Open Access
Schizophrenia and hospital admissions for cardiovascular events in a large population: the APNA study
(MDPI, 2022) Guillén Aguinaga, Sara; Brugos Larumbe, Antonio; Guillén Aguinaga, Laura; Ortuño, Felipe; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Forga, Lluís; Aguinaga Ontoso, Inés; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
(1) Background: patients with schizophrenia have higher mortality, with cardiovascular diseases being the first cause of mortality. This study aims to estimate the excess risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular events in schizophrenic patients, adjusting for comorbidity and risk factors. (2) Methods: the APNA study is a dynamic prospective cohort of all residents in Navarra, Spain. A total of 505,889 people over 18 years old were followed for five years. The endpoint was hospital admissions for a cardiovascular event. Direct Acyclic Graphs (DAG) and Cox regression were used. (3) Results: schizophrenic patients had a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 1.414 (95% CI 1.031–1.938) of hospital admission for a cardiovascular event after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, low income, obesity, antecedents of cardiovascular disease, and smoking. In non-adherent to antipsychotic treatment schizophrenia patients, the HR was 2.232 (95% CI 1.267–3.933). (4) Conclusions: patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular events than persons with the same risk factors without schizophrenia. Primary care nursing interventions should monitor these patients and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
Open Access
Incidence and risk factors of the COVID-19 pandemic: an epidemiological approach
(MDPI, 2023) Arnedo-Pena, Alberto; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, its significant impact on global health is evident, with varying mortality, incidence, and fatality rates across different regions. Studies estimate over 40% of the world's population has been infected. The pandemic has disproportionately affected low-income countries and vulnerable groups. A Special Issue in Epidemiologia focused on the epidemiology of COVID-19, examining high-risk groups, including long-term care home residents and staff, healthcare workers, and patients with chronic mental illness. Findings highlighted factors influencing COVID-19 incidence and mortality, such as facility conditions and staff ratios. Despite vaccination efforts reducing the severity of infections, transmission remains high, and ongoing research is crucial to manage new variants and future pandemics.
Open Access
Maternal mortality in Africa: regional trends (2000-2017)
(MDPI, 2022) Onambele, Luc; Ortega-Leon, Wilfrido; Guillén Aguinaga, Sara; Forjaz, Maria Joao; Yoseph, Amanuel; Guillén Aguinaga, Laura; Alas Brun, Rosa María; Arnedo Pena, Alberto; Aguinaga Ontoso, Inés; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals state that by 2030, the global maternal mortality rate (MMR) should be lower than 70 per 100,000 live births. MMR is still one of Africa’s leading causes of death among women. The leading causes of maternal mortality in Africa are hemorrhage and eclampsia. This research aims to study regional trends in maternal mortality (MM) in Africa. Methods: We extracted data for maternal mortality rates per 100,000 births from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) databank from 2000 to 2017, 2017 being the last date available. Joinpoint regression was used to study the trends and estimate the annual percent change (APC). Results: Maternal mortality has decreased in Africa over the study period by an average APC of −3.0% (95% CI −2.9; −3,2%). All regions showed significant downward trends, with the greatest decreases in the South. Only the North African region is close to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals for Maternal mortality. The remaining Sub-Saharan African regions are still far from achieving the goals. Conclusions: Maternal mortality has decreased in Africa, especially in the South African region. The only region close to the United Nations’ target is the North African region. The remaining Sub-Saharan African regions are still far from achieving the goals. The West African region needs more extraordinary efforts to achieve the goals of the United Nations. Policies should ensure that all pregnant women have antenatal visits and give birth in a health facility staffed by specialized personnel.
