Infectious diseases in primary care
Mendive Arbeloa, J.M.; Vinyoles Bargallo, E.; Mata Cases, M.; Altaba Barcelo, A.M.; García Ruiz, F.; Salvador González, B.; Solsona Díaz, L.; Wennberg Rutllant, M.P.
Atencion Primaria 17(1): 64-68
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-6567 PMID: 8742147 Document Number: 460467
To find the frequency and seasonal variability of the infectious diseases detected over a year. Observational prospective study. Primary care centre. Simple multi-stage random sampling of the patients over 14 seen on demand at general medical clinics and the Casualty department between June 1991 and May 1992. Out of 49,193 attendances during the study period, the attendance sample was 2,523, of which 474 (18.8%; CI: 17.3-20.3%) were for infectious conditions. Average age of these 474 was 39 (SD: 19.17); 55% were women. Frequency of respiratory infections was 64.1% (CI: 59.8-68.5%). The correlation coefficient between respiratory infections and the total number of infections was 0.94 (R2 = 0.89). The frequency of infections oscillated between 29% (CI: 23-35%) in February and 10% (CI: 5.8-14.5%) in May. Infectious conditions account for a considerable percentage of the total number of primary care attendances. There is a seasonal variation in infections, which is mainly due to respiratory infections.