Incidence of direct oral anticoagulant use in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and characteristics of users in 6 European countries (2008-2015): A cross-national drug utilization study.

Aims: To estimate the incidence of direct oral anticoagulant drug (DOAC) use in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and to describe user and treatment characteristics in 8 European healthcare databases representing 6 European countries.

Methods: Longitudinal drug utilization study from January 2008 to December 2015. A common protocol approach was applied.

Habitual coffee consumption and 24-h blood pressure control in older adults with hypertension.

Background & Aims: In normotensive and hypertensive individuals, blood pressure (BP) rises acutely during a few hours following coffee or caffeine consumption. However, the effect of habitual coffee consumption on BP and BP control is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the association of habitual coffee consumption on 24-h BP and BP control among older adults with hypertension.

Validity and reproducibility of a Spanish dietary history.

Objective: To assess the validity and reproducibility of food and nutrient intake estimated with the electronic diet history of ENRICA (DH-E), which collects information on numerous aspects of the Spanish diet.

Methods: The validity of food and nutrient intake was estimated using Pearson correlation coefficients between the DH-E and the mean of seven 24-hour recalls collected every 2 months over the previous year. The reproducibility was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients between two DH-E made one year apart.

Sleep quality and the metabolic syndrome: the role of sleep duration and lifestyle.

Background: This study examined the association between sleep quality and the metabolic syndrome and whether if it is independent of sleep duration and if it can be explained by lifestyles linked to sleep quality.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted from 2008 to 2010 with 10 342 individuals representative of the population aged ≥18 years in Spain. Poor sleep quality was ascertained through self-reported difficulty falling asleep, difficulty maintaining sleep and sleeping pill consumption.

Food sources of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in the Spanish hypertensive and diabetic population.

Objectives: Previous research has shown that the diet of hypertensive and diabetic patients has a low accordance with the main nutritional recommendations, mostly due to the high intake of sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. This is the first study to identify the main food sources of these nutrients in these patients.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2008-2010 in a representative sample of the Spanish adult population, including 2323 patients with hypertension and 635 with diabetes.

Life-course socioeconomic position and change in quality of life among older adults: evidence for the role of a critical period, accumulation of exposure and social mobility.

Background: This study evaluates the influence of socioeconomic position (SEP) over the life course on change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 2117 individuals aged 60 years and over. In 2001, SEP was measured over the life course as social class in childhood (approximated by father's occupation), as educational level completed and as adult social class (occupation of household head).

Change in health-related quality of life as a predictor of mortality in the older adults.

Purpose: We examined whether changes in health-related quality of life (HRQL) predict subsequent mortality among the Spanish elderly.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 2,373 persons, representative of the Spanish population aged 60 and older. HRQL was measured in 2001 and 2003 using the SF-36 health questionnaire.

[Cardiovascular mortality attributable to high blood pressure in Spanish population over 50].

Background And Objective: Cardiovascular mortality attributable to high blood pressure in Spain is not available at present.

Patients And Method: Population attributable risk and number of cardiovascular deaths attributable to high systolic blood pressure (> or = 120 mmHg) were estimated for the Spanish population aged 50-89 years, according to classical formulae. Relative risk data were drawn from the Prospective Studies Collaboration, meta-analysis of 61 studies on blood pressure and mortality, with data on one million subjects (30,000 from South Europe) with no prior vascular disease.

Functional status and use of health care services: longitudinal study on the older adult population in Spain.

Background: Follow-up studies on the association between functional status and use of health care services among the older people are scarce and have studied only a few types of service.

Objective: To examine prospectively the relationship between limitation in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and utilization of a wide variety of health care services among older adults in Spain.

Methods: Prospective study from 2001 to 2003 of a cohort of 2806 persons, representative of the non-institutionalized Spanish population aged 60 years and over.