Screen-detected and interval colorectal cancers in England: Associations with lifestyle and other factors in women in a large UK prospective cohort.

Faecal occult blood (FOB) - based screening programmes for colorectal cancer detect about half of all cancers. Little is known about individual health behavioural characteristics which may be associated with screen-detected and interval cancers. Electronic linkage between the UK National Health Service Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) in England, cancer registration and other national health records, and a large on-going UK cohort, the Million Women Study, provided data on 628,976 women screened using a guaiac-FOB test (gFOBt) between 2006 and 2012. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic and Cox regression for associations between individual lifestyle factors and risk of colorectal tumours. Among screened women, 766 were diagnosed with screen-detected colorectal cancer registered within 2 years after a positive gFOBt result, and 749 with interval colorectal cancers registered within 2 years after a negative gFOBt result. Current smoking was significantly associated with risk of interval cancer (RR 1.64, 95%CI 1.35-1.99) but not with risk of screen-detected cancer (RR 1.03, 0.84-1.28), and was the only factor of eight examined to show a significant difference in risk between interval and screen-detected cancers (p for difference, 0.003). Compared to screen-detected cancers, interval cancers tended to be sited in the proximal colon or rectum, to be of non-adenocarcinoma morphology, and to be of higher stage.

Inadequate visits to the emergency department by pregnant women.

Inadequate emergency visits, which could be resolved in primary care, are an unnecessary expense for the healthcare service. We did a review of all gynaecology and obstetrics emergency visits by pregnant or postpartum women during 2010 and 2011 in order to describe the adequacy of the visits by pregnant women to the emergency service. We defined three levels of adequacy: adequate, moderately adequate, and inadequate. One thousand seven hundred and forty-three visits to the emergency room of gynaecology and obstetrics were studied. These consultation motivations were adequate in 38.9%, moderately adequate in 46.7% and inadequate in 14.4%. This shows that the amount of inadequate and moderately adequate visits to the emergency department could be reduced by 61% by implementing different interventions, and also reducing health spending for emergencies. Impact statement What is already known on this subject: Visits to the emergency room constitute a basic pillar in the hospital structure, and it generates great health expense. Other authors have reported high rates of inadequacy of these visits to the emergency services. They find inadequate visits are associated with young age and female gender among other factors. What the results of this study add: Knowing the adequacy of the visits generated by pregnant young women is a starting point for implementing health policies that could reduce these inadequate visits and consequently health expenditure could be reduced. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research: These health policies could consequently reduce health expenditure.

Heterogeneity of colorectal cancer risk by tumour characteristics: Large prospective study of UK women.

Associations between behavioural and other personal factors and colorectal cancer risk have been reported to vary by tumour characteristics, but evidence is inconsistent. In a large UK-based prospective study we examined associations of 14 postulated risk factors with colorectal cancer risk overall, and across three anatomical sites and four morphological subtypes. Among 1.3 million women, 18,518 incident colorectal cancers were identified during 13.8 (SD 3.4) years follow-up via record linkage to national cancer registry data. Cox regression yielded adjusted relative risks. Statistical significance was assessed using correction for multiple testing. Overall, colorectal cancer risk was significantly associated with height, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, parity and menopausal hormone therapy use. For smoking there was substantial heterogeneity across morphological types; relative risks around two or greater were seen in current smokers both for signet ring cell and for neuroendocrine tumours. Obese women were also at higher risk for signet ring cell tumours. For adenocarcinomas, the large majority of colorectal cancers in the cohort, all risk factor associations were weak. There was little or no heterogeneity in risk between tumours of the right colon, left colon and rectum for any of the 14 factors examined. These epidemiological findings complement an emerging picture from molecular studies of possible different developmental pathways for different tumour types.

Outpatient Hysteroscopic Polypectomy: Bipolar Energy System (Versapoint®) versus Mechanical Energy System (TRUCLEAR System®) - Preliminary Results.

