Background. Due to possible complications and treatment limitations, the prevention of influenza in renal transplant (RT) patients is highly indicated. Methods. Forty-nine patients with a 1-year functioning RT subjected to two different immunosuppressive regimens and 37 healthy relatives (HR) were administered the anti-influenza vaccine as recommended for 1996 to 1997. Anti-influenza antibody, creatinine, and immunological markers were estimated at 1 and 3 months after vaccination. Results. Three months after vaccination, 46.2% of the RT patients and 69% of the HR (P =0.06) showed protective antibody titers to influenza A (relative risk [RR]; 0.67; 95% confidence interval: 0.44–1.02). A total of 20.5% of the RT patients and 44.8% of the HR showed antibodies to influenza B (P =0.03). Despite these differences, the incidence of illness was similar. The immunosuppressive regimen had no effect on the antibody response. Conclusions. Although the RT patients showed a reduced antibody response, no negative effects on graft outcome were observed.
Background: Very positive effects have been described in the application of pain neuroscience education (PNE) to chronic pain and migraine. However, there are few data on the applicability of this therapeutic approach in actual clinical practice in a primary care (PC) setting. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy in fibromyalgia (FM) of an intervention based on PNE and exercise compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Methods: Pragmatic nonrandomised controlled trial set in 5 healthcare centres and one physiotherapy centre in PC. Fifty-three women with FM (2010 American College of Rheumatology Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia) were studied, 35 in the intervention group (IG) and 18 in the control group (CG). The women in the IG were interviewed individually and then received 6 weekly sessions plus one review session (1 month later): those in the CG received their TAU. The subject assignation to the CG or the IG was determined according to their availability to attend the sessions. They all filled in several questionnaires (prior to and 1 year after the intervention) to evaluate the impact of FM in their daily lives, catastrophism, anxiety and depression, severity and impact of pain in daily personal performance and functional capacity. Results: The reductions (improvements) in the scores of all tests (baseline-final) were greater in the IG (p < 0.05) when adjusted for age and baseline values, with moderate or high effect size. After 1 year, 20% (CI − 1 to 42%) more women in the IG, compared to the CG, had a FIQ score < 39 (mild functional impairment). 17/38 (49%) women in the IG no longer met FM criteria at the end of follow-up. Conclusions: An intervention based on PNE and exercise in patients with FM is feasible and seems effective in PC. Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Trial Registration NCT04539171), on 04/09/2020.
Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend using peripheral blood pulse measuring as a screening test for Atrial Fibrillation. However, there is no adequate evidence supporting the efficacy of such procedure in primary care clinical practice. This paper describes a study protocol designed to verify whether early opportunistic screening for Atrial Fibrillation by measuring blood pulse is more effective than regular practice in subjects aged 65 years attending primary care centers.
Persistent COVID-19 condition includes a wide variety of symptoms and health problems of indeterminate duration. The present study examined the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the population with Long COVID seen in Primary Care using a questionnaire based on the existing scientific literature. It was an observational and descriptive study of the characteristics of the Spanish population with Long COVID over 14 years of age. The responses were analysed by means of a descriptive analysis of the variables recorded, in addition to a bivariate analysis to determine the existence of a relationship between persistent COVID-19 and variables such as gender, age, vaccination status or concomitant pathology. The results obtained clearly describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the population, highlighting the predominance of female gender and the prevalence of tiredness and fatigue. Furthermore, relevant information was obtained on the differences in symptomatology according to gender, age, previous pathologies and alterations derived from infection and/or vaccination. These data are important for better detection, diagnosis and treatment of Long COVID and the improvement of the quality of life of this population.
To evaluate the effectiveness of a group intervention in Primary Care in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) based on pain neuroscience education (PNE). Pre-post study. Urban Primary Health Centre in Bilbao. Patients with FM (2010 American College of Rheumatology Diagnostic Criteria for fibromyalgia), ≥18 years. 5 weekly sessions (2hours each), and a reminder session one month later. Compliance with FM criteria, assessed using the WPI (Widespread Pain Index, number of pain areas) and the SS (severity of symptoms) questionnaires. An assessment was also made on the impact of FM on functional capacity (FIQ:≥20% and ≥50% reduction in the FIQ total score from baseline to after treatment, and proportion of patients with FIQ<39 at the end of the study). Assessments were made at baseline, one month following the 5th session, and during the 6- and 12-month follow-up. All the study evaluations were completed by 85/98 patients. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the 3 studied categories (WPI, SS, and FIQ) since the first visit, and was maintained until the final visit (12 months later). A total of 45 patients (53%, 95% CI: 42%-63%), more than those at baseline, scored FIQ<39 (no worse than mild functional impairment). One month following the 5th session there were 44 patients (52%, 95% CI: 41%-62%) that no longer met FM criteria and, at the end of follow-up, there were 56 patients (66%, 95% CI: 55%-75%). An intervention based on PNE has shown to be feasible in Primary Care, with results in the upper range of those published with other treatments for FM.