco, aspectos psico-sociales, aspectos neuro-farmacológicos, intervención mínima, diagnóstico y tratamiento del tabaquismo, terapia psicológica y tratamiento farmacológico (AU)

Smoking habit is the main cause of morbidity-mortality in developed countries. The Spanish Parliament passed the law on Health Care measures against the smoking habit and regulation of sales, supply, consumption and advertising of tobacco products last December 2005. The entry of this law into force will provide greater sensitization of the general population for control and treatment of smoking. All health care professionals should be prepared to face greater demands from our patients in regards to the control of smoking. In our country, there is no typeof official regularization on the teaching content that should be included in a training course regarding prevention, diagnosis and treatment of smoking. The Smoking Habit Area of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery has always been a pioneer in our country in the writing of regulations and recommendations on the different aspects of the smoking habit. This article speaks about what the teaching contents taught in the training course on the smoking habit should be. It makes a description according to different aspects of this discipline: epidemiology, diseases associated to smoking, psycho-social aspects, neuro-pharmacological aspects, minimum intervention, diagnosis and treatment of smoking habit, psychotherapy and drug therapy (AU)

[Cost and management of asthma exacerbations in Spanish hospitals (COAX study in hospital services)]. / Coste y manejo de una crisis asmática en el ámbito hospitalario de nuestro medio (estudio COAX en servicios hospitalarios).

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and associated health cost of asthma have been increasing in developed countries, and 70% of the overall disease cost is due to exacerbations. The primary objective of this study was to determine the hospital cost of an asthma exacerbation in Spain. The secondary objective was to determine what maintenance treatments patients were using to control asthma before the exacerbation and how the exacerbation was treated. The study formed part of a broader study (COAX II), with the same objectives in each of the 8 participating European countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study that enrolled 126 patients with an asthma exacerbation treated in the usual way in 6 Spanish hospitals over a 3-month period (from January 1 to March 31, 2000). RESULTS: According to the criteria of the Global Initiative for Asthma, 33.3% of the exacerbations were mild, 38.9% moderate, 26.2% severe, and 1.6% were associated with risk of imminent respiratory arrest. Use of corticosteroids was widespread among patients with moderate and severe asthma, but only 68% of the patients with severe asthma used long-acting beta2 agonists. The mean cost was 1555.70 Euros (95% confidence interval [CI], 1237.60 Euros-1907.00 Euros), of which 93.8% (1460.60 Euros; 95% CI, 1152.50 Euros-1779.40 Euros) was due to direct costs, and 6.2% (95.10 Euros; 95% CI, 35.50 Euros-177.00 Euros) to indirect costs. Cost rose with increasing severity of the exacerbation--292.60 Euros for a mild exacerbation, 1230.50 Euros for a moderate exacerbation, and 3543.10 Euros for a severe exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS: The mean cost was 1555.70 Euros. The costs of moderate and severe exacerbations were 4 and 12 times that of a mild exacerbation, respectively. Long-acting beta2 agonists were less widely used than recommended by the guidelines for treatment of moderate and severe persistent asthma leading to asthma exacerbations.

Angioedema as a single manifestation of carcinoid syndrome in a bronchial carcinoid tumor.

BACKGROUND: The association of bronchial carcinoid tumours with carcinoid syndrome is extremely rare especially in the absence of metastasic disease, and the angioedema is not a typical sign of this syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report the case of a 39 year-old woman referred to our allergy department with recurrent episodes of angioedema. The aetiological study of angioedema did not show evidence of hypersensitivity to common inhalants, food allergens and latex. C1-inhibitor, C3, C4, C1q, proteinogram and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) all were normal. TSH determination gave normal results, too. Faecal analyses for parasites were negative. The haemogram showed moderate leucocytosis and hypocromic mycrocitic anaemia. The thoracic radiography showed a mediastinal node image in the right paratracheal region. Histology analyses of the samples were diagnostic of a typical carcinoid tumor. Levels of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIIA) were slightly increased. A superior lobectomy was performed and no new episodes of angioedema appeared after surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of typical bronchial carcionid tumour, without metastasic disease, with angioedema as a single manifestation of carcinoid syndrome. In our knowledge, only one case of Quincke's edema as part of typical carcinoid syndrome has been reported, in a case of primary midgut carcinoid tumor with metastasic disease to liver. It is very important to include complementary tests, as thoracic radiography, in the routine study of angioedema to reject malignant diseases.