HYPOTHESIS: The new hysteroscopic system with mechanical energy is an effective outpatient technique for diagnosis and treatment that has certain advantages over conventional hysteroscopy in the management of endometrial polyps. OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to assess the total duration of hysteroscopy and polypectomy performed in an outpatient setting comparing the new mechanical energy hysteroscopy to the bipolar energy system. Our secondary objective was to compare the level of safety of both hysteroscopic techniques using the procedure success rate, the need for subsequent referral to surgery, existing complications, and comfort experienced by the patient during the procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included the first 90 patients with an ultrasound diagnosis of endometrial polyp (>1 cm) who underwent an outpatient diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy at the Igualada Hospital (Barcelona) and agreed to be included in the study by signing an informed consent. RESULTS: We obtained a 91% success rate with the TRUCLEAR System® compared to a 69% success rate with the Versapoint® system. Total operating time was 6.36 min in the TRUCLEAR System group versus 10.82 min in the Versapoint system group (p < 0.05), with a polypectomy time of 3.06 and 7.91 min, respectively (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two techniques when analyzing pain using the visual analogue scale. No complications were recorded for either technique. CONCLUSION: The mechanical energy system presents a significant decrease in the total duration of polypectomy and hysteroscopy when performed both by experienced staff and by staff in training, resulting in higher success rates without complications with respect to conventional hysteroscopy with bipolar energy.

Can an alert in primary care electronic medical records increase participation in a population-based screening programme for colorectal cancer? COLO-ALERT, a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is an important public health problem in Spain. Over the last decade, several regions have carried out screening programmes, but population participation rates remain below recommended European goals. Reminders on electronic medical records have been identified as a low-cost and high-reach strategy to increase participation. Further knowledge is needed about their effect in a population-based screening programme. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an electronic reminder to promote the participation in a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme. Secondary aims are to learn population's reasons for refusing to take part in the screening programme and to find out the health professionals' opinion about the official programme implementation and on the new computerised tool. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a parallel randomised trial with a cross-sectional second stage. PARTICIPANTS: all the invited subjects to participate in the public colorectal cancer screening programme that includes men and women aged between 50-69, allocated to the eleven primary care centres of the study and all their health professionals. The randomisation unit will be the primary care physician. The intervention will consist of activating an electronic reminder, in the patient's electronic medical record, in order to promote colorectal cancer screening, during a synchronous medical appointment, throughout the year that the intervention takes place. A comparison of the screening rates will then take place, using the faecal occult blood test of the patients from the control and the intervention groups. We will also take a questionnaire to know the opinions of the health professionals. The main outcome is the screening status at the end of the study. Data will be analysed with an intention-to-treat approach. DISCUSSION: We expect that the introduction of specific reminders in electronic medical records, as a tool to facilitate and encourage direct referral by physicians and nurse practitioners to perform colorectal cancer screening will mean an increase in participation of the target population. The introduction of this new software tool will have good acceptance and increase compliance with recommendations from health professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT01877018.

[Temporal evolution of tobacco consumption among health care workers in a Catalonian hospital, Spain]. / Evolución del consumo de tabaco en trabajadores de un hospital de Cataluña.

BACKGROUND: In terms of tobacco consumption, health workers have been considered as reference group, however smoking prevalence in this group is higher than in general population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of tobacco consumption among workers of a health institution in Catalonia during a period of 10 years (2001-2011), and to describe their characteristics. METHODS: The questionnaire on tobacco consumption prevalence was validated, and was administered in 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2011. A random sampling was carried out in two acute care institutions. The characteristics of the study sample and the differences between smokers were analyzed using the chi-square test for linear trend. A logistic regression model was performed including all the surveys. RESULTS: The smoking prevalence among health care workers for 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2011, was 30.00%, 34.42%, 36.21% and 29.42%, respectively. Women had the highest consumption prevalence (33,40%). Tobacco smoking decreased in medical staff, from 25.97% in 2001, to 18.88% in 2011 (p=0.005), and in nurses from 35,15% in 2001 to 25.61% in 2011 (p=0.007), but not among the administrative staff. CONCLUSION: Overall and for the first time, smoking prevalence in health workers begins to decrease. However, it does not decrease in the same way among all types of healthcare workers and the prevalence remains high when compared with the population prevalence. This consumption reduction coincides with the measures introduced by the program after the legislative changes.

Evolución del consumo de tabaco en trabajadores de un hospital de Cataluña / Temporal evolution of tobacco consumption among healthcare workers in a Catalonian Hospital, Spain

