Publications by authors named "Joan Vilalta Franch"
Objective: This study aimed to assess the association of somatic depressive symptoms (SDS), cognitive/emotional depressive symptoms (C-EDS), and antidepressant treatment on mortality due to cancer and other causes in a community cohort.
Methods: A community-based sample recruited in 1995, 2000, and 2005 aged between 35 and 75 years was examined in two waves and followed for a median of 6.7 years.
Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence and course of subthreshold depressive symptomatology (sDS) and probable major depressive episode (MDE) and to examine their association with personality traits among men and women.
Methods: A community-based sample aged 35 years or older was examined in two waves (median follow-up of 6.9 years).
Background: The concurrence of several chronic conditions is a rising concern that poses a serious burden on ageing populations. Analysing how these conditions appear together and how they change through time may provide useful information to design successful multimorbidity-management programs.
Objective: To identify multimorbidity patterns and their related characteristics from a longitudinal perspective.
Caregiving has negative effects on the health of informal caregivers. The current aging of the population predicts an increase in the number of informal caregivers worldwide. The effect of available public policies that support informal caregivers in their self-perceived health is an understudied topic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study examined how COVID-19 restrictions impacted the lifestyles of 692 individuals in Catalonia, Spain, assessing their mental health through a telephone survey.
- - Results showed that 12.7% of participants experienced signs of possible depression, linked to factors like job instability, economic fears, and concerns about health.
- - The lifestyle changes due to confinement accounted for 32% of the differences in depression scores, highlighting the significant mental health effects of pandemic-related restrictions.
Biomarkers of aging are urgently needed to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated disease or disability. Growing evidence from population-based studies points to whole-body magnetic resonance imaging's (MRI) enormous potential for quantifying subclinical disease burden and for assessing changes that occur with aging in all organ systems. The Aging Imageomics Study aims to identify biomarkers of human aging by analyzing imaging, biopsychosocial, cardiovascular, metabolomic, lipidomic, and microbiome variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine mortality rates and to rank the causes and predictors of mortality using a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Materials And Methods: It is a prospective population-based cohort study of adults living in the community, 2013-15 N = 48,691, age ≥50; deceased = 1,944. Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe SHARE: Age, Gender, Marital Status, Years of Schooling, Income, Loneliness, Cognition, Self-Rated Health, Diseases, Activities of daily living ADL, and Frailty.
Introduction: The multifactorial origin of violent behaviors generates the need to use prediction tools adapted to different contexts, patient profiles and types of aggression. The main objective of this work was to design an instrument to detect the risk of violence and aggression quickly and effectively in patients with mental disorder in psychiatric intensive care units.
Material And Methods: The sample consisted of 722 admissions of 629 patients from the psychiatric intensive care units.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) and memantine for Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with assessing the redundancy of post-approval trials.
- - A meta-analysis of 63 randomized clinical trials involving 16,576 patients revealed no significant improvements in cognitive function from either treatment, and a concerning dropout rate was noted particularly with donepezil due to adverse events.
- - The findings concluded that ChEI and memantine do not provide clinically meaningful benefits for AD, and a significant portion of clinical trials may be redundant, varying from 5.6% to 42.6% based on the criteria applied.
Background: Knowledge on survival after diagnosis is important for all stakeholders. We aimed to estimate the survival and life expectancy after a dementia diagnosis, and to quantify the impact of dementia subtypes on mortality.
Methods: Retrospective matched cohort study using a linkage between a dementia-specific registry and two primary care electronic medical records databases.
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed data from 7,357 newly diagnosed individuals with uncommon dementia subtypes to assess incidence rates based on age and sex.
- Uncommon dementia subtypes had a total incidence rate of 27.8 cases per 100,000 person-years, with significantly higher rates in older individuals (110.9 cases per 100,000 for those aged 65 and older).
- Differences were noted in demographic and clinical characteristics among uncommon dementia subtypes, influenced by factors such as age, sex, dementia severity, and existing medical conditions.
Background: The epidemiology of depressive disorders presents notable differences among European countries. The objectives of the study are to determine the prevalence, incidence, persistence and remission rates of depressive symptoms and to identify risk factors and differences between four European regions.
Method: Prospective cohort design using data from waves 5 and 6 (2013-15) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.
Background: The risk-benefit relationship of memantine treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. In addition, variability between the results of clinical trials has been observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk-benefit relationship of memantine treatment in patients with AD and to determine the predictor effect of patient, intervention, and study design related covariates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * This study analyzed data from over 13,000 caregivers across 12 European countries, focusing on how financial vs. non-financial support influences caregivers' health.
