Residential radon exposure and brain cancer: an ecological study in a radon prone area (Galicia, Spain).

We aimed to know if radon concentration is associated with municipal mortality due to brain cancer in Galicia, Spain. We designed an ecological study taking as study unit Galician municipalities. To be included, municipalities had to have at least three radon measurements.

Violence in adulthood and mental health: gender and immigrant status.

The aim of this study was to describe perceived abuse in adult Spanish and Ecuadorian women and men and to assess its association with mental health. A population-based survey was conducted in Spain in 2006. Data were taken from a probabilistic sample allowing for an equal number of men and women, Spaniards and Ecuadorians.

Prevalence of dementia and major dementia subtypes in Spanish populations: a reanalysis of dementia prevalence surveys, 1990-2008.

Background: This study describes the prevalence of dementia and major dementia subtypes in Spanish elderly.

Methods: We identified screening surveys, both published and unpublished, in Spanish populations, which fulfilled specific quality criteria and targeted prevalence of dementia in populations aged 70 years and above. Surveys covering 13 geographically different populations were selected (prevalence period: 1990-2008).

Characterisation of swabbing for virological analysis in the Spanish Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System during four influenza seasons in the period 2002-2006.

This study sought to characterise the swabbing pattern in the Spanish Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System (SISSS) and ascertain to what extent the system meets the guidelines currently being drafted by The European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS). Data on seasons 2002/2003 to 2005/2006 were drawn from SISSS. The study analysed collection and dispatch of swab specimens for virological analysis by reference to variables relating to patient sex, age group, vaccination status, specimen collection period, period of influenza activity, time of swabbing and epidemiological season.

Municipal distribution of breast cancer mortality among women in Spain.

Background: Spain has one of the lowest rates of breast cancer in Europe, though estimated incidence has risen substantially in recent decades. Some years ago, the Spanish Cancer Mortality Atlas showed Spain as having a heterogeneous distribution of breast cancer mortality at a provincial level. This paper describes the municipal distribution of breast cancer mortality in Spain and its relationship with socio-economic indicators.

Caregiver burden in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that imposes an important burden upon the patient's caregiver. This study aims at assessing caregiver burden (CB) and analyzing its relationship with sociodemographic, emotional, and functional factors, as well as health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The following measures were applied to 80 patients with PD: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); the EuroQoL (for HRQoL); and PD-specific measures (Hoehn and Yahr staging and SCOPA-Motor ADL subscale).

Stroke prevalence among the Spanish elderly: an analysis based on screening surveys.

Background: This study sought to describe stroke prevalence in Spanish elderly populations and compare it against that of other European countries.

Methods: We identified screening surveys--both published and unpublished--in Spanish populations, which fulfilled specific quality requirements and targeted prevalence of stroke in populations aged 70 years and over. Surveys covering seven geographically different populations with prevalence years in the period 1991-2002 were selected, and the respective authors were then asked to provide descriptions of the methodology and raw age-specific data by completing a questionnaire.

A measles outbreak in children under 15 months of age in La Rioja, Spain, 2005-2006.

This paper describes a measles outbreak in La Rioja, Spain, which began in December 2005 and mainly affected children under 15 months of age who were not yet immunised with MMR vaccine. The measles cases were detected by the mandatory reporting system, under which laboratories must report every confirmed measles case. Cases were classified in accordance with the National Measles Elimination Plan: suspected and laboratory-confirmed.

Acute health problems among subjects involved in the cleanup operation following the Prestige oil spill in Asturias and Cantabria (Spain).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate exposure conditions and acute health effects in subjects participating in the Prestige oil spill cleanup activities and the association between these and the nature of the work and use of protection devices in the regions of Asturias and Cantabria (Spain). The sample comprised 400 subjects in each region, selected from a random sampling of all persons involved in cleanup activities, stratified by type of worker and number of working days. Data were obtained via a structured questionnaire and included information on specific tasks, number of working days, use of protective materials, and acute health effects.

Global versus factor-related impression of severity in Parkinson's disease: a new clinimetric index (CISI-PD).

In Parkinson's disease (PD), the Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGIS) is often used as an additional outcome in clinical trials. It is hypothesized that this measure summarizes clinical assessment and is mainly influenced by the rating of four domains, namely, motor signs, disability, motor complications, and cognitive impairment. Ratings of these four factors were combined to form a new Clinical Impression of Severity Index for Parkinson's Disease (CISI-PD).

Determinants of health system delay among confirmed tuberculosis cases in Spain.

Background: Health system delay (HSD) is an important issue in tuberculosis (TB) control. This report investigates HSD and associated factors in a cohort of Spanish culture-confirmed TB patients.

Methods: Data were collected from clinical records.

The SCOPA-Motor Scale for assessment of Parkinson's disease is a consistent and valid measure.

Objective: The SCOPA-Motor Scale (S-MS) for assessment of Parkinson's disease (PD), contains 21 items in three domains: Motor examination, Disability, and Complications. Our objective was to validate the S-MS Spanish version.

Study Design And Setting: This validation study was based on a multicenter, cross-sectional, one-point-in-time evaluation design.

