Trend and Seasonality of Hip Fractures in Catalonia, Spain: Exploring the Influence of Climate.

To describe the secular trend and seasonality of the incidence of hip fracture (HF) and its relationship with climatic variables during the period 2010-2019 in Catalonia in people aged ≥ 65 years. The results were analyzed by sex, age groups (65-74, 75-84, and ≥ 85), and types of fracture (extracapsular and intracapsular). Data on sex, age, type of fracture, year, and month of hospitalization of patients admitted with a diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019 were collected.

Impact of major osteoporotic fractures on the use of healthcare resources in Catalonia, Spain.

Objectives: To estimate the impact of first major osteoporotic fractures (MOF) on health resource use and healthcare expenditures in people aged ≥50 years in Catalonia, Spain.

Design: Observational, retrospective study. The Catalan Health Surveillance System (CHSS) registry was used to obtain sociodemographic, clinical and expenditure data from all public centres in Catalonia (Spain).

Effects of COVID-19 confinement on the incidence and mortality of major osteoporotic fractures: an observational study in Catalonia, Spain.

Unlabelled: There is little information on how the COVID-19 lockdown influenced the epidemiology of major osteoporotic fractures (MOF). We analyzed the incidence and mortality of MOF in 2020 compared with 2018-2019 in Catalonia, Spain. The incidence of MOF decreased steeply, and post-fracture mortality increased during the lockdown and throughout 2020.

Decreasing prevalence of chronic back pain in Catalonia. Analysis of the Catalan Health Survey.

Objectives: Chronic back pain is one of the main health problems reported by the adult population and its prevalence is influenced by different sociodemographic, work and lifestyle-related factors. The aim of this study was to describe the trend in the lifetime prevalence of chronic back pain in the adult Catalan population between 2011 and 2018 and its associated factors.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Epidemiology of major osteoporotic fractures: a population-based analysis in Catalonia, Spain.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of major osteoporotic fractures in Catalonia, Spain, in 2018 and 2019 and their association with age, sex, income, climate and a set of comorbidities.

Methods: Data on age, sex, smoking, alcohol abuse, comorbidities (obesity, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, cerebrovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, multiple myeloma and epilepsy) and income levels in people aged ≥ 50 years with a new diagnosis of major osteoporotic fractures in 2018 and 2019 were collected from the Catalan Health Surveillance System (CHSS). Climatological variables were obtained from the Catalan Meteorological Service.

Concordance between direct and indirect measurements of free 25-OH vitamin D.

Unlabelled: At present, data comparing the quantification methods for measurement of free vitamin D (direct assay [direct 25-OHD] and estimated by calculation [calculated 25-OHD]), are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse the concordance between these two methods of 25-OHD analysis (direct vs. calculated).

Secular trend in the incidence of hip fracture in Catalonia, Spain, 2003-2014.

Objectives: to describe the secular trend and seasonal variation in the incidence of hip fracture (HF) over 12 years (2003-2014) in Catalonia, the community with the highest incidence of HF in Spain.

Methods: data about age, gender, type of fracture and month of hospitalisation among patients aged 65 years and older discharged with a diagnosis of HF were collected. Crude and age-standardised annual incidence rate were reckoned.

How many patients with rheumatic diseases and TNF inhibitors treatment have latent tuberculosis?

Objectives: Spanish clinical guidelines recommend screening patients for tuberculosis (TB) before TNF inhibitors (TNFi) treatment. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of TST seroconversion as an estimation of the prevalence of latent TB in patients with rheumatic diseases and TNFi treatment that have already been screened for tuberculosis.

Methods: TST, booster and chest x-ray were performed to patients with rheumatic diseases, TNFi treatment, negative tuberculin skin tests before treatment and that were attending the rheumatology Department of three different hospitals in Barcelona.

Reference intervals for bone turnover markers in Spanish premenopausal women.

Background: The aims of this study were to establish robust reference intervals and to investigate the factors influencing bone turnover markers (BTMs) in healthy premenopausal Spanish women.

Methods: A total of 184 women (35-45 years) from 13 centers in Catalonia were analyzed. Blood and second void urine samples were collected between 8 a.

[Resident physicians' opinions of their emergency medicine training in Catalan hospitals].

Objectives: To know the opinion of medical residents in hospitals in Catalonia about the need for and usefulness of the training they receive in the emergency department.

Material And Methods: We sent an electronic questionnaire to all residents in Catalonia, through their cooperating supervisors. The questionnaire contained items to collect information on sociodemographic variables and attitudes toward emergency medicine.

Newborns whose mother has autoimmune disease. A community hospitals' experience.

