Modeling SARS-CoV-2 True Infections in Catalonia through a Digital Twin

A dynamic view of the evolution of the infections of SARS-CoV-2 in Catalonia using a Digital Twin approach that forecasts the true infection curve is presented. The forecast model incorporates the vaccination process, the confinement, and the detection rate, and virtually allows to consider any nonpharmaceutical intervention, enabling to understand their effects on the disease's containment while forecasting the trend of the pandemic. A continuous validation process of the model is performed using real data and an optimization model that automatically provides information regarding the effects of the containment actions on the population. To simplify this validation process, a formal graphical language that simplifies the interaction with the different specialists and an easy modification of the model parameters are used. The Digital Twin of the pandemic in Catalonia provides a forecast of the future trend of the SARS-CoV-2 spread and information regarding the true cases and effectiveness of the NPIs to control the SARS-CoV-2 spread over the population. This approach can be applied easily to other regions and can become an excellent tool for decision-making. © 2023 The Authors. Advanced Theory and Simulations published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

First language as a determinant of implicit and explicit language attitudes: Catalan/Spanish bilinguals' general language attitudes and response to language choice in a COVID-19 vaccination advertisement

This study aims to contribute new insight into the study of languages in contact by comparing the implicit and explicit general language attitudes of bilingual individuals towards their first and second language in health communication in a multilingual society, through a combination of survey and experimental methods. We investigated to what extent 358 L1 Catalan and 338 L1 Spanish speakers in Catalonia differed in their general attitudes to Catalan and Spanish (explicit language attitudes) and in their reactions to the use of these languages in health advertising, specifically in an advertisement promoting COVID-19 vaccination (implicit language attitudes). This is the first study of its kind in a European multilingual context. Based on accommodation theory and theory related to first-language preference, participants were expected to prefer their L1 and the L1 advertisement. Findings offer support for first-language preference in terms of general language attitudes. However, the language of the ad and participants' first language had little impact on ad-related response. There were no effects of language on attitude towards the ad, attitude towards vaccination and vaccination intention, but the L1 Catalan participants felt the Catalan ad had more appropriate language and expressed more cultural respect than the Spanish ad. Thus, in the current study, explicit language attitudes revealed first-language preference, while implicit language attitudes did so to a limited extent. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Folia Linguistica is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

La influència de les emocions en l'educació davant la COVID-19: el cas de Catalunya des de la percepció del professorat

La COVID-19 ha marcat un abans i un després en ľeducació. Aquesta situado ha provocat un debat sobre un nou model educatiu que s'ajusti a les necessitats i demandes socials i que prepari els docents i l'alumnat davant dels nous reptes del segle xxi. Davant d'aquest nou escenari, hi ha hagut canvis substanciáis que han afectat els docents i que han provocat un impacte emocional important en la seva tasca com a professionals i persones. En aquest article es presenta una recerca, duta a terme durant la pandemia amb docents no universitaris de tot Catalunya, per coněixer les emodons viscudes, les estratégies emocionáis aplicades en el context educatiu i les necessitats experimentades per al conjunt de la comunitat educativa davant d'aquesta situado atípica i excepcional. L'instrument utilitzat per a la recollida de dades és un qüestionari en línia, específic per al professorat, elaborat per l'equip investigador. Després ďanalitzar els resultats s'ofereixen algunes orientadons i recursos präctics vinculáis amb ľacompanyament i ľeducació emocional.Alternate :La COVID-19 ha marcado un antes y un después en la educación. Esta situación ha provocado un debate sobre un nuevo modelo educativo que se ajuste a las necesidades y demandas sociales y que prepare a los docentes y al alumnado ante los nuevos retos del siglo XXL Ante este nuevo escenario, ha habido cambios sustanciales que han afectado a los docentes, provocando un impacto emocional importante en su tarea como profesional y persona. En este artículo se presenta una investigación, realizada durante la pandemia con docentes no universitarios de toda Cataluña, para conocer las emociones vividas, las estrategias emocionales aplicadas en el contexto educativo y las necesidades experimentadas por el conjunto de la comunidad educativa ante esta situación atípica y excepcional. El instrumento utilizado para su recogida de datos es un cuestionario en línea, específico para el profesorado, elaborado por el equipo investigador.Alternate :COVID-19 has marked a before and after in education. This situation has provoked a debate on a new educational model that adapts to social needs and demands and that prepares teachers and students in the face of the nine challenges of the twenty-first century. Faced with this new scenario, there have been substantial changes that have affected teachers, causing a significant emotional impact on their work as professionals and individuals. This article presents a study, carried out during the pandemic with non-university teachers from all over Catalonia, to understand the emotions experienced, the emotional strategies applied in the educational context and the needs experienced by the entire educational community in this atypical, exceptional situation. The instrument used to collect the data is an online questionnaire, specific to teachers, prepared by the research team. After analysing the results, some practical guidelines and resources related to emotional support and education are provided.

