Prematurity and ADHD in Childhood: An Observational Register-Based Study in Catalonia.

Objective: To evaluate the association between prematurity (by the gestational week [gw]) and ADHD during childhood. Method: Observational, matched cohort study using data from children born in a tertiary-level hospital (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Catalonia, Spain) during 1995-2007 and data from the Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Health Care (SIDIAP database, Catalonia, Spain). Results: Prevalence of ADHD increases as gestational age decreases, 12.7% for those born ≤28 gw, compared to 3.2% for those born after the 37 gw. The risk of developing ADHD in the non-premature children tends to increase as the gw decreases (35-36 gw, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.19, 2.44]; 33-34 gw, HR = 3.38, 95% CI [2.08, 5.50]; 29-32 gw, HR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.54, 3.63]; and ≤28 gw, HR = 5.57, 95% CI [2.49, 12.46]) Conclusion: Being born preterm is associated with a risk of developing ADHD, also in late preterm children (35-36 gw). Attention when taking care of these infants regarding their mental health must be made.

[Secondary prevention of ischemic strokes: effect of dosage of aspirin]. / Prevención secundaria del ictus isquémico. Efecto de la dosis en el perfil de la aspirina.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The value of acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke is well established. However, the optimum dose of AAS for stroke-threatened patients remains unsettled. This paper reviews the pattern of adverse reactions to AAS and their relationship to the dosage of ASS evaluated. METHOD: All the clinical trials in which AAS was used as the sole antiaggregant in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke were reviewed. The crude odds ratio for the different adverse reactions was calculated using three sub tests: AAS versus placebo; AAS < 330 mg/d versus AAS > 330 mg/d; and each dosage level versus a placebo. RESULTS: There is an increased risk associated with the use of AAS as compared to a placebo with respect to gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 2.3, IC 95% (1.6-4.1)), peptic ulcer (10.1 (2.5-85.2)), intracerebral hemorrhage (2.2 (1.3-4)) and other hemorrhagic phenomena (2.6 (2-3.3)). CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be a direct relationship between the dosage of AAS and the frequency with which adverse reactions occur, except in the case of intracerebral hemorrhage. In the latter case there was no relationship with the dose given (0.8 (0.5-1.4)).

[Quality in compliance and prescription of nursing treatment orders for injectable drugs]. / Calidad en la cumplimentación y prescripción de las órdenes de tratamiento de enfermería para medicación inyectable.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the quality of prescription and compliance with nursing treatment orders (NTOs) in primary care teams (PCTs), in order to identify potential problems and establish interventions. DESIGN: Observational, crossover study. SETTING: Three health districts in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: NTO forms for injectable medication referred to nursing from PCTs between March 1 and November 30, 1996. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 1,088 NTO sheets containing 1,119 prescriptions were evaluated. 64.61% of the NTOs came from PCTs. Compliance with the NTO on the length of treatment (63.33%), on length and guidelines taken together (58.00%) and on allergies to medicine (28.31%) was deficient. The most prescribed therapeutic groups were medicines for the locomotive apparatus (36.10%) and drugs for infections (24.66%). 56.03% of prescriptions had high intrinsic value. It was difficult to justify 72.48% of prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiencies were detected in compliance with NTOs, due to the absence of information which was vital for correct administration. There was low-quality prescription and over-use of parenteral administration.