Mothers with autoimmune diseases (AID) may have exacerbations of their disease during pregnancy and postpartum period, with fetal implications and neonatal complications. The aim of this study was to describe miscarriages during pregnancy and postpartum problems among mothers with AID and associated neonatal pathology. Retrospective data was recorded from 2004 to 2010.

Attention to musculoskeletal diseases. Different visions of the same problem.

Objective: To identify the main problems affecting general practitioners (GPs) and specialists in the care of the main musculoskeletal problems in Catalonia.

Method: Cross-sectional, self-administered survey in a representative sample of GPs and all specialists in four areas (orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain units). Variables evaluated in the survey were related to socio-demographic data, attention to musculoskeletal diseases, self-declared expertise, referral process, coordination mechanisms and major constraints to provide high quality care.

[Identification of clinical features and laboratory abnormalities associated with the development of vertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis].

Background And Objective: Vertebral fractures (VF) are a major risk factor for the development of further fractures. Therefore, it is important to identify clinical risk factors and laboratory abnormalities related to VF. We aimed to analyse clinical and biochemical alterations related to the presence of radiological VF in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Cost-utility and budget impact analysis of primary prevention with alendronate of osteoporotic hip fractures in Catalonia.

Objectives: To determine whether primary drug prevention of osteoporotic hip fracture is a useful measure in Catalonia and what would be their budgetary impact.

Material And Methods: We performed a cost-utility social perspective study with a time horizon of 10 to 20 years. Univariate sensitivity analysis was performed.

Health planning in rheumatic diseases. Elaboration of a master plan for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases of Catalonia.

Background: Rheumatic diseases (RDs) are among the most common chronic health problems of the Catalan adult population. They cause important problems for individuals, their families and for the society overall, with high direct and indirect economic costs. The Department of Health of Catalonia promoted the creation of a Master Plan for the rheumatic diseases, as a tool for planning an integral approach to these problems.

Age at treatment predicts reason for discontinuation of TNF antagonists: data from the BIOBADASER 2.0 registry.

Objectives: To assess the retention rate of TNF antagonists in elderly patients suffering from chronic arthropathies and to identify predictive variables of discontinuation by inefficacy or by adverse events (AEs).

Methods: All patients treated with TNF antagonists in BIOBADASER 2.0, with a diagnosis of either RA or spondyloarthritis (SpA: AS and PsA) were included and classified as <65 (younger) or ≥65 years of age (older) at start of the treatment.

Diagnosis of tuberculosis infection by tuberculin skin test and a whole-blood interferon-γ release assay in patients considered for anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy.

To assess the performance of QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in-Tube (QFT-GIT; Cellestis, Carnegie, Australia) and tuberculin skin test (TST) in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID), before anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) therapy, and to compare the results with those from the healthy population. Three hundred fourteen subjects (214 with IMID and 100 controls) underwent simultaneous QFT-GIT and TST. QFT-GIT was positive in 21% of IMID patients and in 16% of controls (P = 0.

[Systematic review: safety and efficacy of anti-TNF in elderly patients].

Objective: To evaluate whether the safety and efficacy of anti-TNF treatments in elderly patients with rheumatic diseases is similar than the safety and efficacy of the same drugs in younger patients.

Methods: Systematic review. We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE (Ovid), and the Cochrane Library Plus.

[Importance of chronic musculoskeletal problems in the population of Catalonia (Spain): prevalence and effect on self-perceived health, activity restriction and use of health services].

Objective: To determine the importance of chronic musculoskeletal problems in the adult population of Catalonia (Spain) and their effect on self-perceived health, activity restriction and use of health services.

Methods: A population-based survey of 15,926 adults was performed. Multistage stratified sampling was performed.

Search for hidden secondary causes in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Objective: The prevalence of secondary processes in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP) is not well known. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of conditions contributing to bone loss in postmenopausal women with OP and to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the impact of these disorders on the severity of the disease.

Methods: A total of 204 postmenopausal women (mean +/- SD age, 64.

A rheumatology consultancy program with general practitioners in Catalonia, Spain.

Objective: To analyze the influence of a primary care rheumatology consultancy program on the number of referrals to the rheumatology unit (RU), the waiting times for new visits at the RU, and the satisfaction of the general practitioners (GPs) with respect to the RU.

Methods: From September 2003 to August 2004 a consultancy program was carried out by 4 consultant rheumatologists of the RU and 117 GPs, consisting of biweekly clinical sessions in which cases were commented upon prior to referral and local clinical guidelines on 10 musculoskeletal disorders were discussed. Referral rates to the RU, 5-item GP satisfaction questionnaires (patient accessibility to the RU, information obtained after the visit, GP accessibility to the RU, communication between levels, and resolution capacity of the RU), waiting times, and number of patients waiting for a visit were analyzed.