Quality of life of caregivers in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To assess the impact of PD on informal caregivers of patients and identify the main factors related to caregiver strain.

Patients And Methods: Pairs of PD patients and their caregivers. Evaluation by neurologists included the Hoehn and Yahr, Schwab and England, UPDRS (parts 1-3), ISAPD, and Pfeiffer's SPMSQ rating scales.

Psychometric characteristics of the Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39)--Ecuadorian version.

This study sought to analyse certain metric characteristics of the Ecuadorian version (EV) of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39 EV). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 137 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients attending a Movement Disorders Unit. Neurologists' assessments were based on Hoehn and Yahr (HY), Schwab and England and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales.

Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale: validation study of a Spanish version.

The Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) is the first published bedside clinical tool to specifically measure sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of the present study was to carry out a metric analysis of a Spanish version (PDSS-SV) using a cross-sectional study of 100 PD patients who participated in the study. Usual measures for PD and mental status were applied by neurologists.

Public health surveillance and incidence of adulthood Guillain-Barré syndrome in Spain, 1998-1999: the view from a sentinel network of neurologists.

Temporal variation in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) warrants monitoring in certain situations. This study sought to describe a public-health-based GBS surveillance service in Spain and conduct pilot surveillance in the period 1998-1999. Neurologists from 11 hospitals countrywide, serving a population of 3.

Health-related quality of life evaluation by proxy in Parkinson's disease: approach using PDQ-8 and EuroQoL-5D.

Patient- and caregiver-based scores were compared and agreement levels ascertained to determine the reliability of proxy evaluation of Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the EuroQoL and PD questionnaire (PDQ)-8. Of 72 patient-caregiver pairs, 64 (88.88%) returned the questionnaires.

Carpal tunnel syndrome. A new feature in the natural history of TOS?

Objective: To ascertain whether carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in patients affected with toxic oil syndrome (TOS) is associated with conditions and diseases considered risk factors for CTS in the general population and/or with certain clinical manifestations of TOS.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study to compare 89 TOS patients residing in Madrid diagnosed with CTS from 1981 through July 2001 (cases) against 638 TOS patients not affected with CTS (controls). Risk factors for CTS and clinical manifestations of TOS were analyzed.

Patients', doctors', and caregivers' assessment of disability using the UPDRS-ADL section: are these ratings interchangeable?

This multicenter study sought to analyze the validity and reliability of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-section 2 (Activities of Daily Living, ADL) as applied by patients and caregivers. Sixty pairs of PD patients-caregivers were enrolled for study purposes. Neurologists used a set of scales to determine disease severity and patients' functional state.

Spanish children's diet: compliance with nutrient and food intake guidelines.

Objective: To compare the diet of Spanish children against the nutrient and food intake guidelines. To calculate an index of overall diet quality and check its validity against nutrient intake.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study in four cities in Spain, where information on food and nutrient intake was obtained from schoolchildren through a food frequency questionnaire.

Evaluation of the measles, mumps and rubella immunisation programme in Spain by using a sero-epidemiological survey.

In Spain, measles, mumps and rubella vaccination was introduced in 1981, with one dose at the age of 15 months and another at the age of 11 years being administered since 1995. Reported disease incidence was less than one case per 100,000 people for measles and rubella, and 23 cases per 100,000 people for mumps. A seroepidemiological survey was undertaken to estimate the frequency of susceptible individuals by age and environment; and vaccination coverage and efficacy of the vaccines administered.

Age-specific seroprevalence of poliomyelitis, diphtheria and tetanus antibodies in Spain.

In 1996, a seroepidemiological study was undertaken in Spain, with the main aim of estimating the population's immunity against poliomyelitis, tetanus and diphtheria. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted, covering the population aged 2-39 years. The sample was stratified by age and rural-urban environment, and informed consent obtained to take blood specimens from subjects attending phlebotomy centres.

Incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV coinfection in the province of Seville, Spain, 1998.

Using the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) and Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) for hospital discharges we evaluated pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) surveillance and estimated real PTB incidence and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection in Seville in 1998. In addition, we assessed the sensitivity and the positive predictive value (PPV) of the surveillance system. Real incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was estimated by the capture-recapture method.

Field validation of a method for population screening of parkinsonism.

We sought to validate an instrument and two application procedures for screening for prevalence of parkinsonism in conjunction with a door-to-door survey in Cantalejo, Spain. Residents in Cantalejo aged 40 years or older were assigned to three groups specifically designed to optimise case-finding and cost/efficiency. A nine-item questionnaire aimed at identifying parkinsonism-related symptoms was administered and collected door-to-door by laymen and repeated by specialists at a medical facility before neurological examination.

Pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis at AIDS diagnosis in Spain: epidemiological differences and implications for control.

Objective: To ascertain the differential factors associated with pulmonary versus extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at AIDS diagnosis in Spain.

Design: Analysis of AIDS surveillance data.

Methods: Data about AIDS patients, aged 12 years and over, diagnosed in 1995 were taken from the Spanish AIDS Register.