La veu dels professionals dels serveis educatius i de suport a la inclusió. Transformacions a partir del 2020

Els serveis educatius de Catalunya actúen, des de fa decades, de manera directa i presencial ais centres educatius, afavorint l'orientació en el context escolar. L'objectiu de l'estudi és presentar les v¡vėncies i valoracions de professionals de nou servéis educatius diferents d'arreu de Catalunya sobre l'impacte de la COVID-19 en les seves funcions i el món educatiu. Mitjançant un grup de discussio, els professionals manifesten les dificultáis que ha implicat en la seva tasca diaria de trebali conjunt amb el professorat, l'alumnat i les families. Detecten obstacles que els impedeixen dur a terme la seva intervenció com ho feien prėviament a l'inici de la pandemia, i que han anat afrontant cercant alternatives i fent un ús generalitzat de la tecnología. També han aconseguit millores que pensen que es mantindran fins i tot un cop superada la crisi sanitaria. Els resultats obtinguts es discuteixen en el context de la literatura actual i s'apunten linies futures de recerca.Alternate abstract:Los servidos educativos de Cataluña actúan, desde hace décadas, de manera directa y presencial en los centros educativos, favoreciendo la orientación en el contexto escolar. El objetivo del estudio es presentar las vivencias y valoraciones de profesionales de nueve servidos educativos diferentes de Cataluña sobre el impacto de la COVID-19 en sus servidos y el mundo educativo. Mediante un grupo de discusión, los profesionales manifiestan las dificultades que ha implicado en su tarea diaria de trabajo conjunto con el profesorado, el alumnado y las familias. Detectan obstáculos que les impiden desarrollar su intervención como lo hacían antes del ¡nido de la pandemia, y que han afrontado buscando alternativas y haciendo un uso generalizado de la tecnología. También han conseguido mejoras que piensan que se mantendrán hasta el final, incluso una vez superada la crisis sanitaria. Los resultados obtenidos se discuten en el contexto de la literatura actual y se apuntan líneas futuras de investigación.Alternate abstract:The educational services of Catalonia have been acting, for decades, in a direct and faceto-face way in educational centres, offering guidance in the school context. The aim of this study is to present the experiences and thoughts of professionals from nine educational services in Catalonia about the impact of COVID-19 on their servicesand the educational world. A discussion group helps professionals to express the difficulties that it has implied in their daily task of working together with teachers, students and their families. They detect obstacles that prevent them from carrying out the intervention's they did before the beginning of the pandemic, and which they have faced by looking for alternatives and making widespread use of technology. They have also made improvements that they believe will continue even after the health crisis is over. The results obtained are discussed in the context of the current literature and future lines of research are suggested.

Fiscal Cuts in Education and Their Effects: Politicising Learned Helplessness as a Disciplinary Technology in Education Leaders in Catalonia. An Exploratory Research Study

The paper aims to explore how head teachers and other education service leaders and their teams have been experiencing shifts in their identities during the last decade of education cuts in Catalonia (Spain), and the possible effects during the current COVID-19 crisis on educational leaders. Our exploratory hypothesis covers the crisis years (2008–2015) and on into the nonrecovery years (2015–2020) until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During these years, through what Ball (2008) describes as a "ratchet effect,” education cuts and their everyday effects in schools produced learned helplessness (LH) in head teachers and leaders. Theoretically, we propose to examine this malaise from a political angle, seeing it as a disciplinary technology to transform education leaders' identity and practices. To corroborate this, we conducted four interviews with head teachers of different public primary, secondary, and special education schools, and a psychopedagogical service leader in the same semi-rural area in Catalonia. The exploratory results show that the incremental and selective cuts soon became a new normal and created feelings of (political) learned helplessness that may be seen not as negative side effects but as a disciplinary technology that reshaped leaders' subjectivity. At the same time, education leaders carried out some (ir)responsible practices of resistance that can be understood as care of the self and others. More research needs to be done with different agents to capture the complexity and ambiguity of cuts and LH as a political phenomenon. © 2022, Arizona State University. All rights reserved.

