Structural heart transcatheter interventions in orthotopic cardiac transplant and left ventricular assist devices recipients: A nationwide study.

Background: The current incidence and outcomes of structural transcatheter procedures in heart transplant (HTx) recipients and left-ventricular assist devices (LVAD) carriers is unknown.

Aims: To provide insights on structural transcatheter procedures performed across HTx and LVAD patients in Spain.

Methods: Multicenter, ambispective, observational nationwide registry.

Optimizing heart failure pathways to enhance patient care: the Program to Optimize Heart Failure Patient Pathways (PRO-HF).

Aims: Many European healthcare providers struggle to adopt multidisciplinary, integrated care pathways for people with heart failure (HF) as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology. PRO-HF (Program to Optimize Heart Failure Patient Pathways) was developed to help clinicians identify strengths, gaps, and shortcomings in their HF pathways and support tailored interventions to optimize pathways and enhance patient care. We report initial findings from baseline assessments of HF pathway characteristics and challenges from 10 hospitals in six European countries (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom).

Sexualized drug use among men who have sex with men in Madrid and Barcelona: The gateway to new drug use?

This original study compares the prevalences of drug use for any purpose and for sexualized drug use (SDU) among MSM. It also describes relevant characteristics of first SDU, analyzes to what extent SDU has been the first experience (the gateway) with different drugs by age and explores the correlates of SDU. Study participants included 2,919 HIV-negative MSM attending four HIV/STI diagnosis services in Madrid and Barcelona.

Excessive Drinking Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Recruited From Web-Based Resources: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study.

Background: US and Northern European studies have found a higher prevalence of alcohol-related problems among men who have sex with men (MSM) than among the general population of men (GPM). However, most of them relied on traditional sampling methods, not profiting from MSM dating apps and websites for recruitment. Besides, analogous comparisons in Southern Europe are lacking.

Efficiency of Artificial Insemination at Natural Estrus in Organic Ewes.

Hormonal treatments used in the artificial insemination (AI) of sheep can cause several physiological problems that can affect negatively fertility and animal health; however, AI protocols based on the detection of natural estrus offer a more sustainable option and can achieve high fertility. In this study, an AI protocol at natural estrus in organic sheep was performed. In the first phase (AI protocol development), 125 ewes were exocervically inseminated, and their fertility was assessed based on the following factors: number of AI, physiological state, body condition, estrus detection-AI interval, and vaginal fluids in cervix.

Awareness and Use of HIV Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Remains Low in Spain 2 Years After Its Authorization.

Objectives: HIV self-testing has been available in Spain since 2017 as a diagnostic tool to promote earlier diagnosis. We aimed to assess awareness and previous use of HIV self-testing in a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited online more than 2 years after its legal authorization in Spain.

Methods: We analyzed 5,492 MSM recruited between May and July 2020 in gay dating apps/websites and other social networks.

Long-term results of autologous scaffold-free tissue-engineered vascular graft for hemodialysis access.

Background: The growing size of the end stage renal disease (ESRD) population highlights the need for effective dialysis access. Exhausted native vascular access options have led to increased use of catheters and prosthetic shunts, which are both associated with high risks of access failure and infection. Emerging alternatives include tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVG).

Effect of genotyping strategies on the sustained benefit of single-step genomic BLUP over multiple generations.

Background: Single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) allows the inclusion of information from genotyped and ungenotyped individuals in a single analysis. This avoids the need to genotype all candidates with the potential benefit of reducing overall costs. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of genotyping strategies, the proportion of genotyped candidates and the genotyping criterion to rank candidates to be genotyped, when using ssGBLUP evaluation.

Knowledge and Prior Use of HIV Self-Testing in Madrid and Barcelona among Men Who Have Sex with Men More than One Year after Its Legal Authorization in Spain.

This study assessed the knowledge and prior use of HIV self-testing in a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited in a sexual health clinic and two community-based testing sites in Madrid and Barcelona, >12 months after its legal authorization. Between March 2019 and December 2020, we recruited 2044 MSM. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire while waiting to be tested for HIV and other STIs.

