Role of biological and non biological factors in congestive heart failure mortality: PREDICE-SCORE: a clinical prediction rule.

Background: Congestive heart failure (HF) is a chronic, frequent and disabling condition but with a modifiable course and a large potential for improving. The aim of this project was to develop a clinical prediction model of biological and non biological factors in patients with first diagnosis of HF that facilitates the risk-stratification and decision-making process at the point of care.

Methods And Results: Historical cohort analysis of 600 patients attended at three tertiary hospitals and diagnosed of a first episode of HF according Framingham criteria.

Motor complications in Parkinson's disease: ten year follow-up study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) can be symptomatically controlled with standard treatments; however, after a few years, this response typically declines and most patients develop motor complications. We carried out a prospective practice-based study to evaluate the evolution appearance and evolution of motor complications in 64 de novo PD patients over 5 years and in 38 PD patients over 10 years. We studied untreated patients from initial assessment at basal conditions and evaluated every 6 months thereafter with treatment (levodopa versus other drugs).

Trends from 1995 to 2006 in the prevalence of self-reported cardiovascular risk factors among elderly Spanish diabetics.

Aim: In this study, we examined the trends from 1995 to 2006 in cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in Spaniards aged 65 years or older with diabetes.

Methods: We looked at the individual data from adults aged > or =65 years from the Spanish National Health Surveys of 1995 (n=1117), 1997 (n=1111), 2001 (n=4328), 2003 (n=6134) and 2006 (n=7835). Those classified as having diabetes had answered the two following questions in the affirmative: Has your doctor told you that you currently have diabetes? Have you taken any medication to treat diabetes in the last two weeks? The CVRF of interest included high blood pressure (HBP), high cholesterol levels, obesity (BMI > or =30 kg/m(2)), smoking and sedentarity, which were estimated and compared for prevalence by survey year, age group and gender.

Correlation of genetic and clinical findings in Spanish patients with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis.

Purpose: X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is one of the most common causes of juvenile macular degeneration in males, characterized by microcystic changes, splitting within the inner retinal layer (schisis), and the presence of vitreous veils. This study was conducted to describe and further correlate specific genetic variation in Spanish patients with XLRS with clinical characteristics and additional ophthalmic complications.

Methods: The study was performed in 34 Spanish families with XLRS, comprising 51 affected males.

[Changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain from 2001 to 2003. Analysis by autonomous communities].

Objectives: To evaluate changes in influenza vaccination coverage in Spain by autonomous communities between 2001 and 2003 and to compare the influenza vaccination coverage obtained in Spanish National Health Surveys (NHS) with other official sources.

Methods: A total of 42,722 cases from the NHS for 2001 (n = 21,072) and 2003 (n = 21,650) were analyzed. All the cases corresponded to adults aged more than 15 years old.

Influenza vaccination among the elderly Spanish population: trend from 1993 to 2003 and vaccination-related factors.

Background: Influenza is an important public health problem that particularly affects elderly subjects and influenza vaccination is a safe, effective and efficient method for prevention of influenza-related complications in elderly individuals with or without underlying chronic conditions. This study aims to analyze adjusted time trends in the coverage of influenza vaccination among elderly Spanish subjects and to identify which variables were associated with the probability of having been vaccinated in 2003.

Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional study using data of individuals aged >/=65 years drawn from the 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, and 2003 Spanish National Health Surveys.

Influenza vaccination among cardiovascular disease sufferers in Spain: related factors and trend, 1993-2003.

Based on data drawn from the 1993 and 2003 National Health Surveys (NHS), we sought to: estimate influenza vaccination coverages among Spanish cardiovascular disease (CVD) sufferers; study which variables were associated with the likelihood of being vaccinated; analyze the time-trend in coverage for the period 1993-2003. For study purposes, a CVD sufferer was defined as any adult who reported suffering from high blood pressure and/or heart disease. The proportion of vaccinated adult CVD sufferers in 1993 and 2003 totalled 39.