Abstract BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. However, the exact mechanisms linking chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with depression and anxiety have not been identified. OBJECTIVES: To compare self-reported depression and anxiety among patients diagnosed with COPD in relation to healthy controls. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case control study at a public hospital institution in Spain. METHODS: We designed a case-control study. Patients were recruited using a consecutive sampling method from a single institution. Two groups were created: COPD and healthy controls. Data on medical history and demographic background were collected from the medical records. Self-reported depression levels were assessed using Beck’s depression inventory (BDI). Self-reported anxiety was measured using the State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with COPD and fifty healthy patients were included in this study. BDI scores were higher for COPD patients (10.23 ± 6.26) than in the control group (5.2 ± 6.56). STAI-state scores were higher for COPD patients (41.85 ± 12.55) than for controls (34.88 ± 9.25). STAI-trait scores were higher for COPD patients (41.42 ± 10.01) than for controls (34.62 ± 9.19). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there were higher levels of depression and anxiety among COPD patients than among healthy controls.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Spain particularly hard, despite being a country with a developed economy and being praised for the robustness of its national health system. In order to understand what happened and to identify how to improve the response, we believe that an independent multi-disciplinary evaluation of the health, political and socio-economic spheres is essential. In this piece we propose objectives, principles, methodology and dimensions to be evaluated, as well as outlining the type of results and conclusions expected. Inspired by the requirements formulated by the WHO Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and by experiences in other countries, we detail the multidimensional aspects to be evaluated. The goal is to understand key aspects in the studied areas and their scope for improvement in terms of preparedness, governance, regulatory framework, national health system structures (primary care, hospital, and public health), education sector, social protection schemes, minimization of economic impact, and labour framework and reforms for a more resilient society. We seek to ensure that this exercise serves not only at present, but also that in the future we are better prepared and more agile in terms of our ability to recover from any pandemic threats that may arise.

Resumen La pandemia de COVID-19ha afectado de manera particularmente intensa a España, pese a su nivel de desarrollo y la elogiada solidez de su Sistema Nacional de Salud. Para comprender qué ha pasado e identificar cómo mejorar la respuesta creemos imprescindible una evaluación independiente multidisciplinaria de la esfera sanitaria, política y socioeconómica. En este trabajo proponemos objetivos, principios, metodología y dimensiones a evaluar, además de esbozar el tipo de resultados y conclusiones esperadas. Nos inspiramos en los requerimientos formulados por el panel independiente de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y en las experiencias evaluativas en otros países, y detallamos la propuesta de aspectos multidimensionales que deben valorarse. La idea es comprender aspectos clave en los ámbitos estudiados y su margen de mejora en lo relativo a preparación, gobernanza, marco normativo, estructuras del Sistema Nacional de Salud (atención primaria, hospitalaria y de salud pública), sector de educación, esquemas de protección social, minimización del impacto económico, y marco y reformas en el ámbito laboral para una sociedad más resiliente. En definitiva, buscamos que este ejercicio sirva no solo para el presente, sino también para que en el futuro estemos mejor preparados y con más ágil capacidad de recuperación ante las amenazas pandémicas que puedan surgir.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Spain particularly hard, despite being a country with a developed economy and being praised for the robustness of its national health system. In order to understand what happened and to identify how to improve the response, we believe that an independent multi-disciplinary evaluation of the health, political and socio-economic spheres is essential. In this piece we propose objectives, principles, methodology and dimensions to be evaluated, as well as outlining the type of results and conclusions expected. Inspired by the requirements formulated by the WHO Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and by experiences in other countries, we detail the multidimensional aspects to be evaluated. The goal is to understand key aspects in the studied areas and their scope for improvement in terms of preparedness, governance, regulatory framework, national health system structures (primary care, hospital, and public health), education sector, social protection schemes, minimization of economic impact, and labour framework and reforms for a more resilient society. We seek to ensure that this exercise serves not only at present, but also that in the future we are better prepared and more agile in terms of our ability to recover from any pandemic threats that may arise.

Resumen La pandemia de COVID-19ha afectado de manera particularmente intensa a España, pese a su nivel de desarrollo y la elogiada solidez de su Sistema Nacional de Salud. Para comprender qué ha pasado e identificar cómo mejorar la respuesta creemos imprescindible una evaluación independiente multidisciplinaria de la esfera sanitaria, política y socioeconómica. En este trabajo proponemos objetivos, principios, metodología y dimensiones a evaluar, además de esbozar el tipo de resultados y conclusiones esperadas. Nos inspiramos en los requerimientos formulados por el panel independiente de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y en las experiencias evaluativas en otros países, y detallamos la propuesta de aspectos multidimensionales que deben valorarse. La idea es comprender aspectos clave en los ámbitos estudiados y su margen de mejora en lo relativo a preparación, gobernanza, marco normativo, estructuras del Sistema Nacional de Salud (atención primaria, hospitalaria y de salud pública), sector de educación, esquemas de protección social, minimización del impacto económico, y marco y reformas en el ámbito laboral para una sociedad más resiliente. En definitiva, buscamos que este ejercicio sirva no solo para el presente, sino también para que en el futuro estemos mejor preparados y con más ágil capacidad de recuperación ante las amenazas pandémicas que puedan surgir.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study are to compare self-reported depression and anxiety in subjects diagnosed of asthma and healthy controls. METHODS: We designed a case-control study. Subjects were recruited using a consecutive sampling method from a single institution. Two groups were created: Asthma and healthy controls. Data of medical history and demographic background were collected from the medical record. Self-reported depression level was assessed using Beck's depression inventory (BDI). Self-reported anxiety was measured with the “State-trait anxiety inventory” (STAI). RESULTS: Fifty-one subjects with asthma, and fifty healthy patients were included in this study. BDI scores (p<0.001) were higher for asthma (10.22±7.3) than in the control group (5.2±6.56). STAI state (p<0.001) was higher in asthma (42.61±11.5) than in controls (34.88±9.25). STAI trait (p<0.001) showed higher scores in asthma (43.14±10.89) than in controls (34.62±9.19). CONCLUSIONS: These study findings showed that BDI, and STAI trait and state scores are significantly higher in subjects who suffer from asthma than healthy controls.