[Influenza vaccination in patients admitted to a tertiary hospital. Factors associated with coverage]. / Vacunación antigripal en niños ingresados en un hospital de tercer nivel. Factores asociados a las coberturas.

INTRODUCTION: Children aged less than 2 years old and those with chronic diseases have a high risk of complications and hospitalization due to influenza. Despite the broad consensus in the literature on the indication for annual immunization of these patients, less than 30 % of the children with high-risk underlying conditions are immunized each year. The aim of this study is to determine the influenza vaccine coverage in children with high-risk underlying conditions admitted to a university hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of patients aged from 6 months to 18 years old with high-risk medical conditions and who had been hospitalized between January and May, 2005 in the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona). Influenza vaccine coverage, factors associated with immunization, and the reasons for nonvaccination were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall vaccine coverage was 23.5 %. The highest vaccination coverage was found in patients with congenital heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, and asthma (43.2 %, 42.9 % and 28.6 %, respectively). The factors most frequently associated with influenza vaccination were the type of underlying disease, having been immunized against influenza in the previous season, having received the pneumococcal vaccine, and age younger than 5 years. The main reason for nonvaccination was the lack of influenza vaccine recommendation by health professionals (95.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccine coverage in children with high-risk conditions is low. Strategies to increase awareness among health professionals on the importance of recommending influenza immunization are required.

Vacunación antigripal en niños ingresados en un hospital de tercer nivel. Factores asociados a las coberturas / Influenza vaccination in patients admitted to a tertiary hospital. Factors associated with coverage

Introducción Los niños menores de 2 años y los afectos de patologías de base son los que presentan un mayor riesgo de complicaciones y hospitalizaciones a causa de la gripe. A pesar del amplio consenso en la literatura médica en la indicación de vacunación antigripal anual en estos pacientes, menos del 30 % de niños con condiciones de alto riesgo son inmunizados anualmente. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la cobertura vacunal antigripal en los niños ingresados en un hospital de tercer nivel con patologías de riesgo. Pacientes y métodos Estudio de prevalencia en pacientes de 6 meses a 18 años con patologías de riesgo ingresados entre enero y mayo de 2005 en el Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron de Barcelona. Se analizan las coberturas vacunales frente a la gripe, factores asociados a la inmunización, así como los motivos de no vacunación. Resultados La cobertura vacunal global observada ha sido del 23,5 %. Los pacientes afectados de cardiopatías, enfermedad respiratoria crónica y asma son los que presentan coberturas de vacunación más elevadas (43,2, 42,9 y 28,6 %, respectivamente). El tipo de patología de base, el antecedente de vacunación en la temporada anterior, estar vacunado frente al neumococo y ser menor de 5 años son las variables más asociadas a la vacunación antigripal en estos pacientes. El principal motivo de no vacunación ha sido la falta de recomendación por parte de los profesionales sanitarios que atienden a estos pacientes (95,3 %). Conclusiones La cobertura vacunal frente a la gripe en niños que tienen indicación es baja. Se requieren estrategias para aumentar la concienciación de los profesionales sanitarios sobre la importancia de recomendar esta vacunación

Introduction Children aged less than 2 years old and those with chronic diseases have a high risk of complications and hospitalization due to influenza. Despite the broad consensus in the literature on the indication for annual immunization of these patients, less than 30 % of the children with high-risk underlying conditions are immunized each year. The aim of this study is to determine the influenza vaccine coverage in children with high-risk underlying conditions admitted to a university hospital. Patients and methods We performed a cross-sectional study of patients aged from 6 months to 18 years old with high-risk medical conditions and who had been hospitalized between January and May, 2005 in the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona). Influenza vaccine coverage, factors associated with immunization, and the reasons for nonvaccination were analyzed. Results Overall vaccine coverage was 23.5 %. The highest vaccination coverage was found in patients with congenital heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, and asthma (43.2 %, 42.9 % and 28.6 %, respectively). The factors most frequently associated with influenza vaccination were the type of underlying disease, having been immunized against influenza in the previous season, having received the pneumococcal vaccine, and age younger than 5 years. The main reason for nonvaccination was the lack of influenza vaccine recommendation by health professionals (95.3 %). Conclusions Influenza vaccine coverage in children with high-risk conditions is low. Strategies to increase awareness among health professionals on the importance of recommending influenza immunization are required

Anthropometric characteristics of the pubic arch and proper function of the defense mechanisms against hernia formation.

