BACKGROUND: The foundation of virtual consultation is to improve the cooperation and the coordination between Primary Care and other specialties. However, in its use inequities related to socioeconomic determinants have been described. The aim of this study was to identify individual and geographical factors affecting the likelihood of accessing this resource.
METHODS: Descriptive study of virtual and non-virtual consultations requested by Primary Care doctors from other specialists doctors in Aragon between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022. Characteristics of the interconsultations and variables specific to the patient treated were recorded and analyzed; and the request rate for virtual consultations by specialty and the standardized rates by age by Basic Health Zone and stratified by sex were calculated.
RESULTS: Progressive increase in the number of virtual consultations for the study period, being Traumatology, Neurology, Urology, General Surgery and Dermatology the specialties that received the most. The standardized rates by age and stratified by sex were higher in women and the Health Areas of Huesca, Calatayud and Alcañiz. The request was higher in 2022 and the specialized referral was the main type of response. Regarding variables of the patients treated, virtual consultations were requested more in urban and less dispersed areas, women, patients with lower adjusted morbidity and with free pharmacy, pensioners and active users with income less than €18,000/year.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the rise of telemedicine and its potential advantages, it is necessary to adapt it to the needs of the local population, to mitigate inequalities in access, and to integrate it with face-to-face care.

OBJECTIVE: To use a risk scale or predictive model outside the population of origin, it is necessary to evaluate the predictive indicators through external validation. The aim was to validate the FAscore, originally constructed in hypertensive patients in primary care in the Valencian Region, in an external cohort with hypertension in primary care in the Basque Country.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was designed to perform an external validation of the FAscore app in patients affiliated with 26 health centers in the municipality of Bilbao. The area under the ROC curve and predictive indicators were calculated with their 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS: Thirty-six thousand eight hundred nine patients were included: 53.6% (n=19,719) were women, the mean age was 75.1 years, 41.8% (n=15,381). Over the four-year follow-up period, 1420 patients were diagnosed with AF (cumulative incidence 3.9%). The median risk estimated by FAscore was 4.5%, and the 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles were 1.0%, 2.5%, 6.1%, and 14.8%, respectively. The ROC curve for the risk estimated by FAscore and the cases of atrial fibrillation observed was AUC 0.715 (95% CI 0.703-0.727). The 5% risk cutoff provides a sensitivity of 70.8%, specificity of 61.0%, positive predictive value of 6.8%, negative predictive value of 98.1%, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of 1.82 and 0.48, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on the external validation of the atrial fibrillation risk scale in hypertensive patients, which shows an acceptable predictive capacity. The best-performing risk cutoff, providing good predictive indicators, can be set at 5%.

This article addresses the diagnostic challenges of palmoplantar dermatoses (PPD) within the scope of Primary Health Care (PHC). These common skin conditions, encountered in daily practice, exhibit a diverse range of symptoms and morphologies, complicating their diagnosis. They are etiologically classified into infectious inflammatory, non-infectious inflammatory, and hereditary keratodermas. While various dermatoses may affect the palms and soles, few are specific to this area. Notable examples include palmoplantar pustulosis, dyshidrosis, erythema pernio, and Bazex syndrome. Given the high prevalence of dermatological consultations in PHC, this article underscores the significance of PHC professionals\' knowledge regarding these conditions. It proposes a diagnostic algorithm to facilitate their management and timely referral.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the efficacy of brief CPR training with dual feedback to maintain the ability to perform quality chest compressions.
METHODS: Quasi-experimental study with two groups to evaluate a brief theoretical training followed by a practice with manikin with feedback; Participants: 155 health and non-health professionals from 5 primary care health centers of urban area (43 losses); Main measurements: Characteristics of compressions that were measured before and after the brief training and their maintenance at 3 and 6 months according to the study group. The effect of training and maintenance of skills were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.
RESULTS: 155 participants were included, mean age 39.7 years (SD=12.0) with 82.7% female. The training effect had an improvement in mean compression depth (pre-post difference: 3.5, P<.001), total compressions with adequate depth (pre-post difference: 0.2, P<.001) and Total Compressions with Adequate Rhythm (pre-post difference: 0.4, P<.001). The second phase was completed by 112 participants (72.2%). Compression skills declined at 3 months and were lower at 6 months, although the loss of skills was not statistically significant between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: An individualized, brief training action with feedback immediately improves the quality of compressions. The progressive loss of skills from 3 to 6 months is not relevant.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the cause of acute pharyngitis and determine the duration of severe and moderate symptoms based on the aetiology.
METHODS: Prospective observational study. SITE: One urban health care centre.
METHODS: Patients aged 15 or older with acute pharyngitis were included.
METHODS: Bacterial identification was carried out in the microbiology lab using MALDI-TOF in two throat samples. Patients received a symptom diary to return after one week.
METHODS: Number of days with severe symptoms, scoring 5 or more in any of the symptoms included in the symptom diary, and moderate symptoms, scoring 3 or more.
RESULTS: Among the 149 patients recruited, beta-haemolytic streptococcus group A (GABHS) was the most common aetiology. Symptoms and signs alone as well as the mean Centor score cannot distinguish between GABHS and other bacterial causes in patients with acute pharyngitis. However, there was a trend indicating that infections caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus agalactiae presented more severe symptoms, whereas infections attributed to the Streptococcus anginosus group, Fusobacterium spp., and those where oropharyngeal microbiota was isolated tended to have milder symptoms. S. dysgalactiae infections showed a trend towards longer severe and moderate symptom duration.
CONCLUSIONS: GABHS was the most prevalent, but group C streptococcus caused more severe and prolonged symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of suspected abuse of non-institutionalised elderly people and the associated variables.
METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study in patients aged 65 years or older, non-institutionalised, consecutively selected in primary care (PC). The EASI questionnaires (Suspected Elderly Abuse Index), the EAI questionnaire (Suspected Abuse Index in patients with cognitive impairment), the Barthel index, and the EUROQOL-5D questionnaire were used with patients, and the CASE questionnaire and the Zarit test were used with caregivers. Socio-demographic, health, and quality of life variables were analysed in all patients.
RESULTS: Eight hundred four patients were included, mean age 78.9±7.9 years, 58.3% women. The prevalence of suspected abuse was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.1%-13.9%). Suspected abuse was more frequent in women than in men (14.4% vs. 7.1%; odds ratio (OR)=1.97; 95% CI=1.1-3.4; p=0.016) and in those who lived with two or more people compared to those who lived alone (18.4% vs. 7.3%; OR=2.42; 95% CI=1.1-5.0; p=0.017). Among older patients, the lower their dependency, the lower the prevalence of suspected abuse (30.0% in highly dependent vs. 8.7% in non-dependent: p-trend=0.006); and the better the perceived health status, the lower the prevalence of suspected abuse (29.6% in poor health status vs. 6.9% in optimal health status; p-trend=<0.001). Among caregivers, the prevalence of suspected abuse was 20.4% (95% CI=12.8%-28.0%). A trend of higher prevalence of suspected abuse could be observed with higher scores on the CASE questionnaire (56.3% at high risk and 9.6% with no risk of abuse; p-trend=0.007). In the case of the ZARIT questionnaire with scores below 47, the prevalence of suspected abuse was 9.1%, and for scores above 55, it was 52.6% (p-trend<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the PRESENCIA study show that approximately 1 in 10 patients aged ≥65 meet the criteria for suspected abuse. The probability of abuse increases in women, in patients with greater dependency and in patients with poorer perceived health status. Caregivers with greater overload and greater risk presented a greater suspicion of elder abuse.