- * Findings revealed that non-financial support (like emotional help and skills training) has a stronger positive effect on caregivers' health than financial assistance, highlighting the importance of providing free time and emotional support for better caregiving experiences.
Objective: To describe the prevalence and concordance of anticholinergic exposure according to 9 published scales, to quantify the relative weight of the drug subtypes included in each scale, and to identify clinical variables related to anticholinergic exposure.
Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study using 5323 cases of dementia diagnosed in the 7 hospitals of the public health care system of the Health Region of Girona (Spain) between 2007 and 2014 and registered by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi). We used the Pharmacy database that includes all the drugs prescribed by specialist and primary care physicians and dispensed in pharmacies.
Background: There are several position statements and clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for diagnosing dementia.
Objective: Our aims were to evaluate the adherence to CPG among specialists in the 7 memory clinics included in the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi), and to compare the results between 2007-2011 and 2012-2015. We also determined the time and number of visits required to achieve a diagnosis, the supplementary tests ordered, and the drugs prescribed according to dementia subtypes.
Article Synopsis
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and memantine are commonly prescribed for treating symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and this study aimed to analyze how these medications are used among patients over time.
- A cohort of 2,992 Alzheimer’s patients from a registry was examined to identify characteristics associated with the prescription of these drugs and to track usage trends from 2007 to 2014.
- Results indicated that a significant majority of patients (70.4%) received antidementia medication at diagnosis, with AChEIs prescribed more frequently than memantine, but the use of AChEIs decreased while memantine use increased as the severity of dementia progressed.
Discontinuation, Efficacy, and Safety of Cholinesterase Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease: a Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of 43 Randomized Clinical Trials Enrolling 16 106 Patients.
Int J Neuropsychopharmacol
July 2017
Background: We investigated the effect of cholinesterase inhibitors on all-cause discontinuation, efficacy and safety, and the effects of study design-, intervention-, and patient-related covariates on the risk-benefit of cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials comparing cholinesterase inhibitors and placebo was performed. The effect of covariates on study outcomes was analysed by means of meta-regression using a Bayesian framework.
A Path Analysis of Dependence and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen
March 2017
Objective: To determine the direct and indirect relationships of cognitive, functional, and behavioral factors and other medical comorbidities with the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to the theoretical model of dependence.
Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study. Cognitive and functional status, behavior, dependence, medical comorbidities, and QoL were assessed by using standardized instruments.
Objective: To describe the demographic, health and socio-economic characteristics of the participants in the Study on Maturity and Satisfactory Ageing in Girona (MESGI50 study).
Methods: Population-based Study linked to the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The reference population was the inhabitants of the province of Girona (Spain) aged 50 and over.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined the relationship between depression and pain across genders in a sample of over 22,000 people aged 50 and above from 13 European countries, utilizing data from a two-year interval of interviews.
- - Findings showed that women had higher rates of depression and pain than men, with both treated and untreated pain linked to the onset of depression, particularly showing a stronger association in men.
- - The researchers concluded that addressing pain can help reduce the risk of developing depression for both genders, while treating depression may prevent the development and persistence of pain, especially in women.
Article Synopsis
- - The Trail Making Test (TMT) assesses skills like visual scanning and executive function, and the study aimed to explore its links with various neuropsychological tests in Spanish-speaking participants aged 55 and older.
- - A sample of 2,564 individuals was analyzed, with 1,923 completing the tests; results highlighted differences in performance based on factors like age, education, and sex.
- - Findings revealed that TMT-A performance was mostly connected to visual skills and speed, while TMT-B was linked to working memory and inhibitory control, leading to the creation of normative data tables.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with major depressive disorders (MDD) and bipolar disorders (BPDs) in individuals aged 45 and older in Catalonia, Spain, using a sample of 5,068 participants and established diagnostic tools.
- - Results indicate lifetime prevalence rates of 4.2% for Single MDD and 24.1% for Recurrent MDD, with a 3.0% prevalence for BPD; MDD was notably more common among women, unmarried individuals, and those with lower education levels, while BPD prevalence was higher in younger and unmarried people.
- - The study highlights a significant presence of mood disorders in the community, with nearly
The objective of this cross-sectional and multicenter study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Dependence Scale (DS) and to assess the relationship between dependence and clinical measures according to disease severity. Medical comorbidities, cognitive status and functional status, behavior, dependence, caregiver burden, and medical and social resources were assessed using standardized instruments. The sample consisted of 343 patients (32.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF