Institucionalización de la evaluación del impacto en la salud en Andalucía

Health impact assessment (HIA) aims to incorporate people's health and wellbeing as a key feature in policy-making. Many authors believe that HIA might be systematically integrated into all decision-making processes as a way to achieve that goal. To that end, there is need to overcome a number of challenges, including the fact that Andalusia (Spain) has made HIA compulsory by law, the need for awareness of all public sectors whose decisions might have substantial impacts on health and for a methodology that would enable a comprehensive approach to health determinants and inequalities, and the training of both the public health staff and professional sectors responsible for its application. In Andalusia, a law provides mandatory and binding health impact reports for most authorisation procedures in different areas: from sectoral plans to urban planning schemes, and especially projects subject to environmental assessment. Implementation of this law has required its integration into authorisation procedures, the training of interdisciplinary working groups in public health, the preparation of technical guidelines, and the organisation of dissemination and training seminars for developers.     

Efectos del cambio de apariencia de medicamentos en seguridad y adherencia en pacientes crónicos mayores de 65 años en atención primaria. Estudio CAMBIMED

ObjectiveTo study whether the changes in bioequivalent drugs with different appearances are associated with an increase in lack of adherence and medication use errors, in patients > 65 years old treated with antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications.DesignObservational longitudinal prospective cohort study with a one-year follow-up period between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2014.LocationPrimary Healthcare Centres in the Community of Madrid.ParticipantsPatients ≥ 65 years-old with a diagnosis of hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia receiving treatment with Enalapril and/or Amlodipine and/or Simvastatin.Main measurementsVariables collected during a Primary Care consultation by means of a personal interview were: sociodemographic (age, gender, level of education), clinical variables, adherence (Morisky-Green test and direct counting), medication errors (number and type), medication changes and number, analytical (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides) and combined variable (error and/or adherence). There were 1 baseline and 4 quarterly visits.ResultsThe study included 274 patients with a mean age 72 (6.6) years, of whom 47.8% were female. Some medication changes were observed in 134 patients (48.9%), with a median of 3 (IQR 1-5) and a maximum of 11 changes. The risk of presenting with a medication use error or decreased adherence was increased in patients exposed to changes in all visits with RR 1.14 (1.16-1.69) at one year of follow-up. The most frequent error was the loss of dose. For each change in medication, the probability of a combined event increases by 41%.ConclusionsThe changes made in bioequivalent drugs with different appearance could increase the number of medication use errors and decrease the adherence. More studies should be carried out to assess how much this affects the control of the disease.The intervention section is not considered because it is an observational study.     

Asociación entre la caminabilidad del barrio de residencia y la mortalidad por distintas causas en Andalucía

ObjectiveTo describe the association between the Neighborhood Walkability and mortality.MethodEcological study of small areas. The standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and the Walk Score© were calculated in each census tract. These values were compared with parametric and nonparametric tests.ResultsFor men, in the case of ischemic diseases, the means of the SMR for the categories with the highest walkability and the least were 1.03 and 0.85 (p < 0.01), and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were 1,009 and 1.20 (p < 0.01). In women, the means of the SMR for diabetes were 0.97 and 1.2 (p < 0.01), for ischemic diseases were 1.01 and 1.12 (p < 0.01), for cerebrovascular diseases were 1.007 and 1.18 (p < 0.01), for COPD were 1.01 and 1.49 (p < 0.01) and for all causes were 1.006 and 1.08 (p < 0.01)ConclusionsBehavior about walking in the activities of daily life is different between sexes. Living in walkable neighborhoods is a protective factor for women.     

Metodología de conciliación del tratamiento farmacológico en pacientes pluripatológicos

ObjectiveTo carry out a bibliographic review in order to identify the different methodologies used along the reconciliation process of drug therapy applicable to polypathological patients.DesignWe performed a literature review.Data sources The bibliographic review (February 2012) included the following databases: Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Spanish Medical Index (IME). The different methodologies, identified on those databases, to measure the conciliation process in polypathological patients, or otherwise elderly patients or polypharmacy, were studied.Study selection Two hundred and seventy three articles were retrieved, of which 25 were selected.Data extraction Specifically: the level of care, the sources of information, the use of registration forms, the established time, the medical professional in charge and the registered variables such as errors of reconciliation.ResultsMost of studies selected when the patient was admitted into the hospital and after the hospital discharge of the patient. The main sources of information to be highlighted are: the interview and the medical history of the patient. An established time is not explicitly stated on most of them, nor the registration form is used. The main professional in charge is the clinical pharmacologist. Apart from the home medication, the habits of self-medication and phytotherapy are also identified. The common errors of reconciliation vary from the omission of drugs to different forms of interaction with other medicinal products (drugs interactions).ConclusionsThere is a large heterogeneity of methodologies used for reconciliation. There is not any work done on the specific figure of the polypathological patient, which precisely requires a standardized methodology due to its complexity and its susceptibility to errors of reconciliation.     

Valoración y seguimiento de los pacientes con sospecha de COVID-19 en la primera ola pandémica en una zona urbana de Andalucía

ObjectiveTo know the characteristics of the initial care and telephone follow-up of patients with suspected COVID-19 in the first wave of the pandemic.DesignObservational, retrospective (audit of medical records).LocationUrban Primary Care Center of Andalusia (Spain).ParticipantsProbable cases of SARS-CoV-2 (from 20/03/15 to 20/06/15).Principal measurementsInitial medical assessment (place and modality) and telephone follow-up (number of calls and duration). Sociodemographic variables (including family structure). Clinical course (symptoms, vulnerability, tests, hospital admission and outcome).ResultsThree hundred one patients (51.5±17.8 years; 23% vulnerable people; 17% non-nuclear family structure). First assessment in Primary Care by phone (59.8%) and face-to-face (25.2%). At the hospital emergency department (11%), patients were more frequently from non-nuclear families (P<.05 χ²) and more tests were carried out (P<.05 χ²) despite having similar symptoms. Vulnerable elderly patients needed home health care (P<.01 ANOVA). 8.2±4.4 follow-up phone calls were made per patient, for 17.1±10.3 days. It increases after ≥2 face-to-face consultations (OR 4.8), the presence of alarm symptoms (OR 2.3) and age ≥45 years (OR 2.0). Few confirmatory tests were performed (19.3% antigenic, 13% serology). The 15.3% hospital admissions (all assessed previously in Primary Care), with 6.3% severe cases and 2.3% death.ConclusionPopulation chose to be attended in Primary Care during the pandemic first wave, above all by phone. Telephone follow-up was well accepted and useful to select patients with serious complications. Initial medical assessment in the hospital emergency department was related to a lack of social support but not with greater clinical severity.     

Impacto del confinamiento por la COVID-19 en la salud autopercibida en Chile según género

ObjectiveTo analyse the social factors associated with self-perceived health during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Chilean resident population according to gender perspective.MethodCross-sectional study conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown between May 17 and August 17, 2020 with an online survey. Self-perceived health was analysed in the population aged 18 years or older in relation to social variables. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between independent variables with self-perceived health, through adjusted odds ratio (aOR). Analyses were stratified by sex (M: men; W: women).Results5981 persons were analysed (women: 63.9%). 29.6% of women and 19.2% of men reported poor self-perceived health. In women it worsens with increasing age. Worse self-perceived health was mainly associated with lack of social support (ORa M: 2.05; ORa W: 2.34), concern about living together at home (ORa M: 1.66; ORa W: 1.38), perceived inadequate housing conditions (ORa M: 1.89; ORa W: 2.63), and disagreement with government measures (ORa M: 2.80; ORa W: 1.82). In women, it was also associated with informal work or being inactive in the labour market (ORa: 2.11). In men worse self-perceived health was associated with being self-employed (ORa: 1.65; confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–2.45) and has secondary education (ORa: 2.81; CI: 1.32–5.98).ConclusionsThe social impact of lockdown in self-perceived health is related to gender, age, care work, and socioeconomic conditions, as well as, by disagreement with the measures implemented to manage the pandemic.     

Evaluación de la efectividad de un programa de atención integrada y proactiva a pacientes crónicos complejos

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of a proactive and integrated care programme to adjust the use of health resources by chronic complex patients (CCP) identified as potential high consumers according to a predictive model based on prior use and morbidity.

Grupos de morbilidad ajustados: características y comorbilidades de los pacientes crónicos según nivel de riesgo en Atención Primaria

AimsTo describe the characteristics of patients with chronic conditions according to their risk levels assigned by the adjusted morbidity groups (AMG). To analyse the factors associated with a high risk level and to study their effect.DesignObservational cross-sectional study with an analytical focus.LocationPrimary care (PC), Madrid Health Service.ParticipantsPopulation of 18,107 patients stratified by their risk levels with the AMG in the computerised clinical records of Madrid PC.Main measurementsThe variables studied were: socio-demographic, clinical-nursing care and use of services. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis were performed.ResultsOf the 18,107 patients, 9,866(54.4%) were identified as chronic patients, with 444 (4.5%) stratified as high risk, 1784 (18,1%) as medium risk, and 7,638 (77.4%) as low risk. The high risk patients, compared with medium and low risk, had an older mean age [77.8 (SD = 12.9), 72.1 (SD = 12.9), 50.6 (SD = 19.4)], lower percentage of women (52.3%, 65%, 61.1%), a higher number of chronic diseases [6.7 (SD = 2.4), 4.3 (SD = 1.5), 1.9 (SD = 1.1)], polymedication (79.1%, 43.3%, 6.2%), and contact with PC [33.9 (28), 21.4 (17.3), 7.9 (9.9)] (P <. 01). In the multivariate analysis, the high risk level was independently related to age > 65 [1.43 (1.03-1.99), male gender (OR = 3.46, 95% CI = 2.64-4.52), immobility (OR = 6.33, 95% CI = 4.40-9.11), number of chronic conditions (OR = 2.60, 95% CI = 2.41-2.81), and PC contact > 7 times (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.36-2.80)] (P < .01).ConclusionsMore than half of the population is classified by the AMG as a chronic, and it is stratified into 3 risk levels that show differences in gender, age, functional impairment, need for care, morbidity, complexity, and use of Primary Care services. Age > 65, male gender, immobility, number of chronic conditions, and contact with PC > 7 times were the factors associated with high risk.     

Evaluación del impacto de un plan multisectorial de promoción de la salud y el bienestar social en Andalucía

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the Plan for the promotion of personal autonomy and prevention of disability in Andalusia (2016-2020) in 13 public administrations during the first year of its implementation; and to analyse the usability and feasibility of the impact assessment ladder used.MethodThe Plan addresses the promotion of personal autonomy and the prevention of disabilities and dependencies through a multisectoral approach. It is structured in strands or lines of work, objectives and actions that have been assessed through the Adoption Impact Ladder (AIL). The analysis of the face validity, feasibility and inter-rater reliability of the impact assessment ladder was carried out in 30 actions of the Plan that were rated by 20 experts from the 13 ministries and public agencies involved in the Plan, and an external rater.Results176 actions and programmes were launched in 2017. Of these, 67.2% were implemented during the first year. Only one of the 16 objectives had no action initiated during the first year. Moreover, 7 out of 15 objectives implemented were fully multisectoral involving more than three Regional Ministries. The face validity, feasibility and inter-rater reliability of the AIL were good (κ: 0.72).ConclusionsThis Plan has provided a novel framework to coordinate a broad range of proposed policies and actions within the public administration of Andalusia. For the first time, a multisectoral impact analysis has been conducted providing an effective guide for monitoring, planning and setting public priorities in health, social services, ageing and disabilities.     

Características del uso inadecuado de medicamentos en pacientes pluripatológicos de edad avanzada

Objective

To analyse potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in elderly polypathological patients (PP).