Predictive Models for Forecasting Public Health Scenarios: Practical Experiences Applied during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Forecasting the behavior of epidemic outbreaks is vital in public health. This makes it possible to anticipate the planning and organization of the health system, as well as possible restrictive or preventive measures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this need for prediction has been crucial.

The Influence of Infection and Colonization on Outcomes in Inpatients With COVID-19: Are We Forgetting Something?

The COVID-19 epidemic has been a great challenge to health systems and especially hospitals. A prospective observational epidemiological study was planned as of February 26, 2020 in a tertiary hospital in the Valencia region. The total number of patients followed up with complete information during the first year was 2,448.

The social nature of chronic noncommunicable diseases and how to tackle them through communication technology, training, and outreach.

As world leaders prepare for the United Nations High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, to take place in September 2011, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and economic and business fora have created new alliances and initiatives to accelerate research, advocacy, and political commitment. This article argues that the time is propitious to reflect on the social nature of the most common behavioral noncommunicable disease determinants, including tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. Evidence is presented related to the fact that these diseases are profoundly rooted in social and community ties and points to the need for a modern communication strategy to serve as a linchpin of any successful action to address these public health threats.

The effects of the financial crisis on primary prevention of cancer.

The present financial crisis will affect primary cancer prevention through several avenues: personal lifestyle choices, exposure to environmental risk factors, decisions made in the private sector and public policy on cancer prevention. Whilst it is clearly problematic to reach solid conclusions on a direct connection between economic crises and cancer mortality, we can identify trends that provide guidance for further action. For some lifestyle choices such as smoking or diet, we argue that public policy may channel existing tendencies during times of crisis for clear added value.

Healthcare associated infection: novel strategies and antimicrobial implants to prevent surgical site infection.

This report is based on a Hygienist Panel Meeting held at St Anne's Manor, Wokingham on 24-25 June 2009. The panel agreed that greater use should be made of antiseptics to reduce reliance on antibiotics with their associated risk of antibiotic resistance. When choosing an antiseptic for clinical use, the Biocompatibility Index, which considers both the microbiocidal activity and any cytotoxic effects of an antiseptic agent, was considered to be a useful tool.

Social economic costs and health-related quality of life in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Spain.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a process that leads to the functional disability of the individual in a relatively short period of time, with a very important limitation of autonomy and affecting the quality of life. We wished to determine the economic burden (direct and indirect costs), as well as health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with ALS in Spain. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 63 patients with ALS during 2004.

Socio-economic cost and health-related quality of life of burn victims in Spain.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the economic burden (direct and indirect costs) of burn victims and the impact of burn on health-related quality of life in Spain.

Methods: In 2003, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 898 burned people. Data regarding demographic features, health resource use, informal care, indirect costs and quality of life were prospectively collected through hospital admission databases and questionnaires filled out by burn victims and caregivers.

Cost-utility analysis applied to the treatment of burn patients in a specialized center.

Objective: To discover the total costs and quality of life of burn patients in a specialist center classified by diagnosis-related groups (DRGs).

Design: Prospective study of 5-year follow-up from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2001.

Setting: Burn Center of Valencia.

[Characteristics of avoidable hospitalization in Spain].

Background And Objective: Hospitalizations that could have been prevented with a timely and effective ambulatory care are known as avoidable hospitalizations (AH). The measure of AH is an indicator of the quality of primary health care centers. The objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the level of AH at the Spanish public hospitals.