Should we measure quality of life among people with HIV? A multicentre survey of physicians' opinions in Spain.

Objectives: We assessed the opinions of physicians caring for people with HIV (PWH) from the multicentre Spanish CoRIS cohort regarding the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: We designed an online self-administered questionnaire comprising 27 structured questions across four domains: (i) sociodemographic and clinical data; (ii) usefulness of measuring HRQoL; (iii) information, training and resource needed; and (iv) whether and how HRQoL should be measured. Physicians completed the questionnaire between April and June 2023.

Role of Sleep Apnea and Long-Term CPAP Treatment in the Prognosis of Patients With Melanoma: A Prospective Multicenter Study of 443 Patients.

Background: OSA has been associated with increased incidence and aggressiveness of melanoma. However, the long-term impact of OSA and CPAP treatment on the prognosis of melanoma remains unexplored.

Research Question: Are OSA and CPAP treatment associated independently with a poor prognosis for cutaneous melanoma?

Study Design And Methods: Four hundred forty-three patients with a diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma (2012-2015) underwent a sleep study within 6 months of diagnosis.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Effect on Albuminuria Progression in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with impaired glycemic control and a higher risk of vascular complications, such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the effect of apnea-hypopnea suppression on DKD progression is unclear. To assess the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in patients with DKD and OSA.

Moderate obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular outcomes in older adults: a propensity score-matched multicenter study (CPAGE-MODE study).

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with cardiovascular events (CVEs), although recent randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated that long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) prevents CVEs. Our objective was to determine the effect of CPAP on older adults with moderate OSA regarding CVE reduction.

Methods: An observational and multicenter study of a cohort of older adults (> 70 years of age) diagnosed with moderate OSA (apnea-hypopnea index 15.

International Consensus Document on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The main aim of this international consensus document on obstructive sleep apnea is to provide guidelines based on a critical analysis of the latest literature to help health professionals make the best decisions in the care of adult patients with this disease. The expert working group was formed primarily of 17 scientific societies and 56 specialists from a wide geographical area (including the participation of 4 international societies), an expert in methodology, and a documentalist from the Iberoamerican Cochrane Center. The document consists of a main section containing the most significant innovations and a series of online manuscripts that report the systematic literature searches performed for each section of the international consensus document.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with impaired renal function in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a recognized risk factor for the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Our objectives were to compare the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients with DKD according to OSA severity, and to evaluate the contribution of sleep parameters to their renal function. In a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study, 214 patients with DKD were recruited.

Long-term Noninvasive Ventilation in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome Without Severe OSA: The Pickwick Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective form of treatment in obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) with severe OSA. However, there is paucity of evidence in patients with OHS without severe OSA phenotype.

Research Question: Is NIV effective in OHS without severe OSA phenotype?

Study Design And Methods: In this multicenter, open-label parallel group clinical trial performed at 16 sites in Spain, we randomly assigned 98 stable ambulatory patients with untreated OHS and apnea-hypopnea index < 30 events/h (ie, no severe OSA) to NIV or lifestyle modification (control group) using simple randomization through an electronic database.

Cost-effectiveness of positive airway pressure modalities in obesity hypoventilation syndrome with severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is treated with either non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or CPAP, but there are no long-term cost-effectiveness studies comparing the two treatment modalities.

Objectives: We performed a large, multicentre, randomised, open-label controlled study to determine the comparative long-term cost and effectiveness of NIV versus CPAP in patients with OHS with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) using hospitalisation days as the primary outcome measure.

Methods: Hospital resource utilisation and within trial costs were evaluated against the difference in effectiveness based on the primary outcome (hospitalisation days/year, transformed and non-transformed in monetary term).

Social value of a set of proposals for the ideal approach of multiple sclerosis within the Spanish National Health System: a social return on investment study.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease that in many cases produces disability, having a high impact in patients' lives, reducing significantly their quality of life. The aim of this study was to agree on a set of proposals to improve the current management of MS within the Spanish National Health System (SNHS) and apply the Social Return on Investment (SROI) method to measure the potential social impact these proposals would create.

Methods: A Multidisciplinary Working Team of nine experts, with representation from the main stakeholders regarding MS, was set up to agree on a set of proposals to improve the management of MS.

Echocardiographic Changes with Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. Long-Term Pickwick Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, randomized trials assessing the impact of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography are lacking. In a prespecified secondary analysis of the largest multicenter randomized controlled trial of OHS (Pickwick Project;  = 221 patients with OHS and coexistent severe obstructive sleep apnea), we compared the effectiveness of three years of NIV and CPAP on structural and functional echocardiographic changes.

Central sleep apnea in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and improvement following adenotonsillectomy.

Background: Although the pathogenesis of central and obstructive events seems to be different, these two entities may somehow be related. We aimed to determine whether, as reported in previous research, the number of central sleep apnea (CSA) cases in a population of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was greater than in patients without obstructive events, and if CSA worsens with increasing OSAS severity. As a second objective, we analyzed changes in central apnea index (CAI) after adenotonsillar surgery compared to changes when no surgery has been performed.

