Increase in hospital care at the end of life: Retrospective analysis of the last 20 years of life of a cohort of patients.

Background: There is an increasing need for end-of-life care due to society's progressive aging. This study aimed to describe how hospitalizations evolve long-term and in the last months life of a cohort of deceased patients.

Methods: The study population were those who died in one year who lived in a district in southern Spain.

Role of telemedicine in the management of oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: a practical clinical approach.

Compared with face-to-face consultations, telemedicine has many advantages, including more efficient use of healthcare resources, partial relief of the burden of care, reduced exposure to COVID-19, treatment adjustment, organization of more efficient healthcare circuits and patient empowerment. Ensuring optimal anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation patients is mandatory if we want to reduce the thromboembolic risk. Of note, telemedicine is an excellent option for the long-term management of atrial fibrillation patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 hospitalization outcomes in persons with and without HIV in Spain.

Objective: To compare coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization outcomes between persons with and without HIV.

Design: Retrospective observational cohort study in 150 hospitals in Spain.

Methods: Patients admitted from 1 March to 8 October 2020 with COVID-19 diagnosis confirmed by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 positive) PCR test in respiratory tract samples.

Early use of tocilizumab in patients with severe pneumonia secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and poor prognostic criteria: Impact on mortality rate and intensive care unit admission.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, keeps spreading globally. Evidence suggests that a subgroup of patients with severe symptomatology might have cytokine storms, which increases mortality. The use of interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors may help in controlling the pathological immune response to the virus.

Estimation of Admission D-dimer Cut-off Value to Predict Venous Thrombotic Events in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Analysis of the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry.

Background: Venous thrombotic events (VTE) are frequent in COVID-19, and elevated plasma D-dimer (pDd) and dyspnea are common in both entities.

Objective: To determine the admission pDd cut-off value associated with in-hospital VTE in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: Multicenter, retrospective study analyzing the at-admission pDd cut-off value to predict VTE and anticoagulation intensity along hospitalization due to COVID-19.

Calcifediol Treatment and Hospital Mortality Due to COVID-19: A Cohort Study.

Context: Calcifediol has been proposed as a potential treatment for COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To compare the administration or not of oral calcifediol on mortality risk of patients hospitalized because of COVID-19.

Design: Retrospective, multicenter, open, non-randomized cohort study.

Health-related quality of life in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with controlled or uncontrolled anticoagulation status.

Background: There is a dearth of evidence regarding Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients undergoing oral anticoagulation therapy. Our objective was to describe HRQoL in NVAF patients on oral anticoagulation, focusing on uncontrolled patients on vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) versus controlled patients on VKAs or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), in a real-world setting. Additionally, we assessed the clinical characteristics of patients with uncontrolled anticoagulation.

Search for asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers during the pandemic: a Spanish experience.

Background: Asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 can be a vehicle for transmission of the infection. This fact is of particular importance in the case of healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design: Cross-sectional study in HCWs in a medium size hospital in the South of Spain.

Reducing residual thrombotic risk in patients with peripheral artery disease: impact of the COMPASS trial.

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at a high risk not only for the classical cardiovascular (CV) outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular events; MACE) but also for vascular limb events (major adverse limb events; MALE). Therefore, a comprehensive approach for these patients should include both goals. However, the traditional antithrombotic approach with only antiplatelet agents (single or dual antiplatelet therapy) does not sufficiently reduce the risk of recurrent thrombotic events.

Residual risk reduction opportunities in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. Role of dual pathway inhibition.

Introduction: In this review, the role of the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin approach (dual pathway inhibition - DPI) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and to perform practical recommendations about its use was updated.

Areas Covered: The contents of this review were proposed in an expert meeting. To identify relevant articles, a systematic search of Medline/Embase was performed (to July 2019), using the key words 'rivaroxaban', 'vascular dose', 'COMPASS' and 'coronary artery disease' in the search strategy.

Effect of daily consumption of extra virgin olive oil on the lipid profile and microbiota of HIV-infected patients over 50 years of age.

Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has shown beneficial effects on the lipid profile and inflammatory parameters in general population. Our goal is to analyze these changes together with those of intestinal microbiota in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients over 50 years of age.

Methods: Experimental single arm open study.

The role of aspirin as antiaggregant therapy in primary prevention. An update.

