Initiation of lipid-lowering therapy as primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in the elderly.

Aims: This study aimed to analyse the initiation adherence phase to lipid-lowering therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in a Spanish population aged 70 years or older. The secondary objective was to identify the determinants of initiation and early discontinuation.

Methods: This was an observational study conducted in the CArdiovascular Risk factors for HEalth Service research (CARhES) cohort.

Sars-Cov-2 Infection in Patients on Long-Term Treatment with Macrolides in Spain: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to know the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 in patients treated with long-term macrolides and to describe the factors associated with worse outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Primary Care setting. Patients with macrolides dispensed continuously from 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020, were considered.

Identifying Clusters of Adherence to Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Behaviors and Persistence with Medication in New Lipid-Lowering Drug Users. Impact on Healthcare Utilization.

We sought to identify specific profiles of new lipid-lowering drug users based on adherence to a healthy lifestyle and persistence with medication, and to characterize co-morbidities, co-treatments, and healthcare utilization for each of the profiles identified. Observational study in 517 participants in the Aragon Workers' Health Study (AWHS) without previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) and who initiated lipid-lowering therapy. Data were collected from workplace medical examinations and administrative health databases (2010-2018).

Effect of patient and treatment factors on persistence with antihypertensive treatment: A population-based study.

Purpose: To analyze patterns of antihypertensive drug use among new users in a Southern European population, and identify patient- and treatment-related factors that influence persistence.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of new antihypertensive drug users aged ≥40 years in Aragón, Spain. Information on antihypertensive drugs (2014-2016) prescribed and dispensed at pharmacies via the public health system were collected from a regional electronic population-based pharmacy database.

Prescribing pattern of antihypertensive drugs in two European cohorts: a population-based database study.

: Antihypertensive drugs play a crucial role in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Variability in prescribing patterns constitutes a major challenge for current healthcare systems. This study aimed to compare patterns of use of antihypertensives in general practice in two southern European populations.

Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Associated Gastroprotection in a Cohort of Workers.

Background: This study describes the prevalence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and analyses prescribing patterns of NSAIDs and associated gastroprotection.

Methods: The study population consisted of 5650 workers at the General Motors automobile assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. NSAID prescription data for 2014 were obtained from the prescription database of Aragon (Spain).

Persistence With Statins in Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Findings From a Cohort of Spanish Workers.

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess patterns of treatment persistence in a cohort of male Spanish workers receiving statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted within the framework of the prospective longitudinal Aragon Workers' Health Study (N = 5400). Incident male statin users were identified based on data collected from the regional government's medication consumption information system.

Different approaches to the assessment of adherence and persistence with cardiovascular-disease preventive medications.

Objective: To assess suitability and comparability of the most common methods of treatment adherence and persistence assessment, as applied to the same pharmacy dataset.

Methods: Data on drugs prescribed for cardiovascular primary prevention to participants in the Aragon Workers' Health Study (AWHS) were collected from a regional electronic drug prescription database. Several different approaches were used to measure treatment adherence (with the medication possession ratio [MPR]) and proportion of days covered [PDC]) and persistence in new users by therapeutic subgroup.

Poor congruence with guidelines in the use of antibiotics for acute bronchitis: a descriptive study based on electronic health records.

Background: Although acute bronchitis is frequently viral in nature, antibiotics are usually inappropriately prescribed in Primary Care to treat this condition, with serious public health consequences.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of appropriate management of antibiotic use in acute bronchitis processes diagnosed in outpatients in the Spanish region of Aragón.

Methods: Four different electronic health databases provided demographic and clinical information pertaining to patients diagnosed with acute bronchitis in Primary Care in Aragón during 2011, as well as data for corresponding antibiotic prescriptions dispensed at pharmacies.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DAILY SITTING TIME AND PREVALENT METABOLIC SYNDROME IN AN ADULT WORKING POPULATION: THE AWHS COHORT.

Objective: the aim of this analysis was to measure the association between daily sitting time and prevalent metabolic syndrome, independently of the physical activity performed.

Subjects And Methods: the Aragon Workers' Health Study cohort consists of 5 865 participants from which a sample of 1 415 male participants (40-55 years old) with completed data at baseline was selected. Sitting time and physical activity were assessed by validated questionnaires, and the socio-demographic, clinical and biochemical covariates needed to diagnose metabolic syndrome were collected as part of the study protocols.

Compliance with recommendations on outpatient antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections: the case of Spain.

Inappropriate antibiotic use in primary care, such as in respiratory tract infections (RTIs), is an important cause of bacterial resistance. This study aimed at describing the current pattern of outpatient antibiotic use in acute RTIs in Spain and evaluating adherence to national recommendations. A retrospective observational study was performed including all the episodes of RTIs registered during a 1-year period in a north-eastern Spanish region.

High antibiotic consumption: a characterization of heavy users in Spain.

Heavy antibiotic users are those individuals with the highest exposure to antibiotics. They play an important role as contributors to the increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance. We applied different methods to identify and characterize the group of heavy antibiotic users in Spain as well as their exposure to antibiotics.

The quality of outpatient antimicrobial prescribing: a comparison between two areas of northern and southern Europe.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyse and compare the quality of outpatient antimicrobial prescribing in Denmark and Aragón (in northeastern Spain), with the objective of assessing inappropriate prescribing.

Methods: Outpatient antimicrobial prescription data were obtained from the National Institute for Health Data and Disease Control in Denmark, and from the Aragón Information System of Drug Consumption. The number of Defined Daily Doses (DDD) of the different substances were calculated, and the quality of the antimicrobial prescription was analysed using the 'Drug Utilization 90 %' method and the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC) quality indicators for outpatient antimicrobial use.