Popularidad de Neurología en España: análisis de la elección de la especialidad / The popularity of neurology in Spain: An analysis of specialty selection

INTRODUCCIÓN: Neurología es una de las especialidades ofertadas a los opositores que acceden a la formación sanitaria especializada cada año. Este proyecto analiza los datos de elección de Neurología en los últimos años. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Los datos de la elección se han obtenido de la publicación oficial del Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad. Se ha recabado información de los distintos centros docentes con relación a la disponibilidad de unidad de ictus, intervencionismo endovascular, consultas de referencia nacional relacionadas con Neurología, guardias específicas para residentes y vinculación con facultades de medicina o redes de investigación nacional. RESULTADOS: La mediana de elección de número de orden para Neurología ha descendido anualmente, situando la especialidad en la convocatoria 2016 entre las cuatro más populares. Los electores son mayoritariamente mujeres de nacionalidad española y baremo académico alto. La mediana de los hospitales con mayor número de camas, intervencionismo vascular, unidad de ictus o consultas de referencia nacional es significativamente menor. Lo mismo sucede al analizar los centros según guardias específicas de Neurología para residentes o vinculación con facultades de medicina o redes de investigación nacionales. Los centros con menor mediana de número de orden para el periodo 2012-2016 fueron los hospitales universitarios Clínico San Carlos, 12 de Octubre y Vall d'Hebron. CONCLUSIONES: Neurología ha ido mejorando de manera progresiva en la elección de plazas de especialización, situándose entre las cuatro más populares. Los electores se decantan por centros grandes, de mayor complejidad asistencial y con intensa actividad investigadora

INTRODUCTION: Neurology is one of the medical specialties offered each year to residency training candidates. This project analyses the data associated with candidates choosing neurology residency programmes in recent years. METHODS: Data related to specialty selection were obtained from official reports by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services, and Equality. Information was collected on several characteristics of teaching centres: availability of stroke units, endovascular intervention, national reference clinics for neurology, specific on-call shifts for neurology residents, and links with medical schools or national research networks. RESULTS: The median selection list position of candidates selecting neurology training has been higher year on year; neurology was among the 4 most popular residency programmes in 2016. Potential residents were mainly female, Spanish, and had good academic results. The median number of hospitals with higher numbers of beds, endovascular intervention, stroke units, and national reference clinics for neurology is significantly lower. This is also true when centers are analysed by presence of specific on-call shifts for neurology residents and association with medical schools or national research networks. The centres selected by candidates with the highest median selection list position in 2012-2016 were the Clínico San Carlos, 12 de Octubre, and Vall d'Hebron university hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Neurology has gradually improved in residency selection choices and is now one of the 4 most popular options. Potential residents prefer larger centres which are more demanding in terms of patient care and which perform more research activity

The popularity of neurology in Spain: An analysis of specialty selection. / Popularidad de Neurología en España: análisis de la elección de la especialidad.

INTRODUCTION: Neurology is one of the medical specialties offered each year to residency training candidates. This project analyses the data associated with candidates choosing neurology residency programmes in recent years. METHODS: Data related to specialty selection were obtained from official reports by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services, and Equality. Information was collected on several characteristics of teaching centres: availability of stroke units, endovascular intervention, national reference clinics for neurology, specific on-call shifts for neurology residents, and links with medical schools or national research networks. RESULTS: The median selection list position of candidates selecting neurology training has been higher year on year; neurology was among the 4 most popular residency programmes in 2016. Potential residents were mainly female, Spanish, and had good academic results. The median number of hospitals with higher numbers of beds, endovascular intervention, stroke units, and national reference clinics for neurology is significantly lower. This is also true when centers are analysed by presence of specific on-call shifts for neurology residents and association with medical schools or national research networks. The centres selected by candidates with the highest median selection list position in 2012-2016 were the Clínico San Carlos, 12 de Octubre, and Vall d'Hebron university hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Neurology has gradually improved in residency selection choices and is now one of the 4 most popular options. Potential residents prefer larger centres which are more demanding in terms of patient care and which perform more research activity.

Neurogluten: patología neurológica por intolerancia al gluten / Neurological disorders associated with gluten sensitivity

Resumen. La intolerancia al gluten es un proceso sistémico de naturaleza autoinmune que se desarrolla, en sujetos con predisposición genética, al ingerir gluten. Aparece a cualquier edad y permanece a lo largo de toda la vida. Es más frecuente en mujeres, como ocurre con otras enfermedades autoinmunes. La enfermedad celíaca es la forma intestinal, así como la representación más importante del conjunto de patologías autoinmunes por gluten que involucran a diferentes sistemas. La afectación neurológica, con o sin enteropatía, es también frecuente y en su patogénesis intervienen el ataque inmunológico al tejido nervioso central y periférico y los cambios neurodegenerativos acompañantes. La expresión clínica es variada, pero los síndromes más comunes son la ataxia cerebelosa y la neuropatía periférica. Por último, la intolerancia al gluten se asocia, en variable proporción, a otras enfermedades complejas y podría influir en su evolución. La detección temprana de los casos de intolerancia al gluten con manifestaciones neurológicas podría proporcionar, con el tratamiento de la dieta sin gluten, un notable beneficio a los pacientes (AU)

Summary. Gluten sensitivity is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals on ingesting gluten. It can appear at any age, then becoming a permanent condition. It is more frequent in women, as happens with other autoimmune diseases. Celiac disease is the intestinal form and the most important manifestation among a set of gluten-induced autoimmune pathologies that affect different systems. Neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity, with or without enteropathy, are also frequent, their pathogenesis including an immunological attack on the central and peripheral nervous tissue accompanied by neurodegenerative changes. The clinical manifestations are varied, but the most common syndromes are cerebellar ataxia and peripheral neuropathy. Finally, gluten sensitivity is associated to a varying degree, with other complex diseases and could influence their evolution. The early detection of cases of gluten sensitivity with neurological manifestations and subsequent treatment with the gluten-free diet could provide remarkable benefits to the patients (AU)

[Neurological disorders associated with gluten sensitivity]. / Neurogluten: patologia neurologica por intolerancia al gluten.

Gluten sensitivity is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals on ingesting gluten. It can appear at any age, then becoming a permanent condition. It is more frequent in women, as happens with other autoimmune diseases. Celiac disease is the intestinal form and the most important manifestation among a set of gluten-induced autoimmune pathologies that affect different systems. Neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity, with or without enteropathy, are also frequent, their pathogenesis including an immunological attack on the central and peripheral nervous tissue accompanied by neurodegenerative changes. The clinical manifestations are varied, but the most common syndromes are cerebellar ataxia and peripheral neuropathy. Finally, gluten sensitivity is associated to a varying degree, with other complex diseases and could influence their evolution. The early detection of cases of gluten sensitivity with neurological manifestations and subsequent treatment with the gluten-free diet could provide remarkable benefits to the patients.