[Overall long-term survival in lung cancer analyzed in 610 unselected patients]. / Supervivencia global a largo plazo en el cáncer de pulmón. Análisis de una serie de 610 pacientes no seleccionados.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies of lung cancer survival are carried out in patients selected for certain features that usually influence prognosis favorably. The objective of this study was to assess the overall survival of unselected patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer in our practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 610 patients for whom survival information was available, a population comprising 88% of the 694 with lung cancer diagnosed in our hospital from 1991 through 1998. The variables analyzed for their correlation with survival were age, sex, histology, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, treatment, and time of diagnosis (with patients grouped by 2-year periods). RESULTS: The cases of 596 men and 14 women with a mean age of approximately 67 years were studied. Small cell tumors were found in 141, non-small cell tumors in 447, and other tissue types in 22. Surgical excision was carried out on 118 (19.3%), and treatment was confined to control of symptoms for 6.4% of the patients with small cell tumors and 40.5% of those with non-small cell cancer. Symptomatic treatment alone was more common for patients older than 70 years (52.5%) and less common during the last 2 years of the study period (1997-1998: 19%). Overall 5-year survival was 7.9% (2.8% in small cell cancer and 9.4% in non-small cell cancer). Survival rates were lower in patients over 70 years of age. Significant differences in survival were seen for successive TNM stages, with the exception of IIIA and IIIB. The 1997-1998 period saw better survival rates, at 40.8% after 1 year and 11.2% after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rates in lung cancer patients in our hospital practice are low because the rate of surgical resections is low owing to the high percentage of cases found in advanced stages. Our observations are similar to those reported from other European countries.

[Sleepy drivers have a high frequency of traffic accidents related to respiratory effort-related arousals]. / Los conductores somnolientos tienen alta frecuencia de accidentes de tráfico asociados a exceso de RERA.

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory effort-related arousals (RERA) are secondary to subtle obstructions of the upper airway during sleep and can appear in the absence of a predominance of apneas and hypopneas, causing excessive daytime sleepiness. Analyzing the possible consequences of these new respiratory events is of increasing interest. Habitually sleepy drivers are at high risk of having traffic accidents related to sleep disorders (apneas, hypopneas and RERA). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether excess RERA alone is an independent risk factor among sleepy drivers. METHOD: We studied 40 habitually sleepy drivers and 23 age- and sex-matched controls selected from a sample of 4,002 automobile drivers. We surveyed sleep habits, daytime sleepiness and traffic accidents. Sleep studies of esophageal pressure were performed. RESULTS: The sleepy drivers with apneas (apnea/hypopnea index > 10) had a higher 5-year accident rate (0.33 0.50) than did control drivers (0.004 0.21; p < 0.05). However, a high RERA index, but not sleep apnea, was an independent risk factor among the habitually sleepy drivers. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a RERA index > or = 10 was 7.6 (confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 48); for a RERA index > or = 15, the OR was 17 (CI 1.5 to 91). CONCLUSIONS: The high risk of traffic accidents among sleepy drivers is mainly determined by the presence of RERA rather than the presence of apneas and hypopneas. These findings verify the importance of identifying RERA in routine sleep laboratory studies.

Los conductores somnolientos tienen alta frecuenciade accidentes de tráfico asociados a exceso de RERA / Sleepy drivers have a high frequency of traffic accidents related to respiratory effort-related arousals

