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There is currently a degree of divergence among the main clinical practice guidelines on the management of risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This project aims to gain understanding of the management of PAD risk factors in clinical practice and to reach a multidisciplinary consensus on the strategies to be followed in order to optimize its identification, treatment, and follow-up.A multidisciplinary consensus following the Delphi methodology.Professionals (n = 130) with extensive experience in PAD participated in this consultation. The results suggest that in order to optimize the control of risk factors, efforts should be aimed at: (1) promoting the involvement and awareness of all specialists in the identification of and screening for the disease; (2) guaranteeing the possibility of evaluating the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in all the medical specialties involved; (3) promoting strategies for patients to quit smoking through the use of drugs, programs, or referrals to specialized units; (4) promoting an appropriate Mediterranean-based diet and the prescription of daily exercise; (5) raising awareness of the importance of ensuring LDL cholesterol values below 70 mg/dL, especially in symptomatic but also in asymptomatic patients (55 mg/dL following the publication of the ESC/EAS guide); (6) recommending the use of antiplatelet therapy in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or a pathological ABI; and (7) protocolizing the annual evaluation of ABI in high-risk patients.This document presents the 22 agreed-upon strategies which are intended to help professionals optimize multidisciplinary management of PAD risk factors.

Health research is an accessory activity for most health professionals in the national health service of Spain. One way to recognize your worth is through professional careers. The objective of this paper has been to compare how research activity is valued in the professional careers of the health services of the different regions of Spain.Review of agreements, resolutions and decrees that define the professional careers of each community collected from the corporate websites of health services and health ministries. SITE: Health Research and Innovation Commission of the Extremadura Health Service.Members of said commission.The following was considered for comparison: if the research activity is valued in isolation from other concepts, if it is considered to advance in different levels, if it is a requirement for any of them, and the percentage of score assigned to the block to which it belongs.Almost all the regions consider research as merit at all career levels. The score of the research block is between 4 and 50% of overall. They are only considered independently, of others activities, in the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-León, Cataluña, Madrid and Murcia. They are required to climb a certain level in the Canary Islands and Castilla-León.There is a high variability in the recognition of research activity between regions. The careers that best value research would be those of the Canary Islands and Castilla-León, which consider it an independent activity and it becomes a requirement. The regions that have a more negative approach are those that can be promoted to the highest level, without making any contribution to research.

To study the evolution of the clinical profile of a population discharged with a main diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in the first two decades of the century and the predictive variables of mortality and readmission in the first year of discharge.Observational, retrospective, longitudinal study. SITE: Don Benito Villanueva de la Serena Badajoz health area.All patients discharged with a main diagnosis of HF between 2000 and 2019 in a general hospital complex were included.Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected, and a one-year follow-up; the result variable was a composite of mortality and/or readmission.A total of 4107 discharges were included, mean age 77.1 (SD±10.5) years, 53.1% women. The number of admissions, age, history of neoplasms, stroke, kidney failure, and anemia increased, as did readmissions (P for trends.001), while mortality remained constant. Predictive variables for readmission and/or death were HR (95%CI): age (per year) 1.04 (1.03-1.04), diabetes: 1.11 (1.01-1.24), previous HF 1.41 (1.28-1.57), composite variable myocardial infarction, stroke and/or peripheral artery disease 1.24 (1.11-1.38), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 1.29 (1.15-1.44), neoplasia 1.33 (1.16-1.53), anemia 1.63 (1.41-1.86), chronic kidney failure 1.42 (1.26-1.60).In the last 20 years, admissions for heart failure, patient age, and comorbidity have increased. Predictive variables for mortality and/or readmission were age, diabetes, previous cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, COPD, kidney failure, and anemia; however, mortality at one year remained constant.