Open Access
Perfil de la demanda urgente e influencia del fútbol televisado en un servicio extrahospitalario en la Zona Básica de Salud de Tafalla, Navarra
(Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, 2003) Pérez Ciordia, Ignacio; Catalán Fabo, Francisca; Zalacain Nicolay, Fernando; Barriendo Antoñanzas, Maite; Solaegui Díaz de Guereñu, Ramón; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Fundamento: la demanda a los servicios de urgencias, tanto hospitalarios como extrahospitalarios, mantiene un ritmo creciente. El objetivo del presente trabajo es doble: cuantificación y estudio de las características personales de los usuarios demandantes de atención urgente y valorar si el fútbol televisado influye en la utilización del servicio de urgencias. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal (9.723 usuarios demandantes) y estudio de casos y controles (1.284 usuarios demandantes) según presencia o no de fútbol televisado mediante modelo de regresión logística. Las asociaciones se han cuantificado mediante la odds ratio (OR). Se excluyen del estudio las consultas telefónicas y las de enfermería. Resultados: El 10,6% de la demanda ha correspondido a consultas en domicilio y se han remitido al hospital el 4,8% del total. El 13,3% de la demanda corresponde a personas desplazadas de otras zonas de salud y son 65 los usuarios hiperfrecuentadores con 8 o más consultas. El mes de agosto (32,3%), el domingo (44,56%) y el grupo horario de 12 a 14 horas (8,38%) son los momento de mayor demanda de atención, siendo las diferencias estadísticamente significativas. El fútbol televisado se asoció a un aumento de la demanda del 19,8% (p<0,001) respecto al periodo control. Conclusiones: Se observa una alta frecuentación a los servicios de urgencia extrahospitalaria, con una importante concentración de la demanda en momentos muy concretos. Es muy importante la atención prestada a personas desplazadas. La retransmisión de fútbol televisado se asocia con una mayor utilización del servicio de urgencias.
Open Access
Student estimations of peer alcohol consumption: links between the Social Norms Approach and the Health Promoting University concept
(SAGE, 2014) Stock, Christiane; McAlaney, John; Pischke, Claudia R.; Vriesacker, Bart; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: The Social Norms Approach, with its focus on positive behaviour and its consensus orientation, is a health promotion intervention of relevance to the context of a Health Promoting University. In particular, the approach could assist with addressing excessive alcohol consumption. Aim: This article aims to discuss the link between the Social Norms Approach and the Health Promoting University, and analyse estimations of peer alcohol consumption among European university students. Methods: A total of 4392 students from universities in six European countries and Turkey were asked to report their own typical alcohol consumption per day and to estimate the same for their peers of same sex. Students were classified as accurate or inaccurate estimators of peer alcohol consumption. Socio-demographic factors and personal alcohol consumption were examined as predictors for an accurate estimation. Results: 72% of male and 51% of female students were identified as having accurate estimations about the amount of alcoholic drinks consumed per day by their peers. Male students, older students, those studying year 3 and above, and Turkish and Danish students were more likely to accurately estimate their peers’ alcohol consumption. Independent from these factors, students’ accurate estimation of peers’ drinking decreased significantly with increasing personal consumption. Conclusions: As accurate estimates of peer alcohol consumption appear to affect personal drinking behaviour positively, Social Norms interventions targeted at correcting possible misperceptions about peer alcohol use among students may be a useful health promotion tool in the context of a Health Promoting University.
Open Access
Variability in the control of type 2 diabetes in primary care and its association with hospital admissions for vascular events. The APNA study
(MDPI, 2021) Guillén Aguinaga, Sara; Forga, Lluís; Brugos Larumbe, Antonio; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Guillén Aguinaga, Laura; Aguinaga Ontoso, Inés; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and hospital admissions. This study aimed to analyze how the differences in delivered care (variability of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) achieved targets) affect hospital admissions for cardiovascular events (CVEs) in T2D patients. Methods: We analyzed the electronic records in primary care health centers at Navarra (Spain) and hospital admission for CVEs. We followed 26,435 patients with T2D from 2012 to 2016. The variables collected were age, sex, health center, general practitioner practice (GPP), and income. The clinical variables were diagnosis of T2D, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), smoking, and antecedents of CVEs. We calculated, in each GPP practice, the proportion of patients with HbA1c ≥ 9. A non-hierarchical K-means cluster analysis classified GPPs into two clusters according to the level of compliance with HbA1C ≥ 9% control indicators. We used logistic and Cox regressions. Results: T2D patients had a higher probability of admission for CVEs when they belonged to a GPP in the worst control cluster of HbA1C ≥ 9% (HR = 1.151; 95% CI, 1.032–1.284).