Comparison of Polydrug Use Prevalences and Typologies between Men Who Have Sex with Men and General Population Men, in Madrid and Barcelona.

This study compares the prevalence of drug use and the typologies of polydrug use (PDU) in men who have sex with men (MSM) and general population men (GPM). Participants were men aged 16-64, living in the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona: 1720 were recruited in a GPM survey, and 2658 were HIV-negative MSM from HIV/STIs diagnosis services. Lifetime and last-year prevalence of drug use and prevalence ratios (PRs) of MSM to GPM for the different drugs were calculated using Poisson regression.

Injection of Anabolic Steroids in Men Who Had Sex with Men in Madrid and Barcelona: Prevalence Correlates and Role as a Risk Factor for Transmitted Infections.

This study describes the prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) injection, their main correlates, and the prevalence of specific AAS injection risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM), an area insufficiently addressed in scientific research. Participants were HIV-negative MSM attending four HIV/STI diagnosis services: two clinics and two community programmes in Madrid and Barcelona. Participants answered an online self-administered questionnaire.

Sexualized drug injection among men who have sex with men in Madrid and Barcelona as the first episode of drug injecting.

Background: We estimate the prevalence of drug injection, the variables associated with having ever injected and the proportion of ever injectors whose first drug injection was for having sex; we describe the first drug injection episode, analyze the drugs most frequently injected and estimate the prevalence of risky injecting behaviors.

Methods: The participants were 3387 MSM without a previous HIV diagnosis attending four HIV/STI diagnosis services in Madrid and Barcelona. Lifetime prevalence and prevalence ratios (PRs) by different factors were calculated using Poisson regression models with robust variance.

Opinions Towards Key Operational Aspects for the Implementation of HIV Self-Testing in Spain: A Comparison between Stakeholders and Potential Users.

We assessed previous knowledge about the existence of HIV self-testing of stakeholders in Spain, as well as their personal position towards this methodology. We also assessed their views on potential users' (PU) opinions towards several key operational aspects surrounding self-testing, and compared them to those expressed by a sample of PU comprised of men who have sex with men. In 2017, we recruited three types of stakeholders: public health professionals and policy makers (PHPPM) ( = 33), clinical providers ( = 290) and community-based/non-governmental organization (CBO/NGO) workers ( = 55).

Substance use in sexual context among Spanish resident men who have sex with men.

We analysed patterns of sexualized drug use (SDU) and pinpointed the one with the highest risk for the acquisition/transmission of HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in Spain. Additionally, we also identified the most affected subpopulations by highest risk SDU pattern. In 2016, we promoted an online survey in gay dating apps.

Potential of HIV Self-Sampling to Increase Testing Frequency Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men, and the Role of Online Result Communication: Online Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Late HIV diagnosis remains frequent among the gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) population across Europe. HIV self-sampling could help remove barriers and facilitate access to testing for this high-risk population.

Objective: We assessed the capacity of HIV self-sampling to increase the testing frequency among GBMSM living in Denmark, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, and evaluated the role of new technologies in the result communication phase.

Association of Sexualized Drug Use Patterns with HIV/STI Transmission Risk in an Internet Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men from Seven European Countries.

We estimated the prevalence of overall sexualized drug use (SDU) and of chemsex in particular, assessed patterns of drug use, and identified subpopulations of men who have sex with men (MSM) where SDU and chemsex are more frequent. Using data from an online survey of 9407 MSM recruited during 2016 in 7 European countries, we calculated the proportion of participants who reported SDU and chemsex (mephedrone, methamphetamine, and/or GHB/GBL) in the last 12 months. We grouped the different drug-use combinations in patterns and described sexual risk behaviors, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and HIV seropositivity for each one of them.

Cardiovascular mortality and risk behaviours by degree of urbanization before, during and after the economic crisis in Spain.

Background: To estimate the relationship of the degree of urbanization to cardiovascular mortality and to risk behaviours before, during and after the 2008 economic crisis in Spain.

