Publications by authors named "Assumpta Ricart"
Identification of strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare system for persons living with rare diseases in Catalonia (Spain), and recommendations to improve its comprehensive attention: the "acERca las enfermedades raras" project.
Orphanet J Rare Dis
January 2025
Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are a heterogeneous group of complex and low-prevalence conditions in which the time to establish a definitive diagnosis is often too long. In addition, for most RDs, few to no treatments are available and it is often difficult to find a specialized care team.
Objectives: The project "acERca las enfermedades raras" (in English: "bringing RDs closer") is an initiative primary designed to generate a consensus by a multidisciplinary group of experts to detect the strengths and weaknesses in the public healthcare system concerning the comprehensive care of persons living with a RD (PLWRD) in the region of Catalonia, Spain, where a Network of Clinical Expert Units (Xarxa d'Unitats de Expertesa Clínica or XUEC) was created and is being implemented since 2015.
Article Synopsis
- Chronic back pain is a significant health issue affecting adults, and its prevalence varies due to factors like age, sex, and lifestyle.
- Between 2011 and 2018, a study found the overall lifetime prevalence of chronic back pain in the Catalan population decreased from 29.7% to 24.2%, with a more notable decline in women.
- The study identified several risk factors for chronic back pain, including being female, older age, poor health, lifestyle choices such as smoking and inactivity, and socio-economic challenges.