Influence of income on in-hospital mortality in older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the EDEN-33 study.

Objectives: To determine whether income was associated with unexpected in-hospital mortality in older patients treated in Spanish public health system hospital emergency departments.

Material And Methods: Fifty-one public health system hospital emergency departments in Spain voluntarily participated in the study. Together the hospitals covered 25% of the population aged 65 years or older included in all patient registers during a week in the pre-pandemic period (April 1-7, 2019) and a week during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 30 to April 5, 2020).

[Impacto de la dependencia funcional de los pacientes mayores atendidos en los servicios de Urgencias españoles durante la primera ola pandémica de la COVID-19 sobre la mortalidad a 30, 180 y 365 días en función del diagnóstico (COVID versus no COVID).].

Objective: Functional assessment is part of geriatric assessment. How it is performed in hospital Emergency Departments (ED) is poorly understood, let alone its prognostic value. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether baseline disability to perform basic activities of daily living (BADL) was an independent prognostic factor for death after the index visit to the ED during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether it had a different impact on patients with and without diagnosis of COVID-19.

Sex- and age-related patterns in the use of analgesics in older patients in the emergency department.

Background: Treatment of acute pain in older patients is a common challenge faced in emergency departments (EDs). Despite many studies that have investigated chronic analgesic use in the elderly, data on patterns of acute use, especially in EDs, of analgesics according to patient characteristics is scarce.

Objective: To investigate sex- and age-related patterns of analgesic use in the Spanish EDs and determine differences in age-related patterns according to patient sex.

Relationship between the structure, function and endothelial damage, and vascular ageing and the biopsychological situation in adults diagnosed with persistent COVID (BioICOPER study). A research protocol of a cross-sectional study.

SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the vascular endothelium, which mediates the inflammatory and thrombotic cascade. Moreover, alterations in the endothelium are related to arterial stiffness, which has been established as a marker of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to analyse how the structure, vascular function, vascular ageing and endothelial damage are related to the biopsychological situation in adults diagnosed with persistent COVID and the differences by gender.

A case-control analysis of stroke in COVID-19 patients: Results of unusual manifestations of COVID-19-study 11.

Objective: We investigated the incidence, predictor variables, clinical characteristics, and stroke outcomes in patients with COVID-19 seen in emergency departments (EDs) before hospitalization.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all COVID-19 patients diagnosed with stroke during the COVID-19 outbreak in 62 Spanish EDs. We formed two control groups: COVID-19 patients without stroke (control A) and non-COVID-19 patients with stroke (control B).

Frequency, Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case-Control, Emergency Medicine-Based Multicenter Study.

Background: Recent reports of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) developing pneumothorax correspond mainly to case reports describing mechanically ventilated patients. The real incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) as a form of COVID-19 presentation remain to be defined.

Research Question: Do the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of SP in patients with COVID-19 attending EDs differ compared with COVID-19 patients without SP and non-COVID-19 patients with SP?

Study Design And Methods: This case-control study retrospectively reviewed all patients with COVID-19 diagnosed with SP (case group) in 61 Spanish EDs (20% of Spanish EDs) and compared them with two control groups: COVID-19 patients without SP and non-COVID-19 patients with SP.

Automatic image analyser to assess retinal vessel calibre (ALTAIR). A new tool to evaluate the thickness, area and length of the vessels of the retina.

Background And Objectives: The examination of the fundus allows to evaluate retinal the microcirculation in vivo. We assess the reliability and validity of ALTAIR software, and to evaluate its clinical relevance by the association of thickness, area and length of the retinal vessels with other measures of vascular structure and function, target organ damage and cardiovascular risk.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving a total of 250 subjects aged 62 ± 9 years, 51 % males.

Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcome of Trochleitis.

Background And Purpose: To study the clinical characteristics, treatment options, and outcome of patients with trochleitis in our population.

Methods: Retrospective review of 59 patients diagnosed with trochleitis in the Ramon y Cajal Hospital Emergency Service between 2003 and 2010. Demographic data and trochleitis features were described.

Variability of the multifocal electroretinogram based on the type and position of the electrode.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the wave amplitude of multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) measurements and discomfort from Dawson-Trick-Litzkow (DTL) electrode located on the cornea (cDTL) and on the conjunctival fornix (fDTL) and ERG-jet contact lens electrode (CL).

Methods: Thirty-six patients and 18 healthy volunteers were evaluated with three different methods (cDTL, fDTL and CL). Wave amplitude, number of artifacts, number of electrode dislocations and level of discomfort obtained with each electrode were compared.

Relationship of 24-h blood pressure variability with vascular structure and function in hypertensive patients.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship of 24-h blood pressure variability (BPV) with vascular structure and function using the SD and the coefficient of variation (CV).

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 344 hypertensive patients (aged 54.1±11.

Office and 24-hour heart rate and target organ damage in hypertensive patients.

Background: We investigated the association between heart rate and its variability with the parameters that assess vascular, renal and cardiac target organ damage.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including a consecutive sample of 360 hypertensive patients without heart rate lowering drugs (aged 56 ± 11 years, 64.2% male).

Relationships of night/day heart rate ratio with carotid intima media thickness and markers of arterial stiffness.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between office and ambulatory heart rate, and its variability, and arterial stiffness in patients with primary arterial hypertension.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a primary care setting, with the inclusion of 356 hypertensive patients aged 30-80 years. Office and ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, night/day heart rate ratio and the corresponding standard deviations, were determined.

Relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index and subclinical target organ damage in hypertensive patients.

Increased arterial stiffness has been shown to predict cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and subclinical organ damage (SOD). The design was a cross-sectional study.

[Effectiveness of a preventive intervention strategy based on structured telephone interviews in a working population with a moderate to high cardiovascular risk].

Objective: This study assesses the effectiveness of a structured telephone survey on cardiovascular prevention, in modifying lifestyle, on cardiovascular risk parameters, percentage of smoking cessation and overall cardiovascular risk (CVR).

Design: Quasi-experimental study of preventive intervention.

Setting: Ibermutuamur (Spanish Accident and Health Insurance Company).

[Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Spanish working population].

Introduction And Objectives: The routine medical check-up provides a good opportunity for screening workers early for cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Spanish working population.

Methods: The study included 216 914 working people (mean age 36.

[GUTI-VAL apparatus: respiratory deficiency and non-invasive ventilation].

Mechanical non-invasive ventilation provides a useful therapeutic option to treat some types of respiratory deficiencies. This apparatus improves the morbid mortality rate and shortens hospital stays especially since it prevents tracheotomy, but it can produce some inconveniences. The authors evaluate the efficiency of the GUTI-VAL Connection Apparatus in the treatment of patients suffering from a respiratory deficiency used along with a CPAP mask in terms of the degree of comfort and acceptance patients have, the prevention of a tracheotomy and of cutaneous lesions.