1. Annual Report 2025
  2. Research
  3. ISV-Girona

ISV-Girona

Girona Vascular Health Research Group (ISV-Girona)

The ISV research group offers a broad spectrum of expertise in both methodologies and thematic areas of primary care.

The group is fully integrated in the RICAPPS network (Network for Research in Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion, RICORS program) as Dr. Ramos is also the coordinator of the network.

The ISV group is multidisciplinary: it includes primary care physicians, epidemiologists, nurses, biologists, mathematicians, and biostatisticians with and biostatisticians (who ensure accurate and rigorous data analysis).

Its research focuses on three main lines of investigation, which we intend to continue in the next three years.

These lines are:

1) evaluation of preventive interventions and study of the efficacy of drugs used in primary prevention, using real-world data.

2) Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases, especially asymptomatic ones.

3) The design of decision support tools with mathematical models.

Group projects

  • Stratification of Obese Phenotypes to Optimize Future Obesity Therapy (SOPHIA). (875534). Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). 2020-2025. IP: Rafel Ramos Blanes.

  • Programa de prevenció de malalties cardiovasculars basat en el cribratge d'arteriopatia perifèrica asimptomàtica. [Health program for prEvention of cardiovascuLar disEases based on a risk screeNing strategy with Ankle-brachial index]. HELENA Study. (SLT021/21/000015). Generalitat Catalunya. 2022-2025. IP: Rafel Ramos Blanes.

  • L-WORLD IN HEALTH:Filling knowledge gaps and promoting competent primary care for Lesbians. - L-HEALTH. (101144766). European Commission. 2024-2026. IP: Anna Ponjoan Thans.

  • Implementación de una herramienta genética para el refuerzo de la prevención cardiovascular en Atención Primaria (GENINCODE). 2024-2026. IP: Rafel Ramos Blanes.

  • Factores de riesgo, enfermedad cardiovascular y estilos de vida en minorías sexuales y de género: estudio poblacional a partir de registros electrónicos de salud. (PI21/00508). Instituto de Salud Carlos III. 2021-2026. IP: Mª del Mar Garcia Gil.

  • Elaboració i validació d'un qüestionari per a mesurar les habilitats per a la vida. 2023-2026. IP: Ruth Martí Lluch,Pau Batlle Amat.

  • CARGENCORS / CARdiovascular GENetic risk score for Risk Stratification of patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 (COvid 19) virus. GENinCode Plc. 2022-2025. IP: Rafel Ramos Blanes.

Group publications

  • Galvao Rodrigues I, Gallardo Nuell L, El Emrani Azariah B, Ramos R, Garre Olmo J, Puig J et al. Urinary Ferritin: A Non-inflammatory Iron Marker Linked to Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome Components. J. Obes. Metab. Syndr. 2026;35(1):112-121. PMID:41429580.

  • Sánchez Recio R, Oliván Blázquez B, Méndez López F, Gascón Santos S, Marti Lluch R, Zabaleta Olmo E et al. Self-reported health and depression among EIRA cohort: a moderated mediation model of sex and perceived social support. Front. Psychol. 2025;161540530-1540530. PMID:40584072.

  • López MJ, Vazquez MD, Alvarez Mon M, Arribas JR, Arana Arri E, Muñoz P et al. Safety and immunogenicity of PHH-1V booster against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including omicron subvariants: Results from a phase IIb open-label extension study. Human Vaccines Immunother. 2025;21(1):2474775-2474775. PMID:40304691.

  • Rodríguez García J, Ramos R, Blanch J, Ponjoan A, Dallaglio PD, San Antonio R et al. Recent trends and future projections of atrial fibrillation epidemiology in a large european population. Eur. J. Intern. Med. 2026;145106683-106683. PMID:41456979.

  • Alves Cabratosa L, López C, Garcia Gil M, Tornabell Noguera E, Comas Cufí M, Blanch J et al. Long-Term Effectiveness of Acetylsalicylic Acid in Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases and Mortality in Patients at High Risk, a Retrospective Cohort Study-The JOANA Study. J. Clin. Med. 2025;14(16):PMID:40869535.

  • Corominas J, Garriga C, Prenafeta A, Moros A, Cañete M, Barreiro A et al. Humoral and cellular immune responses after 6 months of a heterologous SARS-CoV-2 booster with the protein-based PHH-1V vaccine in a phase IIb trial. Vaccine. 2025;47126685-126685. PMID:39809095.

  • Domínguez Armengol G, Ribas Aulinas F, Balló E, Alzamora Sas M, Serrat Costa M, Ruiz Comellas A et al. Health program for prEvention of cardiovascuLar disEases based on a risk screeNing strategy with Ankle-brachial index: HELENA study protocol. Front. Public Health. 2025;131484163-1484163. PMID:40520295.

  • Castells Nobau A, Fumagalli A, del Castillo Izquierdo A, Rosell Diaz M, de la Vega correa L, Samulenaite S et al. Gut microbial modulation of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid and dopaminergic signalling influences attention in obesity. Gut. 2025;75(4):705-724. PMID:41015495.

  • Polo Alonso S, Hernáez Á, Dégano IR, Martí Lluch R, Pinsach Abuin ML, Elosua R et al. Global and Sex-Stratified Genome-Wide Association Study of Long COVID Based on Patient-Driven Symptom Recall. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025;26(18):PMID:41009814.

