[Evolution of the diet and physical activity of university students after the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Evolución de la dieta y la actividad física de los estudiantes universitarios tras la pandemia de COVID-19.

Introduction: Objective: to assess the evolution of adherence to Mediterranean diet and level of physical activity of university students of Health Sciences in Castilla-La Mancha during the COVID-19 lockdown and one year afterwards. Methods: a cross-sectional observational study using questionnaires on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and level of physical activity. A total of 893 students enrolled in Health Sciences degrees at the University of Castilla la Mancha participated, 575 in the first survey (during the lockdown) and 318 in the second (one year later). By sex, 672 women and 221 men (in the first survey 77.7 % were women and 22.3 % men while in the second survey these were 70.8 % and 29.2 %, respectively). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire and the modified Prevention with Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) questionnaire. The level of physical activity was assessed with the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale (RAPA). Results: one year after the COVID-19 confinement, consumption of olive oil has almost tripled. Daily fruit consumption has also doubled. Similarly, the consumption of wine and alcoholic beverages has doubled. Conversely, there was a reduction in the consumption of butter and margarine, as well as of carbonated drinks and sweetened beverages. Likewise, the percentage of university students with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased significantly (from 26 % to 34.3 %). Regarding physical activity level, there was a significant increase in the percentage of university students who engaged in light, moderate and even intense physical activity on an irregular basis. This increase was not found in the case of muscular strength and flexibility training activities. Conclusion: the results of the study indicate that, although the levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity have improved after the COVID-19 confinement, adherence to Mediterranean diet and physical activity level among the university population analyzed is still low. It is necessary to implement strategies for the achievement or maintenance of a healthy lifestyle in this population.

Introducción: Objetivo: valorar la evolución de la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y el nivel de actividad física de los estudiantes universitarios de Ciencias de la Salud de Castilla-La Mancha durante la pandemia de COVID-19 y un año después de la misma. Método: estudio observacional transversal mediante cuestionarios sobre la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y el nivel de actividad física. Participaron 893 alumnos matriculados en grados de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 575 en la primera encuesta (durante la pandemia) y 318 en la segunda (un año después). Por sexos, 672 mujeres y 221 hombres (en la primera encuesta, el 77,7 % eran mujeres y el 22,3 % hombres, mientras que en la segunda lo eran el 70,8 % y 29,2 %, respectivamente). La adherencia a la dieta mediterránea se valoró con el cuestionario Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) y el cuestionario de Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED), modificado. El nivel de actividad física se valoró con el cuestionario Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale (RAPA). Resultados: tras un año desde el confinamiento por la COVID-19, el consumo de aceite de oliva casi se ha triplicado. Se ha duplicado también el consumo de frutas diario. De igual modo, se ha duplicado el consumo de vino y bebidas alcohólicas. Por el contrario, se encontró una reducción del consumo de mantequilla y margarina, al igual que de bebidas carbonatadas y azucaradas. Asimismo, aumentó significativamente el porcentaje de estudiantes universitarios con adherencia alta a la dieta mediterránea (del 26 % al 34,3 %). En cuanto al nivel de actividad física, ha aumentado significativamente el porcentaje de estudiantes universitarios que realizan actividad fisica ligera, moderada e incluso intