[Characteristics of 107 Spanish healthcare registries and evaluation of the utilization thereof].

Background: The information concerning the currently existing healthcare registries in our country is not readily accessible, is scarce and some are not well-known, possibly being underused in comparison to their many potential uses. This study is aimed at evaluating the characteristics of the Spanish Healthcare registries and the utilization thereof, especially in Healthcare technology assessment.

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study of the Spanish Healthcare registries within the 1997-2002 period.

Influenza coverages in Spain and vaccination-related factors in the subgroup aged 50-64 years.

This study sought to describe influenza vaccination coverages for different Spanish population subgroups, stressing the analysis of vaccination-related factors in subjects aged 50-64 years and estimating the possible beneficial effect of extending universal vaccination to this age group. A total of 6,400 surveys, targeting subjects over the age of 16 years and drawn from the 1997 Spanish National Health Survey, were used for study purposes. Influenza coverage was observed to rise significantly with age, and the reason cited by most subjects for seeking vaccination was medical indication.