Effect of excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Catalonia, Spain, three and a half years after its introduction.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organisation urges countries to levy specific excise taxes on SSBs. Currently, more than 50 countries have introduced some type of tax on SSBs. In March 2017, the Autonomous Region of Catalonia approved the introduction of a tiered excise tax on SSBs for public health reasons. To evaluate the effect of the Catalonian excise tax on the price and purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and their possible substitutes, i.e., non-sugar-sweetened beverages (NSSBs) and bottled water, three and half years after its introduction, and 1 year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We analysed purchase data on soft drinks, fruit drinks and water, sourced from the Ministry of Agriculture food-consumption panel, in a random sample of 12,500 households across Spain. We applied the synthetic control method to infer the causal impact of the intervention, based on a Bayesian structural time-series model which predicts the counterfactual response that would have occurred in Catalonia, had no intervention taken place. RESULTS: As compared to the predicted (counterfactual) response, per capita purchases of SSBs fell by 0.17 l three and a half years after implementing the SSB tax in Catalonia, a 16.7% decline (95% CI: - 23.18, - 8.74). The mean SSB price rose by 0.11 €/L, an 11% increase (95% CI: 9.0, 14.1). Although there were no changes in mean NSSB prices, NSSB consumption rose by 0.19 l per capita, a 21.7% increase (95% CI: 18.25, 25.54). There were no variations in the price or consumption of bottled water. The effects were progressively greater over time, with SSB purchases decreasing by 10.4% at 1 year, 12.3% at 2 years, 15.3% at 3 years, and 16.7% at three and a half years of the tax's introduction. CONCLUSIONS: The Catalonian SSB excise tax had a sustained and progressive impact over time, with a fall in consumption of as much as 16.7% three and half years after its introduction. The observed NSSB substitution effect should be borne in mind when considering the application of this type of tax to the rest of Spain.

Outcome of COVID-19 infection in people with diabetes mellitus or obesity in the primary care setting in Catalonia, Spain: A retrospective cohort study of the initial three waves.

AIM: We estimate the incidence and risk factors for fatal and non-fatal events among the COVID-19 infected subjects based on the presence of obesity or diabetes during the initial three epidemiological waves in our region. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. A primary care database was used to identify persons with COVID-19. We stratified for subjects who either had diabetes mellitus or obesity. The follow-up period for study events was up to 90 days from inclusion. RESULTS: In total, 1238,710 subjects were analysed. Subjects with diabetes mellitus or obesity were older and had a worse comorbidity profile compared with groups without these conditions. Fatal events were more frequent among people with diabetes and during the first wave. In the second and third waves, the number of study events decreased. Diabetes was a risk factor for fatal events in all models, while obesity was only in the model adjusted for age, sex, diabetes and COVID-19 waves. HIV, cancer, or autoimmune diseases were risk factors for mortality among subjects with COVID-19 in the fully-adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes was an independent risk factor for mortality among people with COVID-19. The number of fatal events decreased during the second and third waves in our region, both in those with diabetes or obesity.

Outpatient pharmaceutical care satisfaction survey through Telepharmacy during COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Objective: To present the results of a survey about the Telemedicine outpatients experience and satisfaction of a pharmaceutical care program through Telepharmacy, carried out from hospital pharmacy departments in Spain during COVID-19 Pandemic (ENOPEX survey), and identify differences across regions in Spain. Method(s): An analysis of results of the national survey ENOPEX on outpatient Telepharmacy services during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzed by autonomous community in Spain. Data was collected in relation to point of delivery;pharmacotherapeutic follow-up;patient's opinion and satisfaction with Telemedicine;confidentiality;future development of pharmaceutical care, through Telepharmacy services;and coordination with the patient care team. Four multilevel regressions were performed to evaluate the differences between Spanish regions on the most relevant variables of the study, using the R version 4.0.3 software. Result(s): A total of 8, 079 interviews were valid, 52.8% of respondents were female, age was 41-65 years in 54.3% of participants;42.7% had been receiving treatment for more than 5 years;42.8% lived 10-50 km from the hospital;the journey to hospital took more than one hour for 60.2% of participants. Globally, 85.7% received medicines at home. However, medicines were delivered at a community pharmacy in some communities, such as Cantabria (95.8%), or at primary care centers as in Castile La Mancha (16.5%). In total, 96.7% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with Telemedicine pharmaceutical care, through Telepharmacy services, with differences across communities, with users in Andalusia reporting the highest satisfaction (OR = 1.58), and users in Castile-Leon being less satisfied with Telepharmacy services (OR = 0.66). Users in Catalonia are the ones more clearly in favor of Telemedicine pharmaceutical care, through Telepharmacy services as a complementary service, with an OR = 5.85 with respect to other users. The Telemedicine most frequently mentioned advantage was that Telepharmacy services avoided visits, especially in Cantabria (92.5%) and Extremadura (88.4%). Most patients prefer informed delivery of medicines at home when they do not have an appointment at the hospital: total of 75.6 %, from 50.1% of users in Cantabria to 96.3% in Catalonia (p < 0.001). The users less willing to pay for Telepharmacy services were the ones from Castile-Leon and Galicia, with users in Catalonia and Navarra showing higher willingness. Conclusion(s): In general terms, patients were satisfied with Telemedicine pharmaceutical care, through Telepharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic, being mostly in favor of maintaining these services to avoid travels. Copyright © 2022 Grupo Aula Medica S.L.. All rights reserved.

Do multiple sclerosis drugs decrease the risk of a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis drugs (DMTs) were expected to increase the incidence and risk of severe infection for SARSCoV- 2 and to decrease the response to the vaccine, but has it been the case? Objectives: 1) To evaluate the relationship between the use of DMTs and the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. 2) To evaluate the relationship between the use of DMTs and the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination. Aim(s): To demonstrate that treatment with DMTs does not increase the incidence and risk of severe illness or the response to vaccination due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Method(s): Retrospective cohort study of 472 adults with MS in a MS Unit between March, 2020 and March, 2022. All DMTs were prescribed prior to COVID-19 testing. Variables: Demographics data, DMTs, SARS-CoV-2 test results, severity of the infection (hospitalized and death), infection after vaccination. Result(s): Among 472 patients with MS, 120 patients (25.4%) had SARS-CoV-2 infection (Incidence in the general population of Catalonia: 22.7%);83 (26%) were women;mean age: 49 years (44.5 yrs for infected;50.6 yrs for not infected);there was no significant difference in the incidence of infection between 66 (29.3%) of the 213 treated and 52 (21.8 %) of the 259 untreated patients (p=0,059). There was also no significant difference in hospitalization between the 4 treated (5.9 %) and 3 untreated (2.5 %) patients. None of them died. There wasn't a significant difference between post-vaccination incidence of infection between the 26 treated (41.3%) and 16 untreated (36.4%) patients either. Conclusion(s): The use of DMTs was not associated with an increase in incidence or severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a favorable vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 response was observed. Further research is needed to determine the possible protective role of MS drugs on risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 and the mechanisms that underlie these findings.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Children, Catalonia, Spain.

We analyzed the effect of COVID-19 on healthcare demand and invasive pneumococcal disease in children in Catalonia, Spain. Compared with 2018-2019, we noted large reductions in healthcare activities and incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in 2020. These changes likely resulted from nonpharmaceutical measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Incidence and Epidemiology of Catheter-Related Bacteremia, Spain.

We compared hospital-acquired catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) episodes diagnosed at acute care hospitals in Catalonia, Spain, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with those detected during 2007-2019. We compared the annual observed and predicted CRB rates by using the negative binomial regression model and calculated stratified annual root mean squared errors. A total of 10,030 episodes were diagnosed during 2007-2020. During 2020, the observed CRB incidence rate was 0.29/103 patient-days, whereas the predicted CRB rate was 0.14/103 patient-days. The root mean squared error was 0.153. Thus, a substantial increase in hospital-acquired CRB cases was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared with the rate predicted from 2007-2019. The incidence rate was expected to increase by 1.07 (95% CI 1-1.15) for every 1,000 COVID-19-related hospital admissions. We recommend maintaining all CRB prevention efforts regardless of the coexistence of other challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDI-CAT: quality strategy for pediatric covid-19 research in Catalonia

