http://hdl.handle.net/10256/133 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:14:45 GMT 2025-10-07T20:14:45Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27494 Blood-based biomarkers in centenarians and non-centenarians: a matched, population-based retrospective cohort study using primary care records in Catalonia, Spain Moreno, Manuel A.; Vidal-Alaball, Josep; Sáez Zafra, Marc; Barceló Rado, María Antonia The global increase in life expectancy has sparked growing interest in the factors that contribute to exceptional longevity. Between 1990 and 2015, the number of centenarians worldwide more than quadrupled. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between blood-based biomarkers and the likelihood of reaching 100 years of age in Catalonia (2015–2022), and to examine how biomarker variations during COVID-19 affected longevity. Using a retrospective cohort study based on primary care electronic health records from Catalonia, we compared centenarians with individuals aged 92 or older who died before reaching 100 years of age. We analysed anaemia, cholesterol, glycemia, kidney function, and liver function biomarkers. We employed multiple strategies to control for confounding including matching without replacement, adjusting for both observed confounders at both the individual and contextual level, and unobserved confounders, in particular spatial dependence. Our findings reveal that centenarians exhibit higher rates of chronic conditions, greater socioeconomic disadvantage, and increased neighbourhood inequality in urban areas. Biologically, longevity was linked to intermediate levels of ferritin and cholesterol, alongside lower glucose, creatinine, and uric acid levels. Glycaemic balance, indicated by HbA1c and fasting glucose, emerged as a key factor in survival to extreme old age. Additionally, biomarker improvements during the pandemic correlated with an increased likelihood of reaching centenarian age. These results emphasize the complex interplay between biological, behavioural, and contextual factors in determining longevity. While biomarkers provide valuable insights, they are insufficient indicators of healthy ageing. Future research should integrate multiple dimensions, among them, environmental, and social determinants for uncovering the mechanisms of longevity Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27494 2025-05-26T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27352 Assessing excess mortality and heat-attributable risk during the summer of 2022 in Catalonia, Spain: a Bayesian spatiotemporal analysis Barceló Rado, María Antonia; Sáez Zafra, Marc In 2022, excess mortality in Spain was the third highest on record, surpassed only by 2020 and 2015. However, of that excess only 23% has been directly attributed to extreme heat. The problem with this figure is that the estimate is based on models that could present biases and limitations. We proposed to estimate the excess mortality attributable to extreme temperatures in Catalonia during the summer of 2022, and assessing how the risk of death from these extreme heat temperatures may be modified by other factors, particularly socioeconomic variables. We employed a longitudinal ecological design covering the period from 2015 to 2022, using data at the health area level. We used generalized linear mixed models for all ages and for those aged 65 and older. These models corrected for biases by using small-scale geographic units and explicitly took spatial variability into account. According to our results, during the summer months of 2022, 49.41% of excess mortality was attributable to extreme heat. Not only did heatwaves increase the risk of death, but so too did maximum temperature extremes. Effect modifiers found to increase the risk of dying on days with extreme heat were namely: being 65 years or older, high relative humidity, extreme minimum temperature, and low income. Our results suggest the following methodological considerations: (i) minimize the effects of exposure misclassification by using smaller geographic units than those typically used in other studies; (ii) explicitly take spatial variability into account by using, for example, a hierarchical Bayesian spatiotemporal models; and (iii) control for spatial and temporal dependències Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27352 2025-09-22T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27347 Influence of learning styles on undergraduate nursing students' satisfaction with the flipped classroom methodology Patiño Masó, Josefina; Renart Vicens, Gemma; Serra Saurina, Laura; Soler i Ortega, Marianna; Xabadia Palmada, Àngels Background: Students' learning styles can influence the effectiveness of teaching methodologies. Objectives: To analyse nursing students learning styles using Herrmann's Model and to identify the variables that best predict nursing students’ satisfaction with the flipped classroom (FC) methodology. Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire completed by 139 Spanish students enrolled in a nursing degree program at the university. Results: Participants typically exhibit mixed brain dominance, engaging both hemispheres of the brain during their learning process. Students with B (organized planners) and C (emotional) quadrant dominance tend to be less satisfied with the FC. Enhanced content understanding, exam preparation, and improved group/individual competences positively impacted satisfaction with the FC. Conclusions: Mixed brain dominance supports effective learning in nursing. Satisfaction with FC methodology was positively associated with enhanced knowledge acquisition and improved skill development. However, students with quadrant B and C preferences were less satisfied, suggesting the need for nursing programs to adapt FC strategies, such as adjusting task complexity, offering timely feedback, and fostering learner autonomy, to better support diverse and potentially mixed cognitive styles Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27347 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27333 Entrepreneurial motivational profiles among university students: The role of universities in fostering entrepreneurship Vall-llosera Casanovas, Laura; Renart i Vicens, Gemma; Serra Saurina, Laura; Saurina, Carme In an increasingly globalized world, local and sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives are gaining importance as factors in local economic and social development. If education plays an essential role in students' entrepreneurial motivations, universities need to take an active role in entrepreneurial education and become examples of how to implement sustainable territorial actions. With data from the 2021 Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey in Spain, we selected 1694 university students who were carrying out their own entrepreneurial projects. Using a Component Principal Analysis and Cluster analysis, we classified these students into three entrepreneurial motivation groups and then characterised them through a descriptive univariate and bivariate inferential analysis with sociodemographic variables and with two indexes measuring university and environmental influence. Knowing the motivational profiles of university students, the entrepreneurial developers of the future, can help university researchers evaluate strategies and educational programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurial behaviour Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/27333 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z