Fundamentos: En términos de consumo de tabaco los trabajadores sanitarios se consideran de referencia. Sin embargo la prevalencia de fumadores entre ellos es superior a la de la población general. Este estudio pretende estimar la evolución de la prevalencia del consumo de tabaco entre los profesionales de una institución sanitaria de Cataluña durante un período de 10 años (2001-2011) y describir sus características. Métodos: Encuesta validada de prevalencia del consumo de tabaco, realizada en 2001, 2004, 2008 y 2011. La muestra se estratificó en dos centros de atención de agudos de la institución. La selección de los participantes fue aleatoria. Se analizaron las características de la muestra y se compararon las diferencias entre fumadores por año, valorando con el test de chi-cuadrado de tendencia lineal. Se realizó un modelo de regresión logística incluyendo todas las encuestas conjuntamente. Resultados: La prevalencia de tabaquismo global de los profesionales sanitarios fue de 30,00%, 34,42%, 36,21% y 29,42% en los años 2001, 2004, 2008 y 2011 respectivamente. La prevalencia fue mayor en mujeres (33,40%). El consumo de tabaco disminuyó en el personal médico de 25,98% en el 2001 a 18,89% en el 2011 (p=0,005) y en el de enfermería del 35,16% en el 2001 al 25,61% en el 2011 (p=0,007). Conclusión: Globalmente la prevalencia de fumadores en profesionales del ámbito hospitalario comienza por primera vez a disminuir. Sin embargo, no disminuye por igual en todas las categorías profesionales y persiste alta comparada con la prevalencia poblacional. Esta reducción del consumo de tabaco coincide con las medidas introducidas por el programa tras los cambios legislativos(AU)

Background: In terms of tobacco consumption, health workers have been considered as reference group, however smoking prevalence in this group is higher than in general population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of tobacco consumption among workers of a health institution in Catalonia during a period of 10 years (2001-2011), and to describe their characteristics. Methods: The questionnaire on tobacco consumption prevalence was validated, and was administered in 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2011. A random sampling was carried out in two acute care institutions. The characteristics of the study sample and the differences between smokers were analyzed using the chi-square test for linear trend. A logistic regression model was performed including all the surveys. Results: The smoking prevalence among health care workers for 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2011, was 30.00%, 34.42%, 36.21% and 29.42%, respectively. Women had the highest consumption prevalence (33,40%). Tobacco smoking decreased in medical staff, from 25.97% in 2001, to 18.88% in 2011 (p=0.005), and in nurses from 35,15% in 2001 to 25.61% in 2011 (p=0.007), but not among the administrative staff. Conclusion: Overall and for the first time, smoking prevalence in health workers begins to decrease. However, it does not decrease in the same way among all types of healthcare workers and the prevalence remains high when compared with the population prevalence. This consumption reduction coincides with the measures introduced by the program after the legislative changes(AU)

Diagnosis delay and follow-up strategies in colorectal cancer. Prognosis implications: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists with regard to the impact that the different components of diagnosis delay may have on the degree of invasion and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. The follow-up strategies after treatment also vary considerably. The aims of this study are: a) to determine if the symptoms-to-diagnosis interval and the treatment delay modify the survival of patients with colorectal cancer, and b) to determine if different follow-up strategies are associated with a higher survival rate. METHODS/DESIGN: Multi-centre study with prospective follow-up in five regions in Spain (Galicia, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Aragón and Valencia) during the period 2010-2012. Incident cases are included with anatomopathological confirmation of colorectal cancer (International Classification of Diseases 9th revision codes 153-154) that formed a part of a previous study (n = 953).At the time of diagnosis, each patient was given a structured interview. Their clinical records will be reviewed during the follow-up period in order to obtain information on the explorations and tests carried out after treatment, and the progress of these patients.Symptoms-to-diagnosis interval is defined as the time calculated from the diagnosis of cancer and the first symptoms attributed to cancer. Treatment delay is defined as the time elapsed between diagnosis and treatment. In non-metastatic patients treated with curative intention, information will be obtained during the follow-up period on consultations performed in the digestive, surgery and oncology departments, as well as the endoscopies, tumour markers and imaging procedures carried out.Local recurrence, development of metastases in the follow-up, appearance of a new tumour and mortality will be included as outcome variables.Actuarial survival analysis with Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression and competitive risk survival analysis will be performed. DISCUSSION: This study will make it possible to verify if the different components of delay have an impact on survival rate in colon cancer and rectal cancer. In consequence, this multi-centre study will be able to detect the variability present in the follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer, and if this variability modifies the prognosis. Ideally, this study could determine which follow-up strategies are associated with a better prognosis in colorectal cancer.

[Hospital admission in newborns according to ethnicity and parents' country of origin in an urban area of Barcelona [Spain]]. / Ingreso hospitalario de los recién nacidos según el origen étnico y el país de procedencia de los progenitores en una área urbana de Barcelona.

OBJECTIVE: The birth rate in Spain has increased due to the continuous rise in the number of immigrants. Ethnic origin and socioeconomic position can be determining factors in differences in maternal and child health. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible existence of differences in neonatal diagnoses according to parental ethnic origin. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of all live newborns delivered in Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) between 2003 and 2005. The variables studied were risk of admission, diagnostic classes, and parental ethnic group. RESULTS: Of the 2118 newborns included in this study, 46.7% were of immigrant origin (mainly from Central and South America) and 6.4% were gypsies. More than 60% of the 1445 admitted newborns were included in the diagnostic class of risk or suspicion of infection. The risk of pregnancy with little or no prenatal care was higher in non-native and gypsy newborns (OR = 2.58; 95%CI: 1.76-3.77, and OR = 5.84; 95%CI: 3.45-9.90, respectively). The risk of low birth weight and maternal drug use were lower in non-native newborns (OR = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.03-0.90, and OR = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.03-0.44, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in non-native and gypsy newborns compared with native newborns are not due to imported or genetic diseases but are probably due to differences in the social and cultural environment during pregnancy. Preventive measures should be promoted and reinforced and access to and the quality of primary care should be improved in these mothers and their infants.

Ingreso hospitalario de los recién nacidos según el origen étnico y el país de procedencia de los progenitores en una área urbana de Barcelona / Hospital admission in newborns according to ethnicity and parents' country of origin in an urban area of Barcelona [Spain]

Objetivo: El aumento continuado de la inmigración ha ocasionadoun incremento de la natalidad a expensas de este grupode población. El origen étnico y el nivel socioeconómico puedenser factores que condicionen las diferencias de salud maternoinfantil.El objetivo fue conocer si hay diferencias en los diagnósticosneonatales según el origen étnico de los progenitores.Métodos: Estudio transversal retrospectivo de los recién nacidosvivos en el Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) entre 2003 y2005. Las variables estudiadas fueron: riesgo de ingresar, categoríasdiagnósticas y grupo étnico de los progenitores.Resultados: El 46,7% de los 2.118 recién nacidos eran inmigrantes(mayoritariamente de Centroamérica y Sudamérica)y el 6,4% gitanos. En más del 60% de los 1.445 reciénnacidos ingresados, la categoría diagnóstica más frecuentefue el riesgo o la sospecha de infección. Los recién nacidosno autóctonos y gitanos tuvieron más riesgo de embarazo pocoo no controlado (odds ratio [OR] = 2,58; intervalo de confianzadel 95% [IC95%]: 1,76-3,77, y OR = 5,84; IC95%: 3,45-9,90,respectivamente). Los recién nacidos no autóctonos tuvieronmenos riesgo de bajo peso al nacimiento (OR = 0,17;IC95%: 0,03-0,90) y consumo materno de tóxicos (OR= 0,12; IC95%: 0,03-0,44).Conclusiones: Las diferencias en las categorías diagnósticasen los recién nacidos no autóctonos y gitanos, comparadoscon los autóctonos, no se deben a enfermedades importadaso a diferente carga genética, sino que posiblementeson consecuencia del entorno social y cultural de la gestante.Sería necesario reforzar y promover el uso de medidas preventivasde salud, así como mejorar el acceso y la calidad dela asistencia a estas mujeres y sus hijos(AU)

Objective: The birth rate in Spain has increased due to thecontinuous rise in the number of immigrants. Ethnic origin andsocioeconomic position can be determining factors in differencesin maternal and child health. The aim of the presentstudy was to determine the possible existence of differencesin neonatal diagnoses according to parental ethnic origin.Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional studyof all live newborns delivered in Hospital del Mar (Barcelona)between 2003 and 2005. The variables studied were risk ofadmission, diagnostic classes, and parental ethnic group.Results: Of the 2118 newborns included in this study, 46.7%were of immigrant origin (mainly from Central and South America)and 6.4% were gypsies. More than 60% of the 1445 admittednewborns were included in the diagnostic class of riskor suspicion of infection. The risk of pregnancy with little orno prenatal care was higher in non-native and gypsy newborns(OR = 2.58; 95%CI: 1.76-3.77, and OR = 5.84; 95%CI: 3.45-9.90, respectively). The risk of low birth weight and maternaldrug use were lower in non-native newborns (OR = 0.17;95%CI: 0.03-0.90, and OR = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.03-0.44, respectively).Conclusions: Differences in non-native and gypsy newbornscompared with native newborns are not due to imported orgenetic diseases but are probably due to differences in thesocial and cultural environment during pregnancy. Preventivemeasures should be promoted and reinforced and accessto and the quality of primary care should be improved in thesemothers and their infants(AU)