Comparison of two methods for the estimation of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness of the autumnal booster within the VEBIS-EHR network in 2022/23.

Within an infrastructure to monitor vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization due to COVID-19 and COVID-19 related deaths from November 2022 to July 2023 in seven countries in real-world conditions (VEBIS network), we compared two approaches: (a) estimating VE of the first, second or third COVID-19 booster doses administered during the autumn of 2022, and (b) estimating VE of the autumn vaccination dose regardless of the number of prior doses (autumnal booster approach). Retrospective cohorts were constructed using Electronic Health Records at each participating site. Cox regressions with time-changing vaccination status were fit and site-specific estimates were combined using random-effects meta-analysis.

Modifying effect of urban parks on socioeconomic inequalities in diabetes prevalence: a cross-sectional population study of Madrid City, Spain.

Background: Evidence has shown contradicting results on how the density of urban green spaces may reduce socioeconomic inequalities in type 2 diabetes (). The aim of this study is to test whether socioeconomic inequalities in diabetes prevalence are modified by park density.

Methods: We designed a population-wide cross-sectional study of all adults registered in the primary healthcare centres in the city of Madrid, Spain (n=1 305 050).

Relative vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation in persons aged ≥ 65 years: results from a VEBIS network, Europe, October 2021 to July 2023.

To monitor relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) against COVID-19-related hospitalisation of the first, second and third COVID-19 booster (vs complete primary vaccination), we performed monthly Cox regression models using retrospective cohorts constructed from electronic health registries in eight European countries, October 2021-July 2023. Within 12 weeks of administration, each booster showed high rVE (≥ 70% for second and third boosters). However, as of July 2023, most of the relative benefit has waned, particularly in persons ≥ 80-years-old, while some protection remained in 65-79-year-olds.

Monitoring COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation and death using electronic health registries in ≥65 years old population in six European countries, October 2021 to November 2022.

Background: Within the ECDC-VEBIS project, we prospectively monitored vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 hospitalisation and COVID-19-related death using electronic health registries (EHR), between October 2021 and November 2022, in community-dwelling residents aged 65-79 and ≥80 years in six European countries.

Methods: EHR linkage was used to construct population cohorts in Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Navarre (Spain), Norway and Portugal. Using a common protocol, for each outcome, VE was estimated monthly over 8-week follow-up periods, allowing 1 month-lag for data consolidation.

Effectiveness of Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavaria Nordic Vaccination in a Population at High Risk of Mpox: A Spanish Cohort Study.

Background: With more than 7500 cases reported since April 2022, Spain has experienced the highest incidence of mpox in Europe. From 12 July onward, the modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavaria Nordic (MVA-BN) smallpox vaccine was offered as pre-exposure prophylaxis for those receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-PrEP). Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of 1 dose of MVA-BN vaccine as pre-exposure prophylaxis against mpox virus (MPXV) infection in persons on HIV-PrEP.

Who benefits from green spaces? Surrounding greenness and incidence of cardiovascular disease in a population-based electronic medical records cohort in Madrid.

The objective was to study the association between surrounding greenness and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with a four years follow-up in almost half a million high CVD-risk women and men, as well as its differential effect by area-level deprivation in Madrid. We analyzed 2015-2018 primary healthcare electronic medical records for 437,513 high CVD risk individuals representing more than 95% of the population of that age range residing in Madrid. The outcome variable was any cardiovascular event.

Trends and determinants of social inequities in cardiovascular risk factors in Spain: a mixed-methods study.

This sequential mixed-methods study aims to: 1) assess spatial and temporal trends in cardiovascular risk factors by socioeconomic position from 2001 to 2020 in Spain; 2) explore public health professionals' perspectives regarding interventions that might have impacted these inequities; and 3) analyze determinants on social inequities in cardiovascular risk factors. First, we will measure the change in absolute and relative social inequities in eight cardiovascular risk factors through time trend analysis using repeated cross-sectional data from both National and European Health Surveys for Spain from 2001 to 2020. Second, we will interview key informants -both at the regional and national level-, to contextualize data obtained in phase 1 and capture the content and variation of policies across regions.

Sex and income inequalities in preventive services in diabetes.

Background: Cancer preventive services (gynaecological cancer screening, colon cancer screening) and cardiometabolic screening are recommended by guidelines to individuals. People with diabetes were less likely to receive them than those without diabetes in some studies.

