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Biomedical subjects

F Rodríguez Artalejo

Publications and source records attributed to F Rodríguez Artalejo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Prevalence of tuberculosis infection and its association with social class in children in the Autonomous Community of Madrid].

INTRODUCTION: The frequency of tuberculosis infection, particularly among children, indicates the magnitude of the disease reservoir. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in children in the Autonomous Community of Madrid and its association with social class. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross sectional study of 6-year-old schoolchildren living in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, selected through probabilistic sampling. From September 1999 through June 2000, information was collected on residence stratum, tuberculin test (positivity threshold 5 mm), social class (five categories), based on the occupation of the main earner in the family, and the formal education attained by the parents. We calculated 95% confidence intervals for the prevalence estimates according to a Poisson distribution. RESULTS: A total of 2,721 children were studied. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection for the total study population was 0.62% (95% CI: 0.29-0.95). The prevalence of tuberculosis infection was 0.42% (95% CI: 0.00-0.85) in social class I (the highest), 0.00% (95% CI: 0.00-1.17) in class II, 0.77% (95% CI: 0.00-1.86) in class III, 0.62% (95% CI: 0.00-1.32) in class IV, and 1.57% (95% CI: 0.00-3.40) in class V (the lowest). In both fathers and mothers, the highest prevalence of tuberculosis infection was found in the group that had only completed elementary school or basic general education (up to the age of 14). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tuberculosis infection in the Autonomous Community of Madrid is similar to that in others areas of Spain. The results of our study are consistent with a lower prevalence in the higher socioeconomic groups.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Impact of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms on health resource usage and work absenteeism in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms on the utilization of healthcare services and work absenteeism in Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 2,500 subjects representative of the Spanish population from 40 to 79 years of age. Data were collected via a telephone interview in January 2002 using Locke s questionnaire after its cross-cultural adaptation and validation for telephone use in Spain. RESULTS: GER is responsible for 296.8 doctor consultations (95% CI: 245.3-348.7) per 1,000 inhabitants per year, for 24 esophagogastrointestinal radiographic studies per 1,000 inhabitants per year (95% CI: 18-30), for 32.4 (95% CI: 25.5-39.3) high digestive endoscopies per 1,000 inhabitants per year, and for the loss of 201 (95% CI: 0-411.1) working days per 1,000 employed inhabitants with GER per year. In relation to medication intake, GER resulted in 4,092 (95% CI: 3,300-5,133) treatment days with H2 antagonists per 1,000 inhabitants per year, 9,030 (95% CI: 7,846-10,332) treatment days with proton pump inhibitors per 1,000 inhabitants per year, and 1,082 (95% CI: 519-1,549) treatment days with prokinetics per 1,000 inhabitants per year. CONCLUSIONS: GER has a large impact on the utilization of healthcare resources and work absenteeism in Spain, in contrast to the widespread belief that it is an illness of little importance.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2002

The size of obesity differences associated with educational level in Spain, 1987 and 1995/97.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the size of obesity differences associated with educational level in the adult population in Spain. DESIGN: Three cross sectional studies representative of the adult population in Spain were carried out in 1987, 1995, and 1997. SETTING: The general population in Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 11 461 men and 10 219 women aged 25 to 64 years. MAIN RESULTS: For both men and women the obesity prevalence was highest in those with elementary education. In 1987 the obesity prevalence proportion associated with less than third level education (PA) was 24.5% (95% CI 6.0 to 42.8) and 47.9% (15.7 to 71.8) in men and women, respectively. The PAs in 1995/97 were 19.8% (0.2 to 40.2) and 55.1% (21.3 to 72.8). CONCLUSIONS: In 1995/97 the burden of obesity associated with less than third level education was 20% in men and 55% in women aged 25 to 64 years. Between 1987 and 1997 the obesity prevalence proportion associated with less than third level education increased in women and decreased in men.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Smoking and subjective health in Spain].

BACKGROUND: To examine the relationship between smoking and subjective health in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Datacome from the 1993 National Health Survey. Analyses were performed with logistic regression, adjusting for the main confounding factors. RESULTS: Among those less than 25 years, there is a dose-response relationship (p = 0.0001)between cigarette consumption and suboptimal health (fair, pooror very poor health). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking controlactivities should inform on the worse subjective health of youngsmokers, for whom other effects of tobacco smoking are less relevant because they appear to happen in the distant future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Health counseling about alcoholic beverage consumption].

This paper reviews the scientific evidence on the relationship between consumption of alcoholic beverages and health, at the individual and population levels. This evidence is used to inform the health counselling on such consumption. We propose that during the individual clinical encounter, the counselling should be adapted to clinical characteristics of the patient (mainly age and cardiovascular risk), consider the patient preferences (because there are alternatives to alcohol for cardiovascular prevention for those who do not like alcohol), and prudent ('primum non nocere'). For the population, the advice should be: "if you consume alcohol, less is better".

