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Summary: Objective: To estimate national and provincial prevalence of obesity and excess weight in the child and adolescent population in Spain by sex and sociodemographic characteristics, and to explore sources of inequalities in their distribution, and their geographical patterns. Methods: ENE‐COVID is a nationwide representative seroepidemiological survey (68 287 participants) stratified by province and municipality size (April–June 2020). Participants answered a questionnaire which collected self‐reported weight and height, that allowed estimating crude and model‐based standardized prevalences of obesity and excess weight in the 10 543 child and adolescent participants aged 2–17 years. Results: Crude prevalences (WHO growth reference) were higher in boys than in girls (obesity: 13.4% vs. 7.9%; excess weight: 33.7% vs. 26.0%; severe obesity: 2.9% vs. 1.2%). These prevalences varied with age, increased with the presence of any adult with excess weight in the household, while they decreased with higher adult educational and census tract average income levels. Obesity by province ranged 1.8%–30.5% in boys and 0%–17.6% in girls; excess weight ranged 15.2%–49.9% in boys and 10.8%–40.8% in girls. The lowest prevalences of obesity and excess weight were found in provinces in the northern half of Spain. Sociodemographic characteristics only partially explained the observed geographical variability (33.6% obesity; 44.2% excess weight). Conclusions: Childhood and adolescent obesity and excess weight are highly prevalent in Spain, with relevant sex, sociodemographic and geographical differences. The geographic variability explained by sociodemographic variables indicates that there are other potentially modifiable factors on which to focus interventions at different geographic levels to fight this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background First-pass effect (FPE) has been established as a key metric for technical success and strongly correlates with better clinical outcomes. Most data supporting improved outcomes with the use of a balloon guide catheter (BGC) predate the advent of last-generation large-bore intracranial aspiration catheters. We aim to evaluate the impact of BGC in FPE and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of patients treated with contemporary technology. Methods Patients were recruited from the prospectively ongoing ROSSETTI registry. This registry includes all consecutive patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (LVO) from 10 comprehensive stroke centers in Spain. Demographic, clinical, angiographic, and clinical outcome data were compared between BGC and non-BGC groups. FPE was defined as the achievement of mTICI2c-3 after a single device pass. Results 426 patients were included out of which 271 (63.62%) used BCG. BGC-treated patients had higher FPE rate (45.8% vs 27.7%; P<0.001), higher final mTICI ≥2 c recanalization rate (76.8% vs 50.3%, respectively; P<0.001), shorter procedural time [median (IQR), 30 (19-58) vs 43 (33-71) min; P<0.001], higher NIHSS difference from admission to 24 hours [median (IQR), 8 (2-12) vs 3 (0-10); P=0.001], and lower mortality rate (17.6% vs 29.8%, P=0.026) compared with non-BGC patients. BGC use was an independent predictor of FPE (OR 2.197, 95% CI 1.436 to 3.361; P<0.001), and excellent clinical outcome at 3 months (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.68; P=0.002). Conclusions Our results support the benefit of BGC use on angiographic and clinical outcomes in anterior circulation LVO ischemic stroke remain significant even when considering recent improvements in intracranial aspiration technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The European Region has set itself the goal of eliminating measles by 2010. Incidence has increased in recent years. This study sought to investigate outbreaks in Spain in the period 2005–2007, in order to identify measles-vulnerable groups and compare Spain to other European countries which have also had measles outbreaks. The pattern observed for Spain proved different to that of other European countries, i.e., whereas young adults and infants aged under 15 months were affected in Spain, children aged under 9 years comprised the predominant group in other European countries. Measles cases in Spain reflect low coverage when vaccination began, a pattern that could be repeated in neighbouring countries. Vaccination efforts should thus be targeted at vulnerable groups, namely: young adults; health professionals; travelling communities; and adopted infants and foreigners from countries with important pockets of susceptibles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background/objectives: Population´s dietary intake of saturated fat, sodium, and sugars is higher than the current recommendations in Spain and most European countries. Nationwide food reformulation strategies have the potential to improve nutritional quality; however, evaluations are only available in a few countries and are difficult to compare. This study shows the degree of compliance with the nutrient reduction objectives included in a 4-year (2016-2020) Spanish food reformulation initiative., Methods: In 2016, baseline median nutrient content was established for 57 food subcategories. Agreed reduction (%) expressed as the median content to be reached by 2020 was set as the objective. In 2021, Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN) collected mandatory nutritional information from 3118 products belonging to the food subcategories included in the PLAN. Median nutrient content was calculated and compared with baseline data established in 2016 and PLAN objectives., Results: Median nutrient content reduction was observed in all food subcategories. Relative reductions (%) ranged from 0.6 to 60% for added sugars, 4.8 to 33.3% for salt, 4.5 to 78.3% for saturated fat, and 24.9 to 36% for total fat. PLAN objectives were achieved in all subcategories except for one. The number of products involved, belonging to the highly consumed food categories, shows the potential of national reformulation strategies to improve the nutritional quality of the diet., Conclusion: Compliance with nutrient reduction agreements was 99%; however, the variability of nutrient content within subcategories shows that there is room for further reduction in selected nutrients and food subcategories., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: In Spain, differences in the prevalence of obesity and excess weight according to sex and sociodemographic factors have been described at the national level, although current data do not allow to delve into geographical differences for these conditions. The aim was to estimate national and regional prevalences of adult obesity and excess weight in Spain by sex and sociodemographic characteristics, and to explore difference sources of inequalities in its distribution, as well as its geographical pattern., Method: ENE-COVID study was a nationwide representative seroepidemiological survey with 57,131 participants. Residents in 35,893 households were selected from municipal rolls using a two-stage random sampling stratified by province and municipality size (April-June 2020). Participants (77.0% of contacted individuals) answered a questionnaire which collected self-reported weight and height, as well as different socioeconomic variables, that allowed estimating crude and standardized prevalences of adult obesity and excess weight., Results: Crude prevalences of obesity and excess weight were higher in men (obesity: 19.3% vs. 18.0%; excess weight: 63.7% vs. 48.4%), while severe obesity was more prevalent in women (4.5% vs. 5.3%). These prevalences increased with age and disability, and decreased with education, census tract income and municipality size. Differences by educational level, relative census income, nationality or disability were clearly higher among women. Obesity by province ranged 13.3-27.4% in men and 11.4-28.1% in women; excess weight ranged 57.2-76.0% in men and 38.9-59.5% in women. The highest prevalences were located in the southern half of the country and some north-western provinces. Sociodemographic characteristics only explained a small part of the observed geographical variability (25.2% obesity)., Conclusion: Obesity and overweight have a high prevalence in Spain, with notable geographical and sex differences. Socioeconomic inequalities are stronger among women. The observed geographical variability suggests the need to implement regional and local interventions to effectively address this public health problem., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Gutiérrez-González, García-Solano, Pastor-Barriuso, Fernández de Larrea-Baz, Rollán-Gordo, Peñalver-Argüeso, Peña-Rey, Pollán, Pérez-Gómez and the ENE-COVID Study Group.)

Objective: Child and adolescent obesity is a biggest public health challenge. Adolescence is a critical stage for growth and development. The objective of the research was to explore and understand the perceptions of the adolescent population about eating and healthy lifestyle habits, and the identification of barriers and facilitators., Methods: A multicenter qualitative research was made, in schoolchildren from twelve to fourteen years old, from four Secondary Schools, distributed in four municipalities. During the first quarter of the 2021-2022 school year, ten Discussion Groups were conducted, with 7-11 participants per group, and two ninety-minute work sessions per group. The proceedings were followed by two deliberative sessions. The Atlas.ti version 8 software was used for data content analysis, following the methodological recommendations of Mayring and Cáceres, and the open coding technique was used., Results: A relationship was observed between the foods most consumed in the family home and the ones that teenagers liked most. Also the extracurricular sports activity was highlighted as the main source of physical activity as well as the connection between mental health and healthy practices, and the emphasis about the variety of foods, the importance given to sustainability and the relationship of an unhealthy diet with excess intake of sugar, sweets, soft drinks, fast food and fats. The family was revealed as one of the most influential factors, followed by professionals, the media and high schools. Among the perceived barriers were the socioeconomic level, lack of time, food supply in canteens and social pressure., Conclusions: The main barriers and motivations linked to the food environment, socioeconomic level, body image and emotional well-being are identified. Adolescents express interest in participating in public policies., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

The COVID-19 pandemic meant that the population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs had to be suspended. Modifications were made to the organization in order to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We report the experience of the Galician CRC screening program and patient safety results. Endoscopy was suspended between 13/03/2020 and 11/05/2020. After resumption, a total of 3,310 colonoscopies were performed (1,702 positive fecal occult blood tests and 1,608 endoscopy monitoring) and no SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected in the subsequent two weeks. Thus, resumption of activity associated with population screening was safe.