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los RERA (respiratory effort-related arousal) son secundarios a sutiles obstrucciones de la vía aérea superior durante el sueño, pueden aparecer sin predominio de apneas e hipopneas y causan somnolencia diurna excesiva. El análisis de las potenciales consecuencias de estos nuevos acontecimientos respiratorios tiene hoy un interés creciente. Los conductores habitualmente somnolientos tienen un riesgo alto de sufrir accidentes de tráfico asociados a trastornos respiratorios durante el sueño (apneas más hipopneas más RERA). OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar si exclusivamente el exceso de RERA es un factor independiente de riesgo de accidentes en los conductores somnolientos. MÉTODO: Estudiamos a 40 conductores habitualmente somnolientos y 23 controles (conductores no somnolientos) pareados por edad y sexo, y ambos extraídos de una muestra de 4.002 conductores de vehículos. Se estudiaron datos sobre hábitos de sueño, somnolencia diurna, accidentes de tráfico y se realizaron estudios de sueño con medida de presión esofágica. RESULTADOS: Los conductores somnolientos con apneas de sueño tienen una tasa de accidentes en 5 años mayor que los controles (índice de apneas-hipoapneas [IAH] > 10; 0,33 ñ 0,50 frente a 0,004 ñ 0,21 en los controles; p < 0,05), pero sólo el exceso de RERA y no el de apneas de sueño fue un factor independiente de riesgo de accidentes en conductores somnolientos. La odds ratio (OR) ajustada para un índice de RERA 10 fue de 7,6 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95 por ciento, 1,2-48) y para un índice de RERA 15 fue de 17 (IC, 1,5-91).CONCLUSIONES: El alto riesgo de accidentes de tráfico de los conductores somnolientos viene principalmente determinado por la presencia de RERA más que por la presencia de apneas e hipopneas de sueño. Estos datos ratifican la importancia y la necesidad de identificar RERA en la práctica habitual de los laboratorios de sueño (AU)

[Incidence of bronchopulmonary carcinoma in Extremadura in 1998]. / Incidencia de carcinoma broncopulmonar en Extremadura durante el año 1998.

OBJECTIVES: Our main objective was to determine the incidence of bronchopulmonary cancer in Extremadura (Spain). We also studied the presence of risk factors such as smoking and exposure to other carcinogens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study used a protocol followed by all hospitals in Extremadura; enrolled were patients with a diagnosis of bronchopulmonary carcinoma in 1998 who lived habitually in the region. Cyto-histological confirmation of the diagnosis was sought or, when such confirmation was unavailable, diagnostic agreement among researchers was based on clinical, radiological and/or endoscopic data. RESULTS: The incidences adjusted to world population were 53.4, 2.16 and 25.3 per 100,000 inhabitants for men, women and the entire population sample, respectively. Patterns in the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz were very similar. Of 433 cases recorded, 95% were men and 78% were aged 60 years or older. Cyto-histological confirmation of diagnosis was available for 92.2%. Most tumors were epidermoid (41.1%). The time between the start of smoking and diagnosis was significantly shorter in heavier smokers.

Incidencia del carcinoma broncopulmonar en Extremadura durante el año 1998 / Incidence of bronchopulmonary carcinoma in Extremadura (Spain) in 1998

Objetivos: El objetivo primario ha sido conocer la incidencia de carcinoma broncopulmonar en la Comunidad de Extremadura. También se ha estudiado la presencia de factores de riesgo como el tabaquismo y otros carcinógenos. Material y métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio prospectivo mediante un protocolo común con participación de todos los hospitales de Extremadura. Se incluyeron los pacientes diagnosticados de carcinoma broncopulmonar durante 1998 que residían de modo habitual en la región. Se exigió la confirmación citohistológica o, cuando no se pudo disponer de la misma, la concordancia en el diagnóstico de carcinoma broncopulmonar entre diferentes participantes en el estudio, basada en datos clínicos, radiológicos y/o endoscópicos. Resultados: Las tasas de incidencia estandarizadas según población mundial fueron: 53,4, 2,16 y 25,3/100.000 habitantes para varones, mujeres y el total de la población, respectivamente. La distribución entre las provincias de Cáceres y Badajoz fue muy similar. De 433 casos registrados, el 95 por ciento fueron varones y el 78 por ciento tenían una edad >= 60 años. Se obtuvo confirmación citohistológica de carcinoma broncopulmonar en el 92,2 por ciento de los pacientes. Predominó la estirpe epidermoide (41,1 por ciento). El intervalo de tiempo entre el inicio del hábito tabáquico y el diagnóstico del carcinoma broncopulmonar fue significativamente menor en los fumadores de consumo más intenso. (AU)