[Pulmonary embolism in medical inpatients. An approach to trends and costs in Spain].

Background: Tromboprophylaxis for hopitalized patients has became a widespread practice in the lasts years. However, the trends in pulmonary embolism (EP) are insufficiently known. We analyzed the trends of EP during the 1997-1999 period in Spain at the hospitals of the National Health System (NHS) and theirs costs were also estimated.

[Seasonal changes in morbimortality caused by pulmonary thromboembolism in Galicia].

Objectives: The goal of this report was to analyze the seasonal variation in the pulmonary embolism (EP) hospitalizations and mortality at the hospitals of the Galician Service of Health (SERGAS) in the Northwest of Spain, during the period 1996-2001.

Methods: The Related Group of Diagnosis (DRG) 78 (pulmonary embolism) from the SERGAS hospital discharge dataset during the 6-year period was examined. Age, sex, month of discharge and seasonal period was annotated.

[Seasonal changes in hospitalization and mortality resulting from chronic heart failure in Vigo].

Objectives: Circannual variation in morbi-mortality for ischemic heart disease is well-known but there are few data focusing on chronic heart failure (CHF). This report analyzes seasonal variations in CHF hospitalizations and mortality in Vigo, Northwest of Spain.

Methods: Data on hospital discharge reports with a diagnosis of CHF (3-digit ICD9 code 428) were obtained from the Clinical Documentation Service at Hospital Meixoeiro (419 beds, population: 167.