Methods: In three areas of residence - large urban areas, small urban areas and rural areas - we calculated the rate of premature mortality (0-74 years) from cardiovascular diseases before the crisis (2005-2007), during the crisis (2008-2010 and 2011-2013) and after the crisis (2014-2016), and the prevalence of risk behaviours in 2006, 2011 and 2016. In each period we estimated the mortality rate ratio (MRR) and the prevalence ratio, taking large urban areas as the reference.

Conversion From Immediate-Release Tacrolimus to Prolonged-Release Tacrolimus in Stable Heart Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Lifelong adherence with post-transplant immunosuppression is challenging, with nonadherence associated with greater acute rejection (AR) risk.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated conversion from immediate-release tacrolimus (IRT) to prolonged-release tacrolimus (PRT), between January 2008 and December 2012 in stable adult heart transplant recipients. Cumulative incidence rate (IR) of AR and infection pre- and postconversion, safety, tacrolimus dose and trough levels, concomitant immunosuppression, and PRT discontinuation were analyzed (intention-to-treat population).

Mortality in Spain in the Context of the Economic Crisis and Austerity Policies.

To analyze the mortality trend in Spain before, during, and after the economic crisis and austerity policies. We calculated age-standardized annual mortality rates in 2001 through 2016 and estimated linear trends in mortality rates during 4 periods (2001-2007, 2008-2010, 2011-2013, and 2014-2016) using the annual percentage change (APC). All-cause mortality rate decreased during the period 2001 to 2016, although we found increases over the previous year.

Trends in disease mortality before and during the Great Recession in individuals employed in Spain in 2001.

Background: Previous studies on economic recessions and mortality due to cancer and other chronic diseases have yielded inconsistent findings. We investigated the trend in all-disease mortality and mortality due to several specific diseases before and during the Great Recession of 2008 in individuals who were employed in 2001, at the beginning of follow-up.

Methods: We follow in a nationwide longitudinal study over 15 million subjects who had a job in Spain in 2001.

HIV self-testing in Spain: A valuable testing option for men-who-have-sex-with-men who have never tested for HIV.

Background: We assessed the capacity of HIV self-testing to promote testing among untested men who have sex with men (MSM) and determined the most benefited subpopulations.

Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated on several gay websites in Spain from September 2012 to April 2013. We used Poisson regression to estimate factors associated with the intention to use self-testing if already available.

Macroeconomic fluctuations, changes in lifestyles and mortality from diabetes: a quasiexperimental study.

Background: To evaluate trends in diabetes-related health behaviours and mortality from diabetes and other chronic diseases in the Spanish population before, during and after the 2008 economic crisis.

Methods: Annual population measurements were obtained from national surveys and administrative registries for 2004-2016. Using segmented regression analysis, we calculated the annual percentage change (APC) in 2004-2007, 2008-2010, 2011-2013 and 2014-2016 in risk behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and meals away from home), in healthy behaviours (fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity) and in mortality rates from diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Effect of ageing and time since first heroin and cocaine use on mortality from external and natural causes in a Spanish cohort of drug users.

Background: We aimed to assess the effect of ageing and time since first heroin/cocaine use on cause-specific mortality risk and age disparities in excess mortality among heroin (HUs) and cocaine users (CUs) in Spain.

Methods: A cohort of 15,305 HUs and 11,905 CUs aged 15-49 starting drug treatment during 1997-2007 in Madrid and Barcelona was followed until December 2008. Effects of ageing and time since first heroin/cocaine use were estimated using a competing risk Cox model and the relative and absolute excess mortality compared to the general population through directly age-sex standardized rate ratios (SRRs) and differences (SRDs), respectively.

Directly alcohol-attributable mortality by industry and occupation in a Spanish Census cohort of economically active population.

Aims: To assess disparities in directly alcohol-attributable (DAA) mortality by industry/occupation in Spain during 2002-2011 and the contribution of different socio-demographic factors, including socioeconomic position, to explain such disparity.

Methods: Nationwide cohort study covering 16 million economically active people living in Spain in 2001. Deaths at age 25-64 were analyzed.