Open Access
Subtipos moleculares del cáncer de mama: implicaciones pronósticas y características clínicas e inmunohistoquímicas
(Gobierno de Navarra, 2011) Arrechea Irigoyen, María Asunción; Vicente García, Francisco; Córdoba Iturriagagoitia, Alicia; Ibáñez Beroiz, Berta; Santamaría Martínez, Mercedes; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Fundamento. Los carcinomas de mama representan un grupo heterogéneo de tumores, tanto en su comportamiento clínico como pronóstico. El objetivo del presente trabajo es clasificar los carcinomas de mama en subtipos moleculares mediante marcadores inmunohistoquímicos y analizar las características clinicopatológicas e inmunohistoquímicas y los patrones de supervivencia y recaída de los distintos subtipos. Material y métodos. Se han clasificado 272 pacientes con diagnóstico de carcinoma de mama en cinco subtipos: carcinomas de mama de tipo basal, de tipo HER2, de tipo luminal A, de tipo luminal B y normal. Resultados. Los carcinomas de mama más frecuentes fueron los de tipo luminal A (62,5%), carcinomas de tipo luminal B (18%), carcinomas de tipo HER2 (9,9%), carcinomas de tipo basal (8,4%) y los de fenotipo normal (1,4%). Los carcinomas de mama de tipo luminal mostraron ser, con mayor frecuencia, de forma significativa, tumores bien diferenciados, de pequeño tamaño tumoral, con ganglios axilares negativos, estadio precoz en el momento del diagnóstico, niveles altos de BCL-2 y bajo índice de proliferación con Ki-67. En cambio, los carcinomas de mama de tipo basal y HER2 presentaban tumores de mayor tamaño, pobremente diferenciados, mayor compromiso ganglionar y estadios más avanzados en el momento del diagnóstico. Expresaban con mayor frecuencia índices de proliferación altos con Ki 67 y fueron los subtipos que en curvas de supervivencia global y de supervivencia libre de progresión mostraron un peor pronóstico. Conclusión. La clasificación del cáncer de mama basada en parámetros inmunohistoquímicos (IHQ) permite una mejor definición pronóstica. Tanto los carcinomas de mama de tipo basal como HER2 presentan características histopatológicas e IHQ más desfavorables así como peor supervivencia y menor tiempo de recaída mientras que los carcinomas de mama de tipo luminal manifiestan características más benignas y mejor pronóstico.
Open Access
Influencia de las características urbanísticas ambientales en el nivel de actividad física de la población de 18 a 65 años del área metropolitana de Pamplona
(Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social, 2016) Orzanco Garralda, María Rosario; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Sáinz Suberviola, María Lourdes; Redín Areta, María Dolores; Rosa Eduardo, Rosanna de la; Aguinaga Ontoso, Inés; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Fundamentos: Un entorno adecuado puede favorecer la práctica de la actividad física, siendo una opción fácil para la población. El objetivo fue determinar la influencia de la percepción de los factores urbanísticos ambientales en el nivel de actividad física de las personas adultas. Métodos: Estudio transversal basado en el International Physical Activity and the Environment Network. Las personas participantes fueron seleccionadas de forma aleatoria y estratificada de la población de las zonas básicas de salud del Área Metropolitana de Pamplona entre las que tenían edad de 18 a 65 años. Se utilizó un cuestionario autoadministrado que incluyó la versión completa de la escala Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale para valorar la percepción de los factores urbanísticos ambientales y la versión larga del International Physical Activity Questionnaire para recoger datos de actividad física. Se calculó la chi2 y se realizó un análisis multivariable mediante regresión logística no condicional Resultados: Participaron 905 sujetos (54,70% mujeres). Tener sendas de paseo próximas al domicilio o lugar de trabajo se relacionó con practicar actividad física moderada OR: 3,86 (IC 95% 1,70-8,74)] y actividad física total (suma de actividad física vigorosa, moderada y caminar) OR: 2,61 (IC 95% 1,24-5,45)]. La presencia en el barrio de lugares a los que podían ir caminando se asoció con dedicar más tiempo a caminar [OR: 1,26 (IC 95% 1,01-1,58)] y disponer cerca del domicilio o lugar de trabajo de espacios deportivos se asoció conpracticar más actividad física vigorosa [OR: 1,46 (IC 95% 1,01 - 2,12). Conclusiones: Existe asociación directa entre las personas que se declaran más activas y los factores urbanísticos ambientales, como sendas de paseo o instalaciones deportivas.