Background and Aims To evaluate the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosed by the hematocrit, urea and gender (HUGE) equation and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in a sample of Spanish general population. Method The sample consisted of 2,668 subjects (mean age, 50.6±14.5 years; 54.6% were female). Of them, 55 patients have a HUGE score > 0. The median follow-up was 81 (75-89) months. Serum creatinine, urea and haematocrit were analyzed after overnight fast. The HUGE formula score was calculated for all subjects. Results Event-free survival was 98.4 % at three years and 97.1% at five years of follow-up for patients with a HUGE score < 0. For patients with a estimated HUGE score higher than 0 survival was 88.9% at three years and 87.0 at five years of follow-up. (p Conclusion A significantly increased cardiovascular risk was associated to the diagnosis of CKD through HUGE formula. This effect on survival could be detected despite of a very small sample of CKD patients. This relationship was close to those obtained using MDRD estimated GFR in a bigger sample of patients. HUGE formula may be a useful tool for diagnosing CKD and to evaluate the cardiovascular risk of these patients.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivos La fibrilacion auricular (FA) es un conocido factor de riesgo de mortalidad en diferentes patologias. Sin embargo, los datos publicados en insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada (ICD) son contradictorios. El objetivo es investigar el impacto en la mortalidad de la FA en pacientes ingresados por ICD, comparativamente con otras causas. Metodos Estudio retrospectivo de cohortes, en el que durante 10 anos se recluto a todos los pacientes que ingresaron por ICD, infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) y accidente cerebrovascular (ACV), con una mediana de seguimiento de 6,2 anos. Resultados Se recluto a 6.613 pacientes (74 ± 11 anos; 54,6% varones); 2.177 con IAM, 2.208 con ICD y 2.228 con ACV. La mortalidad cruda tras el alta de los pacientes con FA e IAM (razon de tasas de incidencia, 2,48; p Conclusiones La FA se comporta como factor de riesgo independiente de mortalidad tras el alta en pacientes con un ingreso previo por IAM y ACV, no asi para aquellos con ICD.

Resumen Objetivo Determinar la fracción atribuible poblacional (FAP) de los factores de riesgo (FR) clásicos para la aparición de la enfermedad cardiovascular en una cohorte poblacional de Extremadura, a fin de recomendar intervenciones preventivas prioritarias. Métodos Diseño: estudio de cohortes. Emplazamiento Muestra poblacional representativa de un área de salud de Extremadura (España). Participantes Dos mil ochocientos treinta y tres individuos, de 25 a 79 años, seleccionados aleatoriamente e incluidos entre 2007 y 2009. Se registraron antecedentes y se midieron parámetros clínicos, siendo seguidos hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2015. Mediciones Variables explicativas: edad, sexo, obesidad, tabaquismo, hipertensión arterial (HTA), diabetes mellitus (DM) e hipercolesterolemia. Variable resultado Primer evento de la variable combinada de infarto de miocardio, angina de pecho, ictus, isquemia de miembros inferiores y muerte cardiovascular. Se calcularon las hazard ratio mediante regresión de Cox, totalmente ajustadas y las FAP mediante la fórmula de Levin. Resultados Se analizaron 2.669 sujetos de la cohorte inicial, al ser excluidos 103 por antecedentes de enfermedad cardiovascular y 61 por pérdidas. El seguimiento fue de 6,9 años (RI: 6,5-7,5). Se documentaron 134 eventos. Tasa de incidencia 7,42/1.000 personas-año. Las hazard ratio ajustadas (IC 95%) fueron: HTA 2,26 (1,40-3,67), hipercolesterolemia 2,23 (1,56-3,18), DM 1,79 (1,24-2,58), tabaquismo 1,72 (1,11-2,69). Las FAP (IC 95%) fueron HTA 31,1 (12,4-48,8), hipercolesterolemia 27,0% (14,8-40,6), tabaquismo 18,8% (3,3-35,0), DM 7,9% (2,6-15,2). Conclusiones La HTA es el FR con mayor impacto en la salud cardiovascular de la población extremeña, seguido de hipercolesterolemia y tabaquismo, constituyendo objetivos prioritarios para una estrategia preventiva poblacional.

