Compromiso por la calidad de las sociedades científicas en España / Commitment to quality of the Spanish scientific societies

En este artículo se resumen los objetivos, la metodología y las primeras conclusiones del proyecto «Compromiso por la calidad de las sociedades científicas en España», coordinado por el Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, la Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna y el Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, en el que participan 48 sociedades científicas. Los objetivos de este proyecto son: disminuir la utilización de intervenciones médicas innecesarias, que son las que no han demostrado eficacia, tienen escasa o dudosa efectividad, o no son coste-efectivas; disminuir la variabilidad en la práctica clínica; difundir entre médicos y pacientes el compromiso con el uso adecuado de recursos sanitarios y, por último, promover la seguridad clínica. En el documento se incluyen 135 recomendaciones finales de «no hacer» elaboradas por 30 sociedades científicas españolas (AU)

This article summarises the objectives, methodology and initial conclusions of the project «Commitment to Quality of the Spanish Scientific Societies», coordinated by the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine and the Aragon Institute of Health Sciences, in which 48 scientific societies participate. This project's objectives are to decrease the use of unnecessary medical interventions, which are those that have shown no efficacy, have little or questionable effectiveness or are not cost-effective; decrease variability in clinical practice; promote the commitment among physicians and patients to properly use healthcare resources; and to promote clinical safety. The document includes 135 final recommendations for what not to do, prepared by 30 Spanish scientific societies (AU)

Commitment to quality of the Spanish scientific societies. / Compromiso por la calidad de las sociedades científicas en España.

This article summarises the objectives, methodology and initial conclusions of the project "Commitment to Quality of the Spanish Scientific Societies", coordinated by the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine and the Aragon Institute of Health Sciences, in which 48 scientific societies participate. This project's objectives are to decrease the use of unnecessary medical interventions, which are those that have shown no efficacy, have little or questionable effectiveness or are not cost-effective; decrease variability in clinical practice; promote the commitment among physicians and patients to properly use healthcare resources; and to promote clinical safety. The document includes 135 final recommendations for what not to do, prepared by 30 Spanish scientific societies.

Mortalidad prematura cardiovascular y sus costes: 20 años de seguimiento del estudio DRECE / Costs resulting from premature mortality due to cardiovascular causes: a 20-year follow-up of the DRECE study

Objetivos. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares permanecen todavía como la principal causa de muerte en España. El estudio Dieta y Riesgo de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares en España (DRECE) se basa en una cohorte representativa de la población general española en la que se analizan los hábitos nutricionales y de vida estudiando su asociación con los patrones de morbimortalidad. Hemos estimado el impacto, en términos de pérdida de productividad, de la mortalidad prematura atribuida a las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Métodos. La pérdida de productividad atribuida a mortalidad prematura se calculó desde 1991, basándose en los años de vida y de vida laboral potencialmente perdidos. Resultados. Durante el seguimiento de 20años de una cohorte de 4.779 sujetos se produjeron 225 fallecimientos (hombres, 152). El 16% de las defunciones se atribuyó a enfermedades cardiovasculares. Los costes por pérdidas de productividad por mortalidad prematura superaron los 29 millones de euros. De ellos, 4 millones de euros (14% del coste total) se debieron a causas cardiovasculares. Conclusiones. La mortalidad prematura cardiovascular en la cohorte DRECE ha supuesto un importante coste social por pérdidas de productividad laboral (AU)

Objectives. Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death in Spain. The DRECE study (Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Spain), based on a representative cohort of the Spanish general population, analyzed nutritional habits and lifestyle and their association with morbidity and mortality patterns. We estimated the impact, in terms of loss of productivity, of premature mortality attributed to cardiovascular diseases. Methods. The loss of productivity attributed to premature mortality was calculated from 1991, based on the potential years of life lost and the potential years of working life lost. Results. During the 20-year follow-up of a cohort of 4779 patients, 225 of these patients died (men, 152). Sixteen percent of the deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease. The costs due to lost productivity by premature mortality exceeded 29 million euros. Of these, 4 million euros (14% of the total cost) were due to cardiovascular causes. Conclusions. Premature cardiovascular mortality in the DRECE cohort represented a significant social cost due to lost productivity (AU)

Costs resulting from premature mortality due to cardiovascular causes: A 20-year follow-up of the DRECE study. / Mortalidad prematura cardiovascular y sus costes: 20 años de seguimiento del estudio DRECE.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death in Spain. The DRECE study (Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Spain), based on a representative cohort of the Spanish general population, analyzed nutritional habits and lifestyle and their association with morbidity and mortality patterns. We estimated the impact, in terms of loss of productivity, of premature mortality attributed to cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: The loss of productivity attributed to premature mortality was calculated from 1991, based on the potential years of life lost and the potential years of working life lost. RESULTS: During the 20-year follow-up of a cohort of 4779 patients, 225 of these patients died (men, 152). Sixteen percent of the deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease. The costs due to lost productivity by premature mortality exceeded 29 million euros. Of these, 4 million euros (14% of the total cost) were due to cardiovascular causes. CONCLUSIONS: Premature cardiovascular mortality in the DRECE cohort represented a significant social cost due to lost productivity.