In 33 inguinal regions, we determined the anthropometric characteristics of the pubic arch and the anatomic structures of the suprainguinal space and assessed whether there is a relationship between anatomic features and function of the defense mechanisms. There was a low position of the pubic arch (pubic tubercle and interspinal line distance >75 mm) in 23 cases. The low-pubic-arch group showed a significantly longer inguinal ligament and a greater angle made by the superior border of the suprainguinal space and the inguinal ligament at its medial insertion. The position of the pubic arch correlated significantly with the diameter of the internal ring, the length of the inguinal ligament, and the angle made by the superior border of the suprainguinal space and the medial insertion of the inguinal ligament. A low pubic arch would represent an unfavorable condition for an adequate function of the anatomic defense mechanism against hernia.

Evolution of closed urinary drainage systems use and associated factors in Spanish hospitals.

Although closed urinary drainage systems (CUDS) reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), open systems are still used in Spain. The object of this work was to describe the progress of CUDS use and factors associated with the drainage system type used in Spanish hospitals. The databases of the EPINE study (Study of Prevalence of Nosocomial Infections in Spain) from 1990 to 2000 were used. The EPINE study includes hospitalized patients of all ages in acute-care Spanish hospitals. Seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and eighty-eight catheterized patients were studied, and the whole database was used for the trend analysis of global hospital-acquired infection (HAI). The patient and the hospital were the two units of observation used in the analysis. Full implementation was defined as 90% CUDS use. A logistic regression model was applied to study factors influencing the use of CUDS and to determine prevalence trend. An odds ratio (OR) >1 indicates an incremental trend. The Pearson correlation coefficient between annual percentage of CUDS use and CAUTI prevalence was calculated. Variables for the year 2000 were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test between hospitals with and without full implementation. The prevalence of urinary catheterized patients in Spain increased from 12.4% in 1990 to 15.2% in 2000 (OR 1.019, 95% CI 1.016-1.021). The proportion of CUDS used increased from 50.6% in 1990 to 70% in 2000 (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.095-1.104) and correlated with a significant decrease of UTIs (r = 0.65, P = 0.03). In 1990, 28.5% of hospitals had full implementation of CUDS and by 2000 this had risen to 40.3% (OR 1.093, 95% CI 1.06-1.127). Patients in medium (200-500 beds) and large (>500 beds) hospitals, as well as those with three of more diagnoses and two or more intrinsic risk factors had an increased probability of having a CUDS, whereas being hospitalized in areas other than intensive care, being male and less than 65 years old were associated with a lower probability of CUDS use. The median prevalence of catheterized patients in hospitals with full implementation, was significantly lower than in those without it (P = 0.049). Although CUDS use is increasing, there is still much work required to reach full implementation. Keeping CUDS for more severely ill patients may reflect a higher concern over the consequences of UTI in these patients. Nevertheless, it is necessary to change a practice that exposes patients to a known UTI risk factor and reach a consensus on indications for catheter insertion.