Aspirin indication in primary prevention has been questioned in the last ten years due to the publication of several trials with neutral outcomes. In the last year, three research studies discussed in this review (ASCEND, ARRIVE, ASPREE) have weighed the benefit (cardiovascular events reduction) against the adverse effects (especially bleeding) in several situations such as general population with moderate cardiovascular risk, diabetics and elderly population. This review performs a detailed analysis of these trials and it also comments on a recent metanalysis that includes these projects along with others undertaken in the last 30 years.

Efficacy and safety of the switch of Triumeq to generic (abacavir + lamivudine) + Tivicay: data at 48 weeks.

Generic drugs are helpful to enhance the efficiency of the sanitary system. A generic coformulation of abacavir (ABC) and lamivudine (3TC) is available since 2016 in Spain. A report of our experience with its use is exposed.

Experience of Using an App in HIV Patients Older Than 60 Years: Pilot Program.

Background: New technologies can promote knowledge of HIV infection among patients suffering from this disease. Older patients with HIV infection represent an increasingly large group that could benefit from the use of specific apps.

Objective: The aim of the study was to observe the acceptability and use of a mobile app on HIV infection in patients at least 60 years old and offer them the possibility of anonymously establishing contact with their peers.

Efficacy and safety of the switch of Triumeq® to generic (abacavir + lamivudine) + Tivicay®: data at 24 weeks.

Background: Generic drugs may help to support antiretroviral treatment. We want to assess the efficacy and safety at 24 weeks of the change of coformulated (abacavir + lamivudine + dolutegravir) to (abacavir + lamivudine) coformulated as a generic pharmaceutical specialty + dolutegravir.

Methods: Between February and June 2017, switch from Triumeq® to a generic pharmaceutical specialty co-formulated tablet (abacavir + lamivudine) plus Tivicay® was made.

Factors related to NT-proBNP levels in HIV patients aged over 40 years.

Objective: To determine the levels of NT-pro BNP in HIV patients over 40 years who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and investigating potential independent clinical or laboratory factors.

Method: We determine levels of NT-pro BNP in peripheral blood of HIV patients from Costa del Sol Hospital, over 40 years. We collected epidemiological, classical cardiovascular risk factors and variables associated with HIV infection status.

Left ventricular hypertrophy detected by echocardiography in HIV-infected patients.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a predictor of overall mortality in the general population. The most sensitive diagnostic method is transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). In this study, we describe the prevalence of LVH, and the factors associated with it, in a group of patients with HIV infection.

Core competencies in internal medicine.

The working group on Competencies of Internal Medicine from the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI) proposes a series of core competencies that we consider should be common to all European internal medicine specialists. The competencies include aspects related to patient care, clinical knowledge, technical skills, communication skills, professionalism, cost-awareness in medical care and academic activities. The proposal could be used as a working document for the Internal Medicine core curriculum in the context of the educational framework of medical specialties in Europe.

[Consensus document on the management after hospital discharge of patient with hyperglycaemia].

The present document intends to adapt the general recommendations set up in a consensus to elaborate the hospital discharge report in medical specialties to the specific needs of the hospitalized diabetic population. Diabetes is an illness with a very high health cost, being the global risk of death in people with diabetes almost double than in non-diabetes people, justifying the fact that diabetes constitutes one of the most frequent diagnoses in hospitalized patients and the growing interest upon hyperglycaemia management during hospitalization and at discharge. To set up an adequate treatment plan at discharge suitable for each patient, the most important elements to take into account are the etiology and prior hyperglycaemia treatment, the patient's clinical situation and the degree of glycaemia control.

[Self-reported cases of influenza among Spanish healthcare workers during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic].

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of influenza-like syndrome in winter 2009 and the factors associated with its occurrence.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 18 hospitals in Spain. Volunteers completed a health questionnaire in which they reported the occurrence of influenza-like syndrome and vaccination and demographic status.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to the influenza A (H1N1) virus among healthcare workers prior to the 2009 pandemic peak.

Objective: Our aim was to study the proportion of healthcare workers with a positive serology for Influenza A(H1N1)2009 without having flu, in a Spanish hospital at the beginning of the pandemic.

Methods: A survey study carried out during August 2009 (before the peak of the pandemic in Spain) in the Hospital Costa del Sol, a second level hospital with almost 300 beds in the South of Spain. The participants were workers in the following hospital units: Emergencies, Medical Area (Internal Medicine, Chest Diseases), Surgical Area (General Surgery and Anaesthesia) of any professional category.