Objectives: To analyse differences in the coverage of preventive services in people with diabetes compared to non-diabetic individuals and in people with diabetes according to sex and household income.

[What have we missed because of COVID-19? Missed diagnoses and delayed follow-ups. SESPAS Report 2022].

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health emergency have affected patients and health services in non-COVID-19 pathologies. Several studies have shown its dissociation from health services, with a decrease in emergency department visits, in hospital admissions for non-COVID-19 pathologies, as well as in the reported weekly incidence of acute illnesses and new diagnoses in primary care. In parallel, the pandemic has had direct and indirect effects on people with chronic diseases; the difficulties in accessing health services, the interruption of care, the saturation of the system itself and its reorientation towards non-face-to-face formats has reduced the capacity to prevent or control chronic diseases.

Temporal trends in within-city inequities in COVID-19 incidence rate by area-level deprivation in Madrid, Spain.

Patterns of exposure and policies aiming at reducing physical contact might have changed the social distribution of COVID-19 incidence over the course of the pandemic. Thus, we studied the temporal trends in the association between area-level deprivation and COVID-19 incidence rate by Basic Health Zone (minimum administration division for health service provision) in Madrid, Spain, from March 2020 to September 2021. We found an overall association between deprivation and COVID-19 incidence.

Gentrification pathways and their health impacts on historically marginalized residents in Europe and North America: Global qualitative evidence from 14 cities.

As global cities grapple with the increasing challenge of gentrification and displacement, research in public health and urban geography has presented growing evidence about the negative impacts of those unequal urban changes on the health of historically marginalized groups. Yet, to date comprehensive research about the variety of health impacts and their pathways beyond single case sites and through an international comparative approach of different gentrification drivers and manifestations remains scarce. In this paper, we analyze qualitative data on the pathways by which gentrification impacts the health of historically marginalized residents in 14 cities in Europe and North America.

An integrated approach to create a spatial database of parks for urban health research.

The role of urban parks has gained interest in urban health research. However, there are currently no clear definitions of these urban assets as exposure variable across the literature, which do have implications for the analysis. In this study, we exhibit an approach to design a comprehensive spatial database of urban parks in cities, using the example of Madrid.

Active use and perceptions of parks as urban assets for physical activity: A mixed-methods study.

Parks are potential key urban assets for improved population health; however, their use is not equal among all social groups. Individual and contextual factors could influence residents' perceptions of parks and how they interact with and, eventually, benefit from them. The use of complementary methodologies provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between park use, physical activity (PA), and residents' perceptions.

The relationship between residential proximity to outdoor play spaces and children's mental and behavioral health: The importance of neighborhood socio-economic characteristics.

Urban outdoor play spaces are reported to improve children's health. However, there is little empirical evidence on the impact of outdoor play spaces on childhood mental and behavioral health. To fill this gap, we investigated the associations between residential proximity to outdoor play spaces and the prevalence of diagnosed mental and behavioral disorders.

Selective perimeter lockdowns in Madrid: a way to bend the COVID-19 curve?

Lockdowns have been widespread used to limit social interaction and bend the epidemic curve. However, their intensity and geographical delimitation have been variable across different countries. Madrid (Spain) implemented perimeter lockdowns in September with the purpose of bending the COVID-19 curve.

Characteristics, complications and outcomes among 1549 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in a secondary hospital in Madrid, Spain: a retrospective case series study.

Objectives: To describe demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics, as well as outcomes, of patients admitted for COVID-19 in a secondary hospital.

Design And Setting: Retrospective case series of sequentially hospitalised patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2, at Infanta Leonor University Hospital (ILUH) in Madrid, Spain.

Participants: All patients attended at ILUH testing positive to reverse transcriptase-PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs and diagnosed with COVID-19 between 1 March 2020 and 28 May 2020.

The PANDEMYC Score. An Easily Applicable and Interpretable Model for Predicting Mortality Associated With COVID-19.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to build an easily applicable prognostic model based on routine clinical, radiological, and laboratory data available at admission, to predict mortality in coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19) hospitalized patients.

Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical information from 1968 patients admitted to a hospital. We built a predictive score based on a logistic regression model in which explicative variables were discretized using classification trees that facilitated the identification of the optimal sections in order to predict inpatient mortality in patients admitted with COVID-19.