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical manifestations of heterozygote familial hypercholesterolemia in Spain. Study of 301 cases from the central and northern areas].

RATIONALE: To characterize clinical manifestations of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 301 cases of FH from central and north regions of Spain. RESULTS: With a mean (SD) cholesterol level of 346 (58) mg/dl, only 7.6% of the patients have xanthomas and 20% ischaemic heart disease. 51% have a familial history of ischaemic heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Different from the results of literature, xanthomas are very infrequent in FH in Spain, so diagnosis should be suspected from other data. The high prevalence of familial history of ischaemic heart disease supports the usefulness of this feature as a marker for diagnosis and prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The association of tobacco and alcohol consumption with the use of health care services in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Information on the impact of tobacco and alcohol consumption on the use of health services is scant and partially inconsistent. This paper examines the relationship between tobacco and alcohol consumption and the use of health care services in Spain. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 1993 Spanish National Health Survey, covering a random 21,120-person representative sample of Spain's noninstitutionalized population ages 16 years and older. Information was obtained through home-based interviews. RESULTS: Compared with never smokers, male smokers of more than 20 cigarettes/day tend to be hospitalized more frequently (odds ratio (OR) 1.31; 95% confidence limits (CL) 0.89-1.93) and make greater use of hospital emergencies (OR 1.51; 95%CL 1.13-2.01; P < 0.01). Among female smokers of more than 20 cigarettes/day, hospitalizations (OR 1.62; 95%CL 0.80-3.26) and medical visits (OR 1. 35; 95%CL 0.79-2.30) are also higher than among never smokers, although the associations do not reach statistical significance. Compared with never smokers, ex-smokers of both sexes make greater use of health care services (P < 0.01 for most services). There is a negative dose-response relationship (P < 0.001) between alcohol consumption and utilization of hospital and ambulatory services, for both sexes. Results are reasonably consistent across all age groups and are observed after adjustment for the principal confounding factors. We have found no evidence of a tobacco-alcohol interaction with the use of health care services. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers and ex-smokers make greater use of health care services. Control of smoking might reduce the use of such services and the ensuing human and economic costs. However, as alcohol consumption increases, the use of health care services decreases. This finding should not be used to promote even the moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Cholesterolemia control in Spain, 2000: a tool for cardiovascular disease prevention].

The document "Cholesterolemia control in Spain, 2000: a tool for cardiovascular disease prevention" reviews the current evidence on cardiovascular disease prevention and the therapeutic advances achieved in recent years, in order to aid risk-based clinical decision-making. Cardiovascular diseases rank as the first cause of death in Spain. Their demographic, health and social impact is increasing and it is likely to continue to do so in the next decades. Appropriate treatment for high blood cholesterol and other major risk factors is crucial in cardiovascular disease prevention. Individual risk stratification is essential to determine follow-up periodicity and treatment. Priorities for the control of cholesterolemia and the consequent cardiovascular risk are based on risk stratification. In primary prevention, the therapeutic objective in high risk patients has been established as LDL-cholesterol < 130 mg/dl. In secondary prevention, drug treatment is indicated when LDL-cholesterol > or = 130 mg/dl and the therapeutic objective is LDL-cholesterol < 100 mg/dl. Statins are first line drugs for treatment of high blood cholesterol. In moderate-severe hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL-cholesterol, fibrates are preferred. In acute coronary syndrome, hypolipemiant treatment, should be started as soon as possible, when indicated. Secondary prevention programmes that continually provide good clinical and risk factor control should be provided to coronary heart disease patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Control of cholesterolemia in Spain, 2000. A tool for cardiovascular prevention].

The document "Cholesterolemia Control in Spain, 2000: A Tool for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention" reviews the current evidence on cardiovascular disease prevention and the therapeutic advances achieved in recent years, in order to aid risk-based clinical decision-making. Cardiovascular diseases rank as the first cause of death in Spain. Their demographic, health and social impact is increasing and it is likely to continue to do so in the next decades. Appropriate treatment for high blood cholesterol and other major risk factors is crucial in cardiovascular disease prevention. Individual risk stratification is essential to determine follow-up periodicity and treatment. Priorities for the control of cholesterolemia and the consequent cardiovascular risk are based on risk stratification. In primary prevention, the therapeutic objective in high risk patients has been established as LDL-cholesterol < 130 mg/dl. In secondary prevention, drug treatment is indicated when LDL-cholesterol > or = 130 mg/dl and the therapeutic objective is LDL-cholesterol < 100 mg/dl. Statins are first line drugs for treatment of high blood cholesterol. In moderate-severe hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL-cholesterol, fibrates are preferred. In acute coronary syndrome, hypolipemiant treatment, should be started as soon as possible, when indicated. Secondary prevention programmes that continually provide good clinical and risk factor control should be provided to coronary heart disease patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Environmental factors during early life and socioeconomic status in the present: which is more important for cardiovascular mortality in Spain?].