Coberturas y factores asociados a la vacunación antigripal entre los niños españoles que padecen asma / Coverage and factors associated with anti-influenza vaccination among spanish children suffering asthma

Objetivos: Determinar la cobertura vacunal y los factores asociados con la vacunación antigripal en los niños españoles que padecen asma. Métodos: Se han analizado los registros individuos menores de 18 años incluidos en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud (ENS) de España del año 2003. Se han seleccionado para este trabajo los sujetos que declaran padecer asma. Como variable dependiente se ha utilizado la respuesta (“si”o “no”) a la pregunta, “Querríamos saber si su hijo se ha vacunadode la gripe en la última campaña”. Se analiza la influenza de variables sociodemográficas, estilos de vida, comorbilidad, percepción de la salud y uso de servicios sanitarios sobre la vacunación antigripal y se describe quién le indicó la vacunación al niño. Resultados: Se han analizado los registros de 6.869 individuos de ellos 313 (4,6%) declaraban padecer asma y el 19,9% señalaban haberse vacunado frente a la gripe en la ultima campaña. Entre los niños no asmáticos la cobertura era del 4,6%.(p<0,05)El único factor asociado significativamente con la vacunación antigripal en los niños asma fue el nivel de ingresos en el hogar, demostrándose que los que viven en hogares con mayor nivel de ingresos tenían mayor probabilidad de estar vacunados. La recomendación por parte el medico es el motivo señalado mayoritariamente para haber sido vacunado de la gripe. Conclusiones: Concluimos que las coberturas vacunales antigripales entre los niños asmáticos españoles son injustificablemente bajas y se hace imprescindible que se tomen medidas urgentes para mejorarlas

Objectives: To ascertain anti-influenza vaccination coverage and factors associated with anti-influenza vaccination among Spanish children suffering asthma. Methods: We analyzed data of subjects age under 18 years included in the Spanish National Health Survey (ENS) for 2003. We selected those children whose parents declared to be asthmatic. As a dependent variable, we used the reply (“yes” or “no”) to the question: Was your child vaccinated against influenza during the last campaign?”. We analyzed the influence variables regarding sociodemographic characteristics, life styles, comorbility, self rated health and use of health services on vaccination. The reason for vaccination is described. Results: Finally 6.869 children were analyzed, 313 (4.6%) were classified as asthmatics and the vaccination coverage for the last campaign was 19.9%. Among those without asthma coverage reached only 4.6% (p<0.05). The only factor significantly associated with anti-influenza vaccination in children with asthma was household income: those from homes with a higher level of income were more likely to be vaccinated. The main reason for vaccination in the infant population was “Recommendationby the physician”. Conclusions: Anti-influenza vaccination coverage in the Spanish asthmatic infant population is unjustifiably low. Strategies must be implemented urgently to improve such low coverages

Influenza vaccination coverage and related factors among Spanish children.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain anti-influenza vaccination coverage and factors associated with anti-influenza vaccination among Spanish children. METHODS: We analyzed 6464 children (age under 16 years) included in the Spanish National Health Survey (ENS) for 2003. As a dependent variable, we used the reply ("yes" or "no") to the question: Was your child vaccinated against influenza during the last campaign? We calculated anti-influenza vaccine coverage for the whole population and depending on whether or not the vaccine is recommended due to the fact that the children present an associated chronic condition. We analyzed the influence of sociodemographic variables on vaccination. RESULTS: Vaccination coverage in the Spanish infant population was 5.1%, in children with associated conditions it was 17.5%, and 4.4% in healthy children. The only factor significantly associated with anti-influenza vaccination in children with associated conditions was household income: those from homes with a higher level of income were more likely to be vaccinated (OR=4.26). In children for whom vaccination is not recommended, the probability of being vaccinated against influenza is greater in those whose parents had a lower educational level (OR=2.22). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-influenza vaccination coverage in the Spanish infant population is very low. There seem to be socio-economic inequalities for receiving this vaccine in Spanish children.