  • Sol J, Fernàndez Bernal A, Mota Martorell N, Martín Garí M, Obis É, Juanes A et al. Ether lipids and sphingolipids drive sex-specific human aging dynamics. Redox Biol. 2025;85103779-103779. PMID:40706291.

  • Guiriguet C, Bustos M, Cantenys R, Hermosilla E, Camús J, Medina M et al. Enhancing the follow-up for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using a proactive scheduling computer tool: A paired cohort study in primary care. Prim. Care Diabetes. 2025;19(3):334-340. PMID:40157873.

  • Marcilla Toribio I, Martinez Andres M, Bizzozero Peroni B, Marti Lluch R, Ramos R, Notario Pacheco B. Distance to the nearest park and its relationship with metabolic health: A cross-sectional study in a Spanish adult cohort. Aten. Prim. 2025;57(10):103347-103347. PMID:40934840.

  • Dégano IR, Herrera Marín N, Subirana I, Camps Vilaró A, Hernáez A, Sala J et al. Cohort Profile: The Girona Heart Registry. Int. J. Epidemiol. 2025;54(4):PMID:40611603.

  • Hernáez A, Camps Vilaró A, Polo Alonso S, Subirana I, Ramos R, de Cid R et al. Cohort profile: the CORDELIA study (Collaborative cOhorts Reassembled Data to study mEchanisms and Longterm Incidence of chronic diseAses). Eur. J. Epidemiol. 2025;40(5):581-599. PMID:40353978.

  • Gallardo Nuell L, Blanch J, Leal Y, Coral DE, Duarte Salles T, Giordano GN et al. BMI-residualized data uncovers a cluster of people with type 2 diabetes and increased serum ferritin protected from cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc. Diabetol. 2025;24(1):139-139. PMID:40140920.

  • Rodríguez García J, Ramos R, Ponjoan A, Blanch J, Cainzos Achirica M, Dallaglio PD et al. Association between atrial fibrillation and dementia in a large population-based study in southern Europe. Rev. Esp. Cardiol. 2025;79(1):24-34. PMID:40451506.

    Fumagalli A, Castells Nobau A, Trivedi D, Garre Olmo J, Puig J, Ramos R et al. Archaea methanogens are associated with cognitive performance through the shaping of gut microbiota, butyrate and histidine metabolism. Gut Microbes. 2025;17(1):2455506-2455506. PMID:39910065.

  • Reig García G, Martínez Sancho J, Baltasar Bagué A, Mateu Figueras G, Buxó M, Martí Lluch R et al. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and physical activity practice in general population: an intersectional analysis of inequalities by sex and economic status. Front. Public Health. 2025;131727223-1727223. PMID:41473726.

  • Alves Cabratosa L, Guzmán L, Blanch J, Comas Cufi M, Garcia Gil M, Zacarias Pons L et al. Absolute impact of lipid levels on coronary heart disease in a real-world primary prevention cohort of 730,236 people. American J. Preventive Cardiology. 2025;23101059-101059. PMID:40777544.

  • Cots A, Riberas Sánchez A, Pericot I, Turon A, García Brito S, Garre Olmo J et al. A plasma miRNA signature, including miR-495, as early diagnostic biomarkers associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement.-Diagn. Assess. Dis. Monit. 2025;17(4): PMID:41189611.

  • González Recio P, Barba Sánchez R, Moreno García S, Agúndez L, Ponjoan A, Belza MJ. Suicidal ideation and attempts in young trans people: discrimination and transphobia. Gac. Sanit. 2025;39.

  • Gibrat Pineda M, Torras Borrell J, Benítez Camps M, Cecilia Salgueiro M, Rebagliato Nadal O, González Gil L et al. Pilot study for the evaluation of the learning with a card's gamified activity in hypertension. J. Hypertens. 2025;43(SUPPL 1).

  • Vanrell Nicolau M, Benitez Camps M, Torras Borrell J, Rebagliato Nadal O, Priego Artero M, Cecilia Salgueiro M et al. Pilot study for the evaluation of the learning of a gamified activity for competitive teams of questions-and-answers in arterial hypertension. J. Hypertens. 2025;43(SUPPL 1):204-205.

  • Salgueiro MC, Benítez Camps M, Torras Borrell J, Gibrat Pineda M, Rebagliato Nadal O, Vanrell Nicolau M et al. Evaluation of satisfaction level with a card game for learning hypertension management. J. Hypertens. 2025;43(SUPPL 1).

  • Benitez Camps M, Torras Borrell J, Vanrell Nicolau M, Rebagliato Nadal O, Priego Artero M, Cecilia Salgueiro M et al. A new questions-and-answers game in hypertension for continuing education among health professionals. J. Hypertens. 2025;43(SUPPL 1).

  • Torras Borrell J, Benítez Camps M, Gibrat Pineda M, Cecilia Salgueiro M, Vanrell Nicolau M, Rebagliato Nadal O et al. A new card game in hypertension for continuing education among health professionals. J. Hypertens. 2025;43(SUPPL 1).

  • Barrachina VP, Dominguez GG, Thäns AP, Jacques Aviñó C. "They wanted to give me a pregnancy test, even though i had already said i was a lesbian." a qualitative study on perceived discrimination and barriers faced by lesbians and bisexual women in primary and community healthcare. Gac. Sanit. 2025;39.

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