Ground. The sudden outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic resulted in a need to start coordinated research projects on the disease. The creation of the COPEDI-CAT group (July 2020;more than 170 professionals) to study pediatric covid-19 in Catalonia represents a good example of this effort. Objective. To disseminate the results of the COPEDI-CAT group to show the feasibility of a quality muftidisciplinary research strategy with wide participation of primary care (PC). Method. Review of the scientific production of the COPEDI-CAT group generated by a muftidisciplinary team. The group reviewed ongoing studies and collected data, proposed new projects, implemented interventions recommended by expert professionals (local, national, and international), and created a space for debate and monitoring of the pandemic. Results. The main questions about the symptoms, transmissibility, severity, and main complications of covid-19 in pediatrics (multisystem inflammatory syndrome and long covid-19) have been addressed. This research has generated papers at national and international conferences, high-impact scientific publications, recommended clinical guidelines for the management of long covid-19, clinical prediction models, research grants (Prandi and Marató TV3 scholarship) and the participation in the «Escoles Sen-tinella» project. Conclusions. The covid-19 pandemic has represented a unique opportunity to carry out quality multidisciplinary research in pediatrics at PC. COPEDI-CAT can be a model for future research on diseases that affect children and adolescents in our country.

STUDY 'aR-CAT INICI': MANAGEMENT of EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS in CATALONIA

Background: Given the progressive change in the management of infammatory diseases,an observational study was conducted on the management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (ERA) in Catalonia. Objectives: To know the management of ERA in Catalonia, to assess whether the recommendations of the EULAR/ACR guidelines are followed and to study the causes of management variability,to set improvement objectives. Methods: An observational,descriptive,and cross-sectional study was conduct-ed,with data collection from June 15 to 30, 2021.The rheumatologists' partners of the Catalan Society of Rheumatology were the object of study. An online survey was conducted with 304 members on the management of the ERA. Variables related to the characteristics of the respondents,the derivation and variables of the disease including clinical variables,type of treatment and outcomes used for follow-up including the impact of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic were included. The univariate study was performed using a study of proportions with Pearson's correlation. Results: A total of 105 members (34.5%) responded to the survey.11.6%>60 y, only 7.8% <30y. 99% were in public assistance.The number of rheuma-tologists per service is 7.2[1-17],but 34.2% had< 5 rheumatologists,with a reference population of 200,000-300,000p in 42% of respondents.The number of weekly visits made is 67.5[20-130].42.2% do not have a monographic RA or ERA dispensary and 30.4%not have specialized nursing.Characteristics of ERA:77.5% are derived from primary care(PC),52% have been between 6 weeks,42.1%>3 months.54.9% make a frst visit within 2-4 weeks of PC referral and 14.7%> 8 weeks.100%provide previous analysis,only 47% had had RX performed.98% were previously treated(50.4%NSAIDs + CG,36.1%NSAIDs,12.3% CG).4.3% had GC doses>10 mg/day,11.3%> to 20mg/day.The treatment:DMARDs of choice in 100% is MTX,44.1% start doses of 10mg/week and 3.9%7.5 mg/week.The route of choice is oral(55.9% vs 44.1%).92.2% associate GC and 31.7% have not withdrawn them after 6 m.57.8% consider the maximum of MTX 25mg/W.87.1% use doses<10 mg/day,with the most used dose being 5 mg/day(35.6%).Follow-up after the start of DMARDs is performed 72.5% between 4-6 weeks and 12.7% is performed by nursing.100% use DAS 28 and 53.5% also CDAI.31.4% perform PROs(HAQ 83.3%,RAPID 3 14.3%).The use of systematic ultrasound is collected in 33%, being himself who performs it in 59.9% and an expert rheu-matologist in 46.1%.Finally, when asked about incidence of pandemic in the follow-up,53.3% consider that it is doing the same as before. 46.1% consider that telephone visits are not suitable for the follow-up of the ERAvs14.7% who consider that Yes.When questioning the situations in which they consider them to be appropriate,75.9% that it was adequate in the control after the beginning of the DMARDs.Regarding the treatment of ERA, 66% delayed the onset of biological DMARDs, 72.1% due to difficulty of follow-up and only 8.8% due to an increased risk of infection. When performing the univariate analysis, it is evident that having a monographic dispensary is associated with earlier onset of MTX(p< 0.001)and at doses≥15 mg/W(p = 0.05),greater nursing intervention(p< 0.001),greater use of PROs(p = 0.008)and there is a tendency to a shorter waiting time for frst visits(p = 0.07).It is also associated with not considering telephone visits(p< 0.001), making them in less than 25%(p< 0.0001).Similarly,hospital level is directly proportional to initiation at higher doses of MTX(p< 0.0001),lower use of GC<10mg.Among the rest of the variables, no association has been found. Conclusion: The recommendations of EULAR/ACR in the treatment and follow-up of ERA are consistently followed,although the wide use of MTX orally is striking.It is evident that the variable that most influences the early onset of FAME and at higher doses,is a monographic dispensary,as well as greater presence of nursing and performance of PROs.

Increase in rescues in Catalonia's natural areas during Easter 2021: an indirect consequence of COVID-19.

The objective of this study is to analyse the number, timing, and spatial distribution of rescues performed by the Catalan Fire Department in natural areas. We compared the figures from Easter 2021 with those for Easter in the four years before the COVID-19 pandemic (2016-2019). The results show that the number of rescues increased significantly (2.5 times). The greatest increase corresponds to rescue operations conducted in the morning and in low-altitude areas (≤ 500 m a.s.l.) with no specific protection status and near (≤ 50 km) cities. The natural areas in Catalonia experienced an increase in visitors, as occurred in the summer 2020, and, consequently, an increase in accidents and rescues. The results of this research are of interest to managers of emergency services and managers of such areas. The findings open the door to future research to exploring the ephemeral or permanent nature of this dynamic. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el número, la distribución temporal y la distribución espacial de los rescates de personas en espacios naturales realizados por los Bomberos de la Generalitat de Cataluña. Se han comparado las cifras de Semana Santa 2021 con las de Semana Santa de los cuatro años anteriores al inicio de la pandemia COVID-19 (2016-2019). Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que el número de rescates aumentó de manera significativa (2,5 veces). El incremento en el número de rescates realizados se produjo en mayor medida durante la primera mitad del día y en espacios naturales situados a cotas bajas (≤ 500 m s. n. m.), sin figura de protección específica y cercanos (≤ 50 km) a las ciudades más pobladas. Como ya sucedió durante el verano de 2020, los espacios naturales de Cataluña experimentaron un aumento en el flujo de visitantes y, en consecuencia, un incremento de los accidentes y de los rescates. Los resultados de esta investigación son de interés tanto para los gestores de los servicios de emergencias, como para los gestores de los espacios naturales y abren la puerta a futuras líneas de investigación para analizar la naturaleza efímera o permanente de esta dinámica. (Spanish) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Investigaciones Geograficas is the property of Universidad de Alicante, Instituto Universitario de Geografia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

IMPACT OF THE SARS-COV PANDEMIC ON THE TRAINING OF HOSPITAL PHARMACY RESIDENTS

Background and importance The Pharmacy Service is committed to resident training. The residency programme in the Hospital Pharmacy Service covers all areas of the training programme. The high hospital demand and the weekly updates of the pharmaceutical protocols made it necessary to dedicate almost the entire working day to the hospital pharmacy residents. Aim and objectives To evaluate the impact of the SARS-CoV pandemic on the training period of resident pharmacist interns. Material and methods A survey was conducted among all hospital pharmacy residents in Spain. It was carried out by the Teaching and Hospital Pharmacy units. The survey was anonymous, voluntary and disinterested. Data collected: place of residence, year of training, hospital level, resident supervision, internal and external rotations missed, emotional impact and sick leave. Results The survey was completed by 122 hospital pharmacy residents. The completion period was from 15 March to 15 April 2021. The geographic distribution of the residents was: Andalusia (48.3%), Madrid (11.7%), Catalonia (10%), Valencia (8.3%), Murcia (8.3%), Castilla y León (3%), Galicia (3%), Asturias (1.7%), Cantabria (1.7%) and the Basque Country (1.7%). The year of residence of the respondents was: 4th year (56.7%), 2nd year (18.3%), 1st year (13.3%) and 3rd year (11.7%). With respect to supervision and concern for the work: 65.6% felt adequately supervised, while 27.9% said they were deficient in the process. Regarding rotations in other services and/or hospitals: 50.8% stated that they had missed some type of rotation, of which 13.1% were irrecoverable. 63.9% recognized that the pandemic has had some emotional impact on their lives, while 34.4% stated that it has had a great impact. Of the residents, 50.81% said they had been on sick leave due to SARS-CoV. Conclusion and relevance Pharmacy services met the demand of the hospital and associated residences with increased activity. Despite the situation, residency in a crucial stage of professional training, therefore changes must be faced in order to find the best way to meet the goals.

Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of montelukast in mild to moderate respiratory symptoms of patients with long COVID: E-speranza COVID-19 Project study protocol

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of 10-mg oral montelukast every 24 h for 28 days versus placebo in improving health-related quality of life in patients with long COVID and mild to moderate respiratory symptoms measured with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire. The secondary objectives will evaluate the effect of montelukast versus placebo on improving: exercise capacity and oxygen desaturation;COVID-19 related symptoms (asthenia, headache, mental, brain fog, ageusia and anosmia);functional status;and mortality. Material and/or methods: Phase III, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. We will include 18 to 80 year old patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild to moderate respiratory symptoms lasting between 4 weeks and 12 months after the onset of infection. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental treatment with 10-mg/day montelukast or the placebo group, during a 28-day treatment. Follow-up will finish 56 days after starting of the treatment. The study will be carried out in primary healthcare centres in four health areas of Catalonia and Aragon, Spain, from 1 August 2021 to 1 March 2023. The primary outcome will be health-related quality of life associated with respiratory symptoms according to the COPD Assessment Test, assessed at 4 weeks after finishing of the treatment. Secondary outcomes: (a) Exercise capacity and oxygen saturation (1Min Sit-to-Stand test);(b) Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale;(c) other symptoms: asthenia, headache, mental confusion (brain fog), ageusia and anosmia (Likert scale);(d) use of healthcare resources;(e) sick leave duration in days;(f) side effects of montelukast;(g) mortality. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the AEMPS and Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the IDIAPJGol (reference number 21/091-C). EudraCT number 2021-000605-24. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04695704.It is currently under peer-review process for publication. Results: Ongoing clinical trial. Conclusions: Ongoing clinical trial.

Montelukast and COVID-19-related complications in people with SARS-CoV-2 infection: A population-based observational study

Objective: We explore the association between montelukast use and the risk of developing COVID-19 complications in people with confirmed or suspected COVID- 19. Material and/or methods: Study based on electronic health records from the SIDIAP database, which includes 5,835,000 people in Catalonia (80% of total population). In a cohort of people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (diagnosis registry, positive PCR and/or a serologic test or non-confirmed diagnosis or test along with a record of hospitalization, pneumonia and/or death related to COVID-19), we identified people on montelukast treatment (an active prescription or a prescription ending 90 days before the index date) (confirmed or suspected Covid register) from March to June 2020 (exposed group). The non-exposed to montelukast cohort was built by pairing cases in a 1:4 ratio based on gender and age at the time of infection. We obtained socioeconomic risk factors and active comorbidities in the two previous years, and concomitant drugs. The COVID-19-related severe events analysed were hospitalization, pneumonia, death or any of the previous outcomes. For each outcome, we fitted a conditional logistic regression model to estimate the odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval (OR;CI95%) associated with montelukast use. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee IDIAPJGol. Results: During the study period, there were 183 (6.67%) hospitalizations in the exposed group and 554 (6.09%) in the non-exposed group, 40 (1.46%) and 176 (1.93%) pneumonias, 85 (3.1%) and 429 (4.72%) deaths and 258 (9.40%) and 996 (10.95%) of any of the outcomes, respectively. The corresponding multivariable ORs were 0.92 (CI95% 0.70-1.21) for hospitalization, 0.67 (0.44-1.00) for pneumonia, 0.79 (0.60-1.031) for death and 0.79 (0.63-0.99) for any of the outcomes. Conclusions: The results suggest that montelukast use could decrease the risk of complications in people with COVID-19.

IMPACT of TENOFOVIR on SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION among PEOPLE LIVING with HIV

Background: The impact of some antiretrovirals against SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity is conflicting. We evaluated the effect of tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) against SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated clinical outcomes among people living with (PLWH). Methods: We conducted a propensity score-matched analysis leveraging data from the PISCIS cohort of PLWH in Catalonia (Spain). We matched for TAF/FTC versus ABC/3TC in a ratio of 1:1, and 1:3 for TDF/FTC versus ABC/3TC, and TDF/FTC versus TAF/FTC. We used logistic regression to assess the association between tenofovir-based ART and SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and associated hospitalisation. Results: In our entire cohort [median age: 46.1 years, 82.3% males], 7550 PLWH were being treated with TAF/FTC, 1020 receiving TDF/FTC, and 4135 receiving ABC/3TC. After propensity score-matching, SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis rates were the same in TAF/FTC versus ABC/3TC recipients (12.2% vs 12.2%, P=1.00);lower among TDF/FTC versus ABC/3TC recipients (9.7% vs 12.4%, P=0.05) with borderline significance;and lower among TDF/FTC versus TAF/FTC recipients (9.7% vs 12.6%, P=0.03). In well-adjusted logistic regression models, TAF/FTC was not associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.97;95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.12) or associated hospitalisation (aOR 0.95;95% CI, 0.62-1.45). TDF/FTC compared to ABC/3TC, was not associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (aOR 0.81;95% CI, 0.61-1.07) or hospitalisation (aOR 0.49;95% CI, 0.14-1.27). TDF/FTC was not associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (aOR 0.81;95% CI, 0.61-1.07) or associated hospitalisation (aOR 0.47;95% CI, 0.14-1.22) compared to TAF/FTC. Conclusion: TAF/FTC or TDF/FTC were not associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis rates or associated hospitalisations among PLWH. TDF/FTC users had baseline characteristics intrinsically associated with more benign SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes. Tenofovir exposure or not should not modify the preventive or therapeutic SARS-CoV-2 infection management.

IMPACT of COVID OUTBREAK on PREVENTION and CARE for HIV and STIs at A LARGE HOSPITAL

Background: Routine medical care was drastically affected by the overwhelming irruption of COVID-19 pandemic. We comprehensively assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevention and care for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections at a large reference hospital providing preventive and clinical services for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections. Methods: We retrospectively compared clinical and laboratory data from March to December 2020 (first ten months of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemics in Spain) vs. the same period 2019 in the setting of Hospital Clínic of Barcelona which provides preventive and clinical services for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections for the region of Catalonia and is the largest of its kind in Spain. Monthly clinical data on HIV pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis users and on adults with HIV infection were retrieved from the administrative hospital database. Monthly tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, Treponema pallidum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis, and plasma lipids and glucose were recovered from the laboratory database. De novo HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C diagnosis were considered whenever a person had a first known positive laboratory test. Results: There were less (28% reduction) but more advanced (mean [SD] CD4 cell counts per mm3 at HIV diagnosis 305 [167] vs. 370 [170], P<0.001;26 (18%) persons had AIDS-defining conditions at HIV diagnosis vs. 20 (10%), P=0.03) HIV cases and more gonorrhea (39% increase, P<0.001) and chlamydia (37% increase, P<0.001) infections in 2020 vs. 2019. In people with HIV, rates of viral load above the level of detection remained stable (11% vs 11%, P=0.147) despite less scheduled visits (25% reduction, P<0.001). However, they had less antiretroviral prescription changes (10% reduction, P=0.018), worse plasma lipids (mean total cholesterol 190 vs 185 mg/dL, P<0.001;mean LDL cholesterol 114 vs 110 mg/dL, P<0.001;mean triglycerides 136 vs 125 mg/dL, P<0.001;mean HDL cholesterol 47 vs 48 mg/dL, P=0.006), and an excess of mortality (29 deaths vs 11, 264% increase, P=0.006) due in great part to COVID-19 (n=11) but also to other non-COVID-19 causes. Conclusion: In the setting of a large Spanish reference hospital, SARS-CoV-2 epidemics was associated with an increase of some prevalent sexually transmitted infections, with less but more advanced de novo HIV infections, and with worse non-virologic healthcare outcomes and higher mortality in people living with HIV.

Vídeos en las redes sociales y blogs corporativos: análisis de los perfiles de las bibliotecas públicas catalanas durante el primer mes de confinamiento de la COVID-19

The main objective of the article is to study the presence of vídeos in the social networks and corporate blogs of Catalan public libraries during the first month of lockdown (from 13 March to 14 April, 2020). It explores whether libraries created vdeos or shared them on social media, and defines their typology and the channel in which they were published. A preliminary step is to determine whether Catalan public libraries were active on social networks during this period, before characterizing the kinds of content disseminated. To carry out this analysis, an open access data set was created using inclusion and exclusion criteria and based on information held by the Catalan government: geographical data, the name of the library, and its social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube) and blogs. To evaluate the publications, two types of content were defined (external and internal). A rating scale was created (A to D) and the vídeos were grouped into five types (interviews, tutorials, entertainment, reviews, and Live Streaming). Of the 507 records included, 372 (73.37 %) were active;of the 886 profiles analysed, 797 (89.95 %) were active, and of the 4,377 vídeos studied, the most frequently shared were entertainment vídeos (3,110, 71.05 %). The conclusions section highlights information on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter that show how the vídeo format is used in Catalan public libraries. © 2020 Universitat de Barcelona. All rights reserved.