Multifocal candidiasis can be considered a form of invasive candidiasis in critically non-neutropenic patients.

Candida infections can be serious in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, as Candida is an organism that specially colonizes the digestive system. In immunocompromised patients, treatment is protocolized, but in non-neutropenic patients, it is not well established. On the other hand, the treatment of this type of infection is not absent of adverse effects.

Economic impact of heart failure according to the effects of kidney failure.

Introduction And Objectives: To evaluate the use of health care resources and their cost according to the effects of kidney failure in heart failure patients during 2-year follow-up in a population setting.

Methods: Observational retrospective study based on a review of medical records. The study included patients ≥ 45 years treated for heart failure from 2008 to 2010.

The effect of quitting smoking on costs and healthcare utilization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comparison of current smokers versus ex-smokers in routine clinical practice.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition mainly related to smoking, which is associated with a substantial economic burden. The purpose was to compare healthcare resource utilization and costs according to smoking status in patients with COPD in routine clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective cohort nested case-control study was designed.

Clinical and economic characteristics associated with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is usually accompanied by various comorbidities that can increase the cost of treatment. We are not aware of studies that have determined the costs associated with treating DM2 patients with co-morbidities such as overweight (OW), obesity (OBE) or arterial hypertension (AHT). The aim of the study was to examine the health-related costs and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in these patients.

Effect of smoking status on healthcare costs and resource utilization in patients with type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice: a retrospective nested case-control economic study.

Aim: To compare healthcare resource utilization and costs according to smoking status in patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective cohort nested case-control study was designed. Cases were current smokers, while 2 types of controls (former smokers and never smokers) were matched (2 controls per case) for age, sex, duration of diabetes and burden of comorbidity using data from medical records.

Health economics perspective of fesoterodine, tolterodine or solifenacin as first-time therapy for overactive bladder syndrome in the primary care setting in Spain.

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) is associated with high healthcare costs, which may be partially driven by drug treatment. There is little comparative data on antimuscarinic drugs with respect to resource use and costs. This study was conducted to address this gap and the growing need for naturalistic studies comparing health economics outcomes in adult patients with OAB syndrome initiating treatment with different antimuscarinic drugs in a primary care setting in Spain.

[Characterization of and costs associated to the profile of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin who are added a second oral antidiabetic drug: a population study].

Objectives: To determine compliance, metabolic control, complications and healthcare costs of patients treated with metformin started a second antidiabetic drug in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Patients And Methods: Design multicenter observational retrospective. Patients were evaluated ≥30 years (age), treated with metformin and started a second antidiabetic treatment during 2008-2009.

Clinical and economical consequences of the combination of metformin with dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors in type 2 diabetes patients.

Backgrounds And Objective: There are different second line glucose lowering drugs whose efficacy, safety and economic profile have not been established in our setting. We have analyzed the clinical (diabetic treatment adherence, metabolic control, hypoglycemia and macrovascular complications) and economic (resource use and costs) consequences of the combination of metformin with dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors (DPPIV) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multicenter, observational and retrospective study.

Resource use and economic impact of patients with gout: a multicenter, population-wide study.

Objective: To determine the use of resources and economic impact of patients with gout at the population level.

Patients And Methods: Observational design analysing records belonging to 6 primary care centers and 2 hospitals. We included patients' ≥18 years with an acute episode of gout over the years 2003-2007.

Retrospective epidemiological study for the characterization of community- acquired pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults in a well-defined area of Badalona (Barcelona, Spain).

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has large impact on direct healthcare costs, especially those derived from hospitalization. This study determines impact, clinical characteristics, outcome and economic consequences of CAP in the adult (≥18 years) population attended in 6 primary-care centers and 2 hospitals in Badalona (Spain) over a two-year period.

Methods: Medical records were identified by codes from the International Classification of Diseases in databases (January 1st 2008-December 31st 2009).

[Use of resources and costs associated to fractures in Spanish women].

The objective of the study was to determine the use of resources and costs due to bone fractures in Spanish women above 50 years of age in the population scope. An observational and retrospective study was conducted in six primary care centers and two urban hospitals in Spain. Socio-demographic and co-morbidity data, use of resources (primary care consultations, complementary tests, medications, specialized care, hospitalizations, visits, urgencies), costs and productivity losses were registered.