Sleep-Disordered Breathing Is Independently Associated With Increased Aggressiveness of Cutaneous Melanoma: A Multicenter Observational Study in 443 Patients.

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with a greater incidence and mortality of cancer, although such findings are inconsistent. However, no large studies are currently available to investigate this association in patients with a specific type of cancer. This study seeks to assess potential relationships between SDB severity and aggressiveness markers of cutaneous melanoma.

Perception of the quality of care, work environment and sleep characteristics of nurses working in the National Health System.

Objective: To describe nurses' perception in relation to the quality of care and their work environment, as well as to describe their quality of sleep. To analyze the relationship between ward and work shift with nurses' perception of their work environment, sleep quality and day time drowsiness.

Methods: A multicentre, observational and descriptive study carried out between 2012-2014 in seven hospitals of the Spanish National Health System.

Echocardiographic changes with non-invasive ventilation and CPAP in obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

Rationale: Despite a significant association between obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and cardiac dysfunction, no randomised trials have assessed the impact of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or CPAP on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography.

Objectives: We performed a secondary analysis of the data from the largest multicentre randomised controlled trial of OHS (Pickwick project, n=221) to determine the comparative efficacy of 2 months of NIV (n=71), CPAP (n=80) and lifestyle modification (control group, n=70) on structural and functional echocardiographic changes.

Methods: Conventional transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms were obtained at baseline and after 2 months.

Diagnostic accuracy of nasal cannula versus microphone for detection of snoring.

Objective: Snoring is a common reason for referral to a sleep unit. Although there are several instruments to measure snoring, there is no gold standard for this purpose. In this study, we determine the diagnostic accuracy of the cannula as compared with the microphone, which are the two most commonly used tools.

The Effect of Supplemental Oxygen in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome.

Study Objectives: Low flow supplemental oxygen is commonly prescribed to patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). However, there is a paucity of data regarding its efficacy and safety. The objective of this study was to assess the medium-term treatment efficacy of adding supplemental oxygen therapy to commonly prescribed treatment modalities in OHS.

Nurses' sleep quality, work environment and quality of care in the Spanish National Health System: observational study among different shifts.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the characteristics of nurses' work environments in hospitals in the Spanish National Health System (SNHS) with nurse reported quality of care, and how care was provided by using different shifts schemes. The study also examined the relationship between job satisfaction, burnout, sleep quality and daytime drowsiness of nurses and shift work.

Methods: This was a multicentre, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, centred on a self-administered questionnaire.

Non-invasive ventilation in obesity hypoventilation syndrome without severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective form of treatment in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) who have concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, there is a paucity of evidence on the efficacy of NIV in patients with OHS without severe OSA. We performed a multicentre randomised clinical trial to determine the comparative efficacy of NIV versus lifestyle modification (control group) using daytime arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) as the main outcome measure.

Protective Cardiovascular Effect of Sleep Apnea Severity in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome.

Background: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is associated with a high burden of cardiovascular morbidity (CVM) and mortality. The majority of patients with OHS have concomitant OSA, but there is a paucity of data on the association between CVM and OSA severity in patients with OHS. The objective of our study was to assess the association between CVM and OSA severity in a large cohort of patients with OHS.

[Uterine artery embolization as palliative treatment in cervical cancer].

Objective: To describe intractable bleeding in cases of end-stage cervical cancer that required uterine artery embolization (UAE) as a palliative treatment, evaluating the effectiveness of the technique and its success rate.

Material And Methods: Retrospective study performed from January 2001 to May 2014, that included patients diagnosed with cervical carcinoma stage IV bleeding, who required uterine artery embolization as palliative treatment in the General Hospital of Albacete.

Results: Six patients had symptoms of moderate to severe bleeding and anemia.

Analysis of perception of training in graduates of the Faculty of Medicine at Universidad de Castilla-Mancha.

Introduction: Problem-based learning has been a key component of the teaching method employed at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM) in Albacete, Spain since its creation. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceptions of training among residents who graduated from the first three years of the UCLM Degree in Medicine.

Methods: Using the Jefferson Medical College postgraduate rating form, residents rated their performance in four areas of clinical competency (medical knowledge, data gathering skills, clinical judgment, and professional attitudes) at the beginning of residency training in comparison with colleagues from other faculties.

Home ventilation therapy in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea is a highly prevalent disease that is often underdiagnosed at present. It has a significant economic and social welfare impact, accounting for a large part of the resources assigned to home respiratory therapies. As part of the 2014 SEPAR Year of the Chronic Patient and Domiciliary Respiratory Care sponsored by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, this article reviews the most recent publications on the indications and controversial issues in the treatment of sleep apnea, the latest evidence for indication of various positive pressure devices, and adjustment modes, ranging from the use of empirical formulae or mathematical estimations to modern auto-CPAP equipment, while not forgetting the gold standard of manual titration.