Jesús Oliva

Retraso diagnostico de la infeccion por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en Espana

OBJECTIVES To analyse the prevalence of delayed diagnosis (DD) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the trends over time and its determining factors from the Newly Diagnosed HIV-infected individuals Information System (SINIVIH) data, in process of being implemented in Spain. METHODS Cross-sectional study of newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals between 2003 and 2007 in the 8 currently participating Spanish autonomous regions (AR). DD was defined as a CD4 count <200cells/μL at diagnosis. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were calculated using logistic regression (OR; 95%CI). RESULTS Among the 5785 newly diagnosed HIV cases reported, 4798 had a CD4 cell count at diagnosis. Of these, 37.3% met the DD definition. An additional 19% had between 200 and 350cells/μL. The proportion of DD was lower for women than for men (32.9% versus 38.6%). According to exposure category, it was higher in heterosexuals (42.4%) and injecting drug users (IDUs) (40.1%) than in men who have sex with men (MSM) (26.7%). In the Spanish patient group, in multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusting for AR and year of diagnosis, men were more likely to have a DD (OR=1.49; 95%CI:1.21-1.85). Compared to younger patients (20-29 years), LD was more frequent in older: 30-39 years (OR=2.08; 95% CI:1.63-2.67), 40-49 years (OR=3.98; 95% CI:3.07-5.16) and >49 years (OR=6.77; 95% CI:5.10-9.00); and compared to MSM, was more frequent in heterosexuals (OR=1.75; 95% CI:1.43-2.15) and IDUs (OR=1.75; 95% CI:1.38-2.22). DD decreased from 2003 to 2007 (OR=1.38; 95% CI:1.08-1.76). The same associated factors were found in immigrants, but with different magnitude: stronger association with men, heterosexuals and IDUs, and weaker association with older age. CONCLUSIONS DD affects almost four in every ten newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals, and is significantly more common among men, age group over 30 years, IDUs and heterosexuals. These are associated factors both in Spanish and immigrants, but in the last group the association is stronger. Strategies to increase the perception of risk among these groups are needed, as well as the implementation of the SINIVIH in the whole country to improve and to extend the information on DD.

25 (OH) Vitamin D Levels and Renal Disease Progression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy and Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Experimental studies show that 25 (OH) vitamin D is a suppressor of renin biosynthesis and that vitamin D deficiency has been associated with CKD progression. Patients with type II diabetes and CKD have an exceptionally high rate of severe 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency; however, it is not known whether this deficiency is a risk factor for progression of diabetic nephropathy. This study aimed to investigate whether there is an association of 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency with disease progression in type II diabetic nephropathy. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were measured at baseline and 4 and 12 months in 103 patients included in a multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of combining an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker with the efficacy of each drug in monotherapy to slow progression of established diabetic nephropathy during 2006-2011. The primary composite endpoint was a >50% increase in baseline serum creatinine, ESRD, or death. All study participants were included in the analysis. RESULTS Fifty-three patients (51.5%) had 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml). After a median follow-up of 32 months, the endpoint was reached by 23 patients with deficiency (43.4%) and 8 patients without (16%). Multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for urinary protein/creatinine ratio, estimated GFR, and baseline aldosterone showed that 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency was associated with the primary endpoint (hazard ratio, 2.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.84 to 7.67; P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS These results show that 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with a higher risk of the composite outcome in patients with type II diabetic nephropathy.

Predictors of advanced disease and late presentation in new HIV diagnoses reported to the surveillance system in Spain

OBJECTIVE To present surveillance data on advanced disease (AD) and late presentation (LP) of HIV in Spain and their determinants. METHODS We included all new HIV diagnoses notified by the autonomous regions that consistently reported such cases throughout the period 2007-2011. Coverage was 54% of the total Spanish population. Data sources consisted of clinicians, laboratories and medical records. AD was defined as the presence of a CD4 cell count <200cells/μL in the first test after HIV diagnosis, while LP was defined as the presence of a CD4 cell count <350cells/μL after HIV diagnosis. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) were used as the measure of association. Logistic regressions were fit to identify predictors of AD and LP. RESULTS A total of 13,021 new HIV diagnoses were included. Among these, data on the outcome variable were available in 87.7%. The median CD4 count at presentation was 363 (interquartile range, 161-565). Overall, 3356 (29.4%) patients met the definition of AD and 5494 (48.1%) were classified as LP. Both AD and LP increased with age and were associated with male sex and infection through drug use or heterosexual contact. All immigrants except western Europeans were more prone to AD and LP. Multivariate models disaggregated by sex showed that the effect of age and region of origin was weaker in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS Despite universal health care coverage in Spain, men, immigrants and people infected through drug use or heterosexual contact seem to be experiencing difficulties in gaining timely access to HIV care.

Incidencia de nuevos diagnósticos de VIH en España 2004-2009

OBJECTIVE To describe the incidence of new HIV diagnoses and its trend in Spain. METHODS All new HIV diagnoses notified to the case-registries of 15 autonomous regions (64% of the total Spanish population) in 2009 were analyzed. To evaluate trends from 2004 to 2009, data from only nine regions were available. Clinical-epidemiological data were obtained from the notification forms. Distributions of new HIV diagnoses and late diagnoses according to several variables were performed. The Poisson distribution was used to evaluate trends. RESULTS In 2009, 2264 new HIV diagnoses were notified, mostly in men (80%). The median age at diagnosis was 36 years (interquartile range 29-43) and 37.6% of affected individuals were immigrants, mostly from Latin-America and sub-Saharan Africa. The most common transmission category (42.5%) was men who have sex with men (MSM) followed by the heterosexual and parenteral modes of transmission (34.5% and 8.1%, respectively). The median CD4 count at diagnosis was 347 (interquartile range: 152-555), and CD4 count was <350 in 50.2% of patients. From 2004 to 2009, the mean incidence rate of new HIV diagnoses was 91.14 per million inhabitants; an increasing trend for rates in MSM, as well as a decreasing trend for the parenteral mode of transmission, were observed. CONCLUSIONS In Spain, the epidemiology of HIV infection has changed since the mid-1990s. Currently, the most frequent transmission category is sexual transmission, particularly among MSM, and immigrants are an important part of the epidemic. Heterogeneous trends for the three main transmission categories were observed from 2004 to 2009.

[Incidence of new HIV diagnoses in Spain, 2004-2009].

OBJECTIVE To describe the incidence of new HIV diagnoses and its trend in Spain. METHODS All new HIV diagnoses notified to the case-registries of 15 autonomous regions (64% of the total Spanish population) in 2009 were analyzed. To evaluate trends from 2004 to 2009, data from only nine regions were available. Clinical-epidemiological data were obtained from the notification forms. Distributions of new HIV diagnoses and late diagnoses according to several variables were performed. The Poisson distribution was used to evaluate trends. RESULTS In 2009, 2264 new HIV diagnoses were notified, mostly in men (80%). The median age at diagnosis was 36 years (interquartile range 29-43) and 37.6% of affected individuals were immigrants, mostly from Latin-America and sub-Saharan Africa. The most common transmission category (42.5%) was men who have sex with men (MSM) followed by the heterosexual and parenteral modes of transmission (34.5% and 8.1%, respectively). The median CD4 count at diagnosis was 347 (interquartile range: 152-555), and CD4 count was <350 in 50.2% of patients. From 2004 to 2009, the mean incidence rate of new HIV diagnoses was 91.14 per million inhabitants; an increasing trend for rates in MSM, as well as a decreasing trend for the parenteral mode of transmission, were observed. CONCLUSIONS In Spain, the epidemiology of HIV infection has changed since the mid-1990s. Currently, the most frequent transmission category is sexual transmission, particularly among MSM, and immigrants are an important part of the epidemic. Heterogeneous trends for the three main transmission categories were observed from 2004 to 2009.

Estimating the prevalence of drug injection using a multiplier method based on a register of new HIV diagnoses

Knowledge of prevalence of illegal drug injection can aid the design and evaluation of services for problem drug users. In this study, prevalence of recent injectors in Spain was estimated with a multiplier method using the number of injectors in a population register of new HIV diagnoses, HIV incidence among injectors from cohort studies and HIV prevalence among injectors in a drug treatment register. Prevalence in 2008 was 38.8 (95% CI 23.8-53.8) per 100,000 population, a 2.8 times reduction compared with 2001. This method permits estimation of both prevalence and trends of drug injection. It is sustainable and routinely applicable in many countries.

Patrón de inicio del seguimiento clínico en los pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en España

OBJETIVE To describe linkage to care among new HIV diagnoses in Spain; and to estimate factors associated to linkage to care within three months after diagnosis. METHODS The distribution of the time elapsing between the date of HIV diagnosis and the date of first determination of CD4 (considered to be the date of linkage to care) was calculated among new HIV diagnoses in 2010 in the seven Autonomous Regions participating, where data on date of CD4 count was available. Linkage to care was considered «correct» if done within three months after diagnosis. Factors associated to correct linkage to care were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 1769 new HIV diagnoses were included. Of them, 83.1% had evidence of linkage to care within a year, and 75.7% were linked within three months after diagnosis. Being an injectable drug user (IDU) was the only factor inversely associated with linkage to care within 3 months (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2-0.6). CONCLUSION In Spain linkage to care after HIV diagnosis is good, but there is still room for improvement, especially among IDUs.

Estimating the burden of seasonal influenza in Spain from surveillance of mild and severe influenza disease, 2010-2016

Estimating the national burden of influenza disease is challenging. We aimed to estimate the disease burden of seasonal influenza in Spain, at the primary care and hospital level, over the 6 influenza seasons after 2009 pandemic.

Pilot study to harmonize the reported influenza intensity levels within the Spanish Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System (SISSS) using the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM).

The intensity of annual Spanish influenza activity is currently estimated from historical data of the Spanish Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System (SISSS) using qualitative indicators from the European Influenza Surveillance Network. However, these indicators are subjective, based on qualitative comparison with historical data of influenza-like illness rates. This pilot study assesses the implementation of Moving Epidemic Method (MEM) intensity levels during the 2014-2015 influenza season within the 17 sentinel networks covered by SISSS, comparing them to historically reported indicators. Intensity levels reported and those obtained with MEM at the epidemic peak of the influenza wave, and at national and regional levels did not show statistical difference (P = 0·74, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), suggesting that the implementation of MEM would have limited disrupting effects on the dynamic of notification within the surveillance system. MEM allows objective influenza surveillance monitoring and standardization of criteria for comparing the intensity of influenza epidemics in regions in Spain. Following this pilot study, MEM has been adopted to harmonize the reporting of intensity levels of influenza activity in Spain, starting in the 2015-2016 season.

Exploring the risk of severe outcomes and the role of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnant women hospitalized with confirmed influenza, Spain, 2010/11-2015/16

Based on previous observations during pandemics and seasonal epidemics, pregnant women are considered at risk of developing severe influenza outcomes after influenza infection. With the aim of preventing severe influenza illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) includes pregnant women as a target group for seasonal influenza vaccination. However, influenza vaccine uptake during pregnancy remains low in many countries, including Spain. The objectives of this study were to increase the evidence of pregnancy as a risk factor for severe influenza illness and to study the potential role of seasonal influenza vaccination in the prevention of severe outcomes in infected pregnant women. Using information from the surveillance of Severe Hospitalized Confirmed Influenza Cases (SHCIC) in Spain, from seasons 2010/11 to 2015/16, we estimated that pregnant women in our study had a relative risk of hospitalization with severe influenza nearly 7.8 times higher than non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Only 5 out of 167 pregnant women with known vaccination status in our study had been vaccinated (3.6%). Such extremely low vaccination coverage only allowed obtaining crude estimates suggesting a protective effect of the vaccine against influenza complications (ICU admission or death). Our overall results support that pregnant women could benefit from seasonal influenza vaccination, in line with national and international recommendations.