In order to check the presence and distribution of Rhyacophila fasciata fasciata Hagen 1859 (species described from Austria) and R. fasciata denticulata McLachlan 1879 in the Iberian Peninsula, we studied the morphology of Spanish, French, and Austrian specimens, together with their mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (mtCOI). We observed that the individuals considered to date as R. fasciata denticulata are in fact two different species: R. denticulata, presently known from France and possibly in some rivers of the Basque Country (Spain), and R. sociata Navás 1916 distributed in Spain and France. These two species are also different from the reference species (R. fasciata) from Austria, so we propose a change in the taxonomic status of R. fasciata denticulata to R. denticulata (stat. prom.) and the restoration of R. sociata (stat. res.), with the designation of a neotype, due to the loss of the holotype.

Objectives: To estimate the burden of disease due to vaccinable diseases and the relative importance of these diseases in the health of the Spanish population aged less than 15 years old., Methods: Disease burden was measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). DALYs were computed by adding years of life lost (YLL) to years lived with disability (YLD). The DALYs of the Spanish population aged less than 15 years old were estimated for 1999 and were stratified by diseases according to the classification system of the Global Burden of Disease (adapted to the aim of the study), age group and gender. Diseases included in the childhood vaccination schedule, varicella, and pneumococcal disease were targeted for this study. The sources used were: the national mortality register to compute YLL, the Epidemiologic Surveillance National Network, hospital discharge data (CMBD) and the scientific literature to compute YLD due to vaccinable diseases, and World Health Organization estimates (Euro-A) or, when these were lacking, morbidity hospital data (Hospital Morbidity Survey) to compute the YLD due to non-vaccinable diseases., Results: The burden of disease due to vaccinable diseases was 1.2% of global DALYS (the overall DALYs rate was 46,57/1,000 habitants): excluding meningococcal disease (0.5% to 3.3%), diseases included in the vaccination schedule represented 0.00% to 0.03%, depending on age groups, except meningococcal infection (between 0.5% and 3.3%). Pneumococcal meningitis represented 0.06% to 0.65% and varicella 0.00% to 0.15%, also depending on age groups., Conclusions: Disease burden due to vaccinable diseases is a good indicator of the health of the young population in Spain. This measure summarizes and combines information on mortality, morbidity and disability caused by diseases. The DALYs attributable to diseases included in the vaccination schedule demonstrate that immunization programs have achieved their goals.

Introduction: Varicella is a highly contagious disease. In Spain, in 1996, 91% of the population aged 13 years old had been infected. The complications of varicella are more frequent in adults. Herpes zoster infection can be reactivated after the initial infection in 15%. A vaccine against varicella has recently been authorized in Spain for use in individuals aged more than 13 years old with negative serology., Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of vaccination of the cohort aged 13 years old in 2001 and to perform a sensitivity analysis of the parameters that are affected., Material and Method: Tree decision: Decision Analysis by Tree-Age program. Probabilities and costs were calculated using Microsoft Excel. Population size was obtained from the 2001 Census of the National Institute of Statistics to which we applied the percentage of susceptibility from the seroepidemiological study in Spain. Probabilities were calculated by the Bayes Theorem, using the incidence rates by age of a country in the northern hemisphere. Hospital-related data were obtained from the minimum data set. We used the effectiveness of the vaccine licensed in the USA, with a total effectiveness of 71% and a partial effectiveness of 24%, represented by milder varicella in vaccinated individuals (breakthrough varicella). Only direct costs were considered. Costs were obtained by direct consultation of different sources. A discount rate of 3% was used., Results: Varicella vaccination could prevent 27,278 cases of the disease. Prevention of one case would cost the public health system 131 Euros., Discussion: This study constitutes an approach to the cost of introducing varicella vaccination in the Spanish vaccination schedule, from the payer's perspective. However, to take a decision, some unknown factors, such as the effect of vaccination on the incidence of herpes zoster, should be assessed. With currently available data, the introduction of vaccination in adolescence would seem to be the best strategy, but further studies are needed.

This work compares frozen water, 70% alcohol, Koenike's and Angelier's fluid as preservation media for water mites in terms of their eventual facilitation of DNA extraction and amplification. The time the mites spent in the fixatives ranged between 1 week and 25 years. Two molecular markers were amplified: 16S ribosomal DNA and CoI mitochondrial DNA. DNA was extractable and could be sequenced from specimens fixed in all the above media, although this generally became more difficult as time progressed. In the light of the known characteristics of these media, the results suggest Angelier's fluid to be the most practical, especially on long expeditions.