[Primary health care and hospitalizations in ambulatory care sensitive conditions in Catalonia]. / La Atención Primaria de Salud y las hospitalizaciones por Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions en Cataluña.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) are a set of selected codes of hospital discharge diagnosis intended to measure avoidable hospitalizations. Primary Health Care Services may avoid the hospitalizations due to ACSC by applying any of the following interventions, that are characteristics of this level of care: a) primary prevention; b) secondary prevention, and c) tertiary prevention and rehabilitation. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional pilot study on 248,174 hospital discharges, from a population of 2,248,704 inhabitants in 161 Basic Health Care Units (BHCU), recorded in the minimum basic set of hospital discharge data in Catalonia during 1996. The complete list of diagnostic codes of ACSC, identified in the literature search, has been used. Crude and age-standardised hospitalisation rates have been estimated. Standardised hospitalisation ratio (SHR) has been computed to compare hospitalisation rates between BHCU. To analyse the effect of variables associated with high ACSC admission rates, multivariate analysis has been carried out by means of Poisson's regression. RESULTS: Hospitalisation due to ACSC account for 13% of all hospitalizations and 16% of hospital stay days. Acute and chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract are the first cause of hospitalisation at any age group (< 5, 15-64 and > or = 65 years). The most common diagnostic groups, for all ages are respiratory disorders (acute and chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract and pneumonia) and urinary tract conditions (pyelonephritis/urinary tract infection). The so-called self-limited health problems (ear, nose and throat mild infections/infections of the upper respiratory tract, febrile convulsions in children and gastroenteritis) account for more than 10% of all hospitalizations by ACSC, 45% of which occur in children. The overall crude hospitalisation rate by ACSC is 146.9/10,000 inhabitants (range: 12.4/10,000-239.9/10,000). SHR ranges from 0.01 to 1.85. CONCLUSIONS: "Hospital admissions due to ACSC" is a valid indicator to assess global performance of Primary Health Care and it identifies a part of hospital activity that is amenable to be cared for at Primary Health Care level and therefore potentially avoidable.

La atención primaria de Salud y las hospitalizaciones por Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions en Cataluña / Primary Health Care and hospital admissions due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions in Catalonia

Introducción. Los Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) son los códigos de diagnóstico de alta hospitalaria que pretenden servir de medida de hospitalizaciones que se consideran potencialmente evitables. La Atención Primaria podría evitar el ingreso de los ACSC mediante alguna de las siguientes intervenciones propias de este nivel asistencial: a) prevención primaria; b) prevención secundaria, o c) prevención terciaria y rehabilitación.Material y métodos. Estudio piloto observacional transversal de 248.174 altas hospitalarias, generadas por 2.248.704 habitantes de 161 Áreas Básicas de Salud (ABS) registradas en el conjunto mínimo básico de alta hospitalaria de Cataluña del año 1996. Se ha utilizado el listado completo de códigos de diagnóstico de ACSC identificados en la literatura. Se han calculado las tasas de hospitalización bruta y estandarizada. Para comparar las tasas de hospitalización entre ABS se ha calculado la razón de hospitalización estandarizada (RHE). El efecto de las variables asociadas a las tasas de hospitalización se ha estudiado mediante la regresión de Poisson. Resultados. Las hospitalizaciones por ACSC representan el 13 por ciento del total de las hospitalizaciones y el 16 por ciento de las estancias hospitalarias. Las enfermedades agudas y crónicas de las vías respiratorias bajas son la primera causa de hospitalización para los tres grupos de edad (< 15, 15-64 y 65). Los grupos de diagnósticos más frecuentes para todas las edades son la patología respiratoria (enfermedades agudas y crónicas de las vías respiratorias bajas y neumonía) y la patología del tracto urinario (pielonefritis/infección del tracto urinario). La patología denominada autolimitada (las infecciones otorrinolaringológicas no graves/infecciones de vías respiratorias altas, las convulsiones febriles infantiles, los problemas dentales y las gastroenteritis) representa más del 10 por ciento del total de las hospitalizaciones por ACSC, el 45 por ciento de las cuales se presenta en niños. La tasa cruda de hospitalización por ACSC para el conjunto de las ABS estudiadas es de 146,9/10.000, siendo el intervalo de las tasas crudas observadas de 12,4 a 239,9/10.000. El intervalo de la RHE fue de 0,01 a 1,85. Conclusiones. Las hospitalizaciones por ACSC son un indicador que se considera válido para evaluar la capacidad de resolución global de la Atención Primaria e identifica un volumen de actividad hospitalaria susceptible de cuidados del primer nivel asistencial y, por tanto, potencialmente evitable (AU)