The prevalence of obesity has increased in recent years worldwide. In this context, strategies for management obesity in primary care are essential. The first step in the treatment of obesity are lifestyle intervention programs. The three pillars of these programs, ideally of high intensity (high frequency of visits), are dietary intervention, exercise and behavioral therapy. There is no universal model of care for patients with obesity, but it must take into account key aspects, such as facilitating the access and adherence of the patient and a multidisciplinary and coordinated care among professionals at different levels of healthcare. The components of the model of care and its format should be defined according to the resources available and the characteristics of the population to be treated.

Mental Health (MH) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are two aspects of migrant health that should be addressed and screened in primary care. These topics are inherently sensitive, often challenging and difficult to approach in routine consultations. Providing comprehensive care and management needs both knowledge and a careful approach, yet these factors may sometimes result in low screening of both health issues. Migration itself does not inherently lead to MH disorders. However, the various experiences encountered throughout the migration process can contribute to MH challenges. Migrants face the same issues as the rest of the population, but their expressions may differ. Therefore, it is important to understand the cultural contexts and create a supportive environment within healthcare to effectively address both MH and FGM. FGM is a serious health issue for girls and women that should be assessed in primary care. This includes prevention for at-risk girls, support and care for affected women and community initiatives. To engage with individuals from high-risk countries, both men and women is essential to facilitate change and help to end this harmful practice.

Bariatric surgery (BS) has been shown to be effective and efficient, but only 1% of selected patients will ever receive it. Compared to medical treatment of obesity, BS has demonstrated greater long-term sustained weight loss, a reduction in both total and cardiovascular (CV) mortality, improvement or remission of CV risk factors and other comorbidities associated with obesity, as well as improved mobility and quality of life. BS presents similar risks to other abdominal surgeries, with obesity as an added risk factor. However, mortality after this type of surgery is less than 1%, being in specialised centres even lower than 0.3%, with a morbidity of less than 7%. The most commonly performed surgical procedures at present are vertical gastrectomy and Roux---Y gastric bypass, preferably by laparoscopic approach.

This article provides an in-depth analysis of digital transformation in European primary healthcare (PHC). It assesses the impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and management, highlighting variations in digital maturity across Europe. It emphasizes the significance of digital tools, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, in enhancing accessibility and efficiency in healthcare. It discusses the integration of telehealth, remote monitoring, and e-health solutions, showcasing their role in patient empowerment and proactive care. Examples are included from various countries, such as Greece\'s ePrescription system, Lithuania\'s adoption of remote consultations, Spain\'s use of risk stratification solutions, and the Netherlands\' advanced use of telemonitoring solutions, to illustrate the diverse implementation of digital solutions in PHC. The article offers insights into the challenges and opportunities of embedding digital technologies into a multidisciplinary healthcare framework, pointing towards future directions for PHC in Europe.