Open Access
Normative misperceptions of tobacco use among university students in seven European countries: baseline findings of the 'Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE' study
(Elsevier, 2015) Pischke, Claudia R.; Helmer, Stefanie M.; McAlaney, John; Bewick, Bridgette M.; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Introduction: Research conducted in North America suggests that students tend to overestimate tobacco use among their peers. This perceived norm may impact personal tobacco use. It remains unclear how these perceptions influence tobacco use among European students. The two aims were to investigate possible self-other discrepancies regarding personal use and attitudes towards use and to evaluate if perceptions of peer use and peer approval of use are associated with personal use and approval of tobacco use. Methods: The EU-funded 'Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE' study was conducted in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom. In total, 4482 students (71% female) answered an online survey including questions on personal and perceived tobacco use and personal and perceived attitudes towards tobacco use. Results: Across all countries, the majority of students perceived tobacco use of their peers to be higher than their own use. The perception that the majority (> 50%) of peers used tobacco regularly in the past two months was significantly associated with higher odds for personal regular use (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.90–3.73). The perception that the majority of peers approve of tobacco use was significantly associated with higher odds for personal approval of tobacco use (OR: 6.49, 95% CI: 4.54–9.28). Conclusions: Perceived norms are an important predictor of personal tobacco use and attitudes towards use. Interventions addressing perceived norms may be a viable method to change attitudes and tobacco use among European students, and may be a component of future tobacco control policy.
Open Access
Relationship between perceived body weight and body mass index based on self- reported height and weight among university students: a cross-sectional study in seven European countries
(BioMed Central, 2010) Mikolajczyk, Rafael T.; Maxwell, Annette E.; El Ansari, Walid; Stock, Christiane; Petkeviciene, Janina; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: Despite low rates of obesity, many university students perceive themselves as overweight, especially women. This is of concern, because inappropriate weight perceptions can lead to unhealthy behaviours including eating disorders. Methods: We used the database from the Cross National Student Health Survey (CNSHS), consisting of 5, 900 records of university students from Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and Turkey to analyse differences in perceived weight status based on the question: "Do you consider yourself much too thin, a little too thin, just right, a little too fat or much too fat?". The association between perceived weight and body mass index (BMI) calculated from self-reported weight and height was assessed with generalized non-parametric regression in R library gam. Results: Although the majority of students reported a normal BMI (72-84% of males, 65-83% of females), only 32% to 68% of students considered their weight "just right". Around 20% of females with BMI of 20 kg/m(2) considered themselves "a little too fat" or "too fat", and the percentages increased to 60% for a BMI of 22.5 kg/m(2). Male students rarely felt "a little too fat" or "too fat" below BMI of 22.5 kg/m(2), but most felt too thin with a BMI of 20 kg/m(2). Conclusions: Weight ideals are rather uniform across the European countries, with female students being more likely to perceive themselves as "too fat" at a normal BMI, while male students being more likely to perceive themselves as "too thin". Programs to prevent unhealthy behaviours to achieve ill-advised weight ideals may benefit students.