BACKGROUND: To examine whether provincial mortality from ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease in Spain in 1991-1995 is associated with infant mortality in 1930-1934, independently of illiteracy (an estimator of socioeconomic status) in 1991. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Population-correlation study. RESULTS: Infant mortality is correlated with mortality from ischaemic heart disease (r = 0.38; p < 0.01) and cerebrovascular disease (r = 0.41; p < 0.01). When adjusting for illiteracy rate in 1991, the correlation of infant mortality with ischaemic heart disease mortality is r = 0.01 (p = 0.93), and with cerebrovascular disease mortality is r = 0.25 (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease mortality are moderately associated with infant mortality during the 1930s. This association might be explained by present socioeconomic status.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[The 4 Provinces Study: its principal objectives and design. The Researchers of the 4 Provinces Study].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Spain shows an important variation in the geographical distribution of ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease mortality. In this article, the primary objectives and design of the Four Provinces study are described. In this study we analyzed the contribution of environmental factors (diet, lipid profile and plasma antioxidants), acting in childhood, to explain differences in cardiovascular mortality rates between different provinces in Spain. METHODS: An ecological design was projected in which the units to study were four Spanish provinces with a wide variation in cardiovascular mortality in adulthood. The design compares diet, anthropometric variables and biological markers (particularly plasma lipids and antioxidant levels) in 6-7-year-old children, between the two provinces with the highest cardiovascular mortality rates and the two provinces with the lowest. The information for each province is collected in a cross-sectional manner in a representative sample of children from each province. DISCUSSION: Evidence from the literature concerning Northern European countries suggest the contribution of environmental factors during early age in the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The "Four Provinces" study will provide, for the first time, information about the influence of factors in early childhood of cardiovascular risk in a Mediterranean country. The study will also offer interesting data about food intake during school age in four provinces and it will allow us to estimate values of population of the variables of interest in those provinces.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1999

Determinants of geographical variations in body mass index (BMI) and obesity in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors associated with geographic variations in Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity in Spain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, ecological analysis using data on illiteracy rate (per 1000 population), energy intake (kcal/person/d), sedentary population (%), smoking population (%), alcohol consumption (g/person/d), and percentage of population aged 65 y or over, for Spain's 50 provinces. SUBJECTS: Non-institutionalized population aged 16y or over. MEASUREMENTS: Median BMI and percentage of population with obesity, defined as BMI > 30 kg/m2. RESULTS: There was a clear geographical pattern, with some areas in the south and north-west of the country registering the highest BMI and prevalence of obesity and a north-south pattern on illiteracy per 1000 population. Multivariate regression analysis showed that illiteracy, sedentary lifestyle and energy intake explain 35% and 14% of the variation in BMI and obesity, respectively. Illiteracy proved to be the variable most associated with both BMI (regression coefficient (beta = 0.01; P = 0.005) and obesity (beta = 0.05; P = 0.013). Sedentary lifestyle showed a statistically significant relationship with BMI (beta = 0.01; P = 0.03), but not with obesity (beta = 0.03; P = 0.581). Energy intake exhibited a relationship with BMI (beta < 0.01 P = 0.03) that lost statistical significance when adjusted for age. CONCLUSION: Geographical variations in BMI in Spain are partly explained by illiteracy, sedentary lifestyle and, to a lesser extent, energy intake, whereas regional variations in obesity are related only to the educational level of the population.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1999

[Towards evidence-based public health?].

Evidence-based public health can be viewed as a way of facing community health problems by which the decisions are taken accordingly to the available evidence. A complete multidisciplinary approach should be introduced, with the goal of identifying and articulating the different dimensions which are present when trying to respond to the challenges or problems for the people's health. In addition to clinical medicine, disciplines such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research, economics, behavioural sciences, demography, nutrition, gerontology or computing sciences, among others, may contribute to health promotion and disease prevention. This open approach should not be exempt of a captious attitude toward the obtainable information, while it is essential to have a comprehensive spirit to combine this information with the previous experience and the peculiarities of each situation. Searching for evidence begins with a clear operational statement of the problem. This helps to select and obtain the key pieces of information. The information obtained must be judged critically, and related to the specifics of the problem. Lastly, it should be accepted that search for evidence does not mean finding certitude. Idolizing evidence can end up being as inappropriate as the implementation of a health program ignoring the previous information about its potential effectiveness, if such information were available. Many decisions in public health have to be taken conscious that scientific evidence does not rule out uncertainty, as other elements such as the cultural context, the individual preferences and other social factors may have a decisive influence in the success or failure of public health interventions.

Bacterial Vaccines↗