Introduction: School-aged children with type 1 diabetes (DM1) require access to appropriate and safe care for their disease during their stay in the educational centre. Objective: To identify the needs perceived by families of schoolchildren with DM1 that affect their educational integration, safety, and well-being during the school day. Methodology: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire based on information and opinions provided by families of 362 schoolchildren between 3 and 16 years old with DM1 registered in their health history in the Public Health System of Extremadura. Results: The response rate was 56.9% (206). It was shown that 35% of schoolchildren with DM1 were treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. Almost all of them (95.1%) required glucose monitoring, and 57.8% required insulin administration during the school day. Most (88%) children had adjusted well to school and did not describe any type of discriminatory treatment (87.4%). Glucagon is available in 82% of educational centres, in which 43.7% had a trained adult person to administer it. That teachers could recognise a hypoglycaemia was expressed by 21.4% of the families, and 29.1% were unaware of the existence of coordination protocols in the school. More than half (58.7%) claimed that the information available in schools about diabetes was low, and 77.2% stated that the control of the disease would improve if more training was provided to teachers. Conclusions: There are aspects optimally covered in the care of schoolchildren with DM1 in the schools of Extremadura. Among situations identified with potential room for improvement were adherence to the coordination protocol, information about diabetes, and training of adults to deal with emergency situations. Resumen: Introducción: El alumnado con diabetes tipo 1 (DM1) requiere durante su estancia en el centro educativo unos cuidados adecuados y seguros para su enfermedad. Objetivo: Identificar las necesidades percibidas por las familias del alumnado con DM1 que afecten a la integración educativa, seguridad y bienestar durante la jornada educativa. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal, mediante encuesta, basado en la información y opiniones proporcionada por las familias de los 362 pacientes entre 3 y 16 años con DM1, registrados en la historia de salud del Sistema Sanitario Público de Extremadura. Resultados: Tasa de respuesta del 56,9% (206). El 35% del alumnado con DM1 estaba en tratamiento con infusión subcutánea continua de insulina. El 95,1% precisó medir la glucemia y el 57,8% administrarse insulina durante la jornada escolar. Un 88% presentó buena adaptación al colegio y el 87,4% no describió ningún tipo de trato discriminatorio. El 82% de centros dispuso de glucagón y en un 43,7% hubo alguna persona adulta entrenada para administrarlo. Un 21,4% de familias pensaban que los profesores podían reconocer una hipoglucemia. El 29,1% desconocían la existencia de protocolos de coordinación en centros educativos, el 58,7% alegaron que la información en el centro sobre diabetes fue poca y un 77,2% que su control mejoraría con más formación del profesorado. Conclusiones: Existen aspectos óptimamente cubiertos en la atención al alumnado con DM1 en los centros educativos de Extremadura. Las situaciones con margen de mejora son la adherencia al protocolo de coordinación, la información sobre la diabetes y el adiestramiento de adultos ante emergencias.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent risk factor for mortality in several diseases. However, data published in acute decompensated heart failure (DHF) are contradictory. Our objective was to investigate the impact of AF on mortality in patients admitted to hospital for DHF compared with those admitted for other reasons.This retrospective cohort study included all patients admitted to hospital within a 10-year period due to DHF, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or ischemic stroke (IS), with a median follow-up of 6.2 years.We included 6613 patients (74 ± 11 years; 54.6% male); 2177 with AMI, 2208 with DHF, and 2228 with IS. Crude postdischarge mortality was higher in patients with AF hospitalized for AMI (incident rate ratio, 2.48; P.001) and IS (incident rate ratio, 1.84; P.001) than in those without AF. No differences were found in patients with DHF (incident rate ratio, 0.90; P = .12). In adjusted models, AF was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality by clinical diagnosis. However, AF emerged as an independent predictor of postdischarge mortality in patients with AMI (HR, 1.494; P = .001) and IS (HR, 1.426; P.001), but not in patients admitted for DHF (HR, 0.964; P = .603).AF was as an independent risk factor for postdischarge mortality in patients admitted to hospital for AMI and IS but not in those admitted for DHF.

Smoking is a major risk factor for multiple chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and an established risk factor for premature death .The objective was to analyze the association between smoking and total coronary risk (incidence of lethal and non-lethal coronary events) in a cohort of 35-74 years old patients followed for 10 years.Longitudinal, observational study of a retrospective cohort followed for ten years in primary care practices in Badajoz (Spain). 1011 patients (mean 55.7 year-old; 56.0% women) without evidence of cardiovascular disease was studied. Multivariate analysis was performed using a binary logistic regression model, introducing as the dependent variable the presence of total coronary events during the follow-up period.29.1% of the patients were smokers. Smokers were younger (52.1 vs 57.2 years, p smaller than 0.001), with less prevalence of arterial hypertension (46.9% vs 61.5%, p smaller than 0.01), obesity (25.5% vs 31.8%, p=0,055) and lower HDL-cholesterol (45.7 vs 54.0 mg/dl, p smaller than 0.001). During the follow-up, they presented a higher mortality (11.2% vs 6.7%, p smaller than 0.05) and higher incidence of total coronary events (14.3% vs 9.2%, p smaller than 0.05). The final model of the logistic regression multivariate analysis revealed that only smoking and age are predictor variables of total coronary events, the greater odds ratio (OR) corresponding to smoking [OR: 2.33; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.31-4.16; p smaller than 0.01].In patients aged 35-74 years followed during 10 years, smoking doubles the risk of total coronary events.El tabaquismo es un importante factor de riesgo para múltiples enfermedades crónicas, tales como enfermedades cardiovasculares y cáncer, y también de muerte prematura. El objetivo fue valorar la relación entre tabaquismo y riesgo coronario total en una cohorte de pacientes de 35 a 74 años de edad.Estudio observacional de una cohorte retrospectiva de 1.011 personas (edad media 55,7 años, 56,0% mujeres) sin antecedentes de enfermedades cardiovasculares, seguidas durante 10 años en un centro de salud de Badajoz (Extremadura, España). Se realizó un análisis multivariante mediante regresión logística binaria, incluyéndose como variable dependiente la incidencia de eventos coronarios durante el periodo de seguimiento.El 29,1% de la población era fumadora, con menor edad (52,1 vs 57,2 años, p menor que 0,001), menores cifras de colesterol-HDL (45,7 vs 54,0 mg/dl, p menor que 0,001), menor prevalencia de hipertensión arterial (46,9% vs 61,5%, p menor que 0,01) y obesidad (25,5% vs 31,8%, p=0,055) que los pacientes no fumadores. Sin embargo, durante el seguimiento presentaron mayores tasas de mortalidad (11,2% vs 6,7%, p menor que 0,05) e incidencia de eventos coronarios totales (14,3% vs 9,2%, p menor que 0,05). En el análisis multivariante solamente la edad y el tabaquismo se comportaron como variables predictoras de eventos coronarios totales, correspondiendo al tabaquismo las mayores odds ratio (OR: 2,33; IC95%:1,31-4,16; p menor que 0,01).En personas de 35 a 74 años seguidos durante 10 años el consumo de tabaco duplica el riesgo de eventos coronarios.

OBJECTIVES: Alcohol has been associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It has been our objective to determine the prevalence of use of alcohol and its association with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena health area (Badajoz). PARTICIPANTS: We selected a random sample of 25 to 79 year olds, representative of the population. METHODS: We collected a survey about the history of cardiovascular risk factors and alcohol consumption in the previous seven days. We measured blood pressure and a fasting blood sample was obtained. The association of alcohol consumption with the different CRF was studied by multivariate analysis, adjusting for different variables. RESULTS: A total of 2833 subjects participated, with a mean age 51.2 (SD 14.7) years and 46.5% males. We detected 36.1% (95% CI 34.4 to 37.9) of alcohol consumers. The overall prevalence and consumption medium or high risk was 63.2% and 15.2% in men, and 12.6% and 1.5% in women, respectively. In men, consumption of medium-high risk was associated with hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking. In women, low-risk consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and hypertension and higher smoking. CONCLUSIONS: We found a lower prevalence of alcohol use, especially in women, compared to the Spanish national average. The consumption of medium-high risk mainly affects men and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In women at low risk consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of certain CRF and increased smoking.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence, detection, treatment and degree of control of cardiovascular risk factors in Extremadura. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population study in Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena health area (Badajoz). PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of the people between 25 and 79 years, who lived in this area, was selected. METHODS: History of cardiovascular risk factors and its treatment were obtained by questionnaire. Blood pressure and blood sample were obtained for all participants. We calculated the prevalence of each variable standardized for age and gender for the population of Extremadura. RESULTS: Of the 3521 eligible, 2833 (80.5%) participants were included, mean age 51.2 years, male 46.5%. Adjusted prevalence of current smoking in men: 40.5% (37.8-43.2), hypertension 39.5% (37.3-41.7), hypercholesterolemia, 37.9% (35.4-40.4), obesity 36.5% (33.9-39.1), diabetes 13.7% (12.1-15.4). Adjusted prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in women: 35,0% (32.9-37.2), hypertension 33,0% (31.3-34.7), obesity 30.7% (28.6-32.8), current smoking 26,6% (24.5-28.7), diabetes 12,0% (10.5-13.5). The detection level of each factor was above 70%, and the degree of control among those treated of 51, 62.3 and 74.7% for hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Extremadura's population is highly exposed to major cardiovascular risk factors, especially men. Smoking, obesity and diabetes stand in the national context as the most prevalent in our community.