[Incidence, resource use and costs associated with postherpetic neuralgia: a population-based retrospective study].

Aim: To determine the incidence rate, the treatment administered and the use of health resources and health, and their respective costs in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Patients And Methods: We performed an observational design, made from retrospective review of patient records from six primary care centers and one hospital. All patients > 30 years consulting for PHN between 1/1/2007 and 31/12/2010 were included.

[Relationship of polymedication in controlling blood pressure: compliance, persistence, costs and incidence of new cardiovascular events].

Background And Objective: To determine the relationship of polypharmacy on blood pressure (BP) control, compliance, persistence, the cost and incidence of cardiovascular events (CVD) in patients with moderate/severe hypertension.

Patients And Methods: An observational multicenter retrospective study. We evaluated patients > 30 years who started a third antihypertensive treatment during 2004-2006.

Early diagnosis of candidiasis in non-neutropenic critically ill patients.

Objective: To determine a method for the early diagnosis of candidiasis in non-neutropenic critically ill patients in order to reduce mortality.

Methods: A prospective study in non-neutropenic critically patients in whom Candida spp. were detected, was made in an intensive care unit (ICU) during an 8-year period from 3389 patients admitted.

A prospective, randomized study in critically ill patients using the Oligon Vantex catheter.

Microbial colonization and the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) associated with Oligon Vantex silver central venous catheters (CVC) in critically ill patients were determined. A prospective, randomized, controlled 17-month trial was carried out in an intensive care unit (ICU). All patients requiring a triple-lumen CVC for four days or longer were enrolled.

[Factors helping in the decision to change intubation for tracheotomy in critical patients].

We carry out a prospective study in order to determine the prognostic factors in the development of injuries of upper airways, and their influence in the decision to perform a tracheotomy. The time to tracheotomy was previously stated, according to the type of patient (neurological or non-neurological). This study includes the clinical data and the upper airways endoscopic exploration of 654 patients with oro-tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours in a 6 year period.

The utility of serology in diagnosing candidosis in non-neutropenic critically ill patients.

This study was carried out to evaluate the utility of serological tests in the diagnosis of candidal infections in non-neutropenic critically ill patients. A prospective study was carried out in a 10-bed general intensive care unit; all patients with at least one organic sample with Candida spp. were included.

[Airway management in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation].

A prospective protocol for the management of the airway was applied to patients in the ICU. Acute complications due to intubation and tracheotomy as well as laryngo-tracheal lesions were studied in 125 consecutive patients during one year from the moment of extubation. Thirty four cases (27%) needed reintubation, and 58 tracheotomies were performed (46%).

[Post-mortem study of laryngotracheal lesions produced by prolonged intubation and/or tracheotomy].

Injuries of the laryngotracheal axis caused by prolonged intubation in critically ill patients raise the issue of the timing of tracheotomy in intubated patients. In 1992 a prospective study was begun in intensive care patients with intubation lasting more than 48 hours. Eight months later, post-mortem data on the laryngotracheal axis of deceased patients was added to our prospective study protocol.

[Lesions of the laryngotracheal axis due to prolonged intubation and/or tracheotomy. Preliminary data of a follow-up guidelines].

Lesions caused by prolonged intubation and tracheostomy when performed in critically ill patients to keep the airways opened are a permanent topic of discussion between intensive care professionals and otolaryngologists. We present a prospective study of such complications following the guidelines elaborated by the intensive care unit and the otolaryngology department of our hospital. The outcomes obtained in the first-year follow up allow us to verify a high incidence of such lesions in the initial period (87%) and a markedly decreased frequency in the following twelve months (17%).

[Thoracic actinomycosis].

Background: Thoracic actinomycosis is an rare disease in our medium. This fact, together with the variability of its forms of presentation and the difficulty in isolating its etiologic agent, make its diagnosis, particularly difficult.

Methods: A series of 8 cases diagnosed in the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 in two centers (Hospital de Bellvitge-Prínceps d'Espanya and Hospital de l'Esperança) is described with evaluation of the clinical and analytical data and the therapy applied.