Epidemiology of hereditary ataxias in Spain: hospital discharge registry and population-based mortality study.

Background: Hereditary ataxias (HA) comprise a group of genetically heterogeneous rare diseases. As important public health problems to be monitored, this study analyses the morbimortality of HA in Spain.

Methods: Data were extracted from the national death index (1981-2008), using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision code 334 until 1998, and 10th revision code G11 from 1999 onwards.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of burning mouth syndrome therapy.

Objective: To study the cost-effectiveness of four alternative treatments for burning mouth syndrome (BMS).

Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from a healthcare payer perspective of four therapy strategies (amisulpride, paroxetine, sertraline and topical clonazepam), using a decision-tree model that incorporated direct healthcare costs and probabilities associated with the possible events and outcomes. Average cost-effectiveness and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated.

Increase in motor neuron disease mortality in Spain: temporal and geographical analysis (1990-2005).

The aim of this study was to assess the trend of motor neuron disease mortality in Spain from 1990 to 2005, and to ascertain the existence of geographical differences in mortality rates. MND deaths are registered by the National Statistics Institute of Spain – International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes ICD9 335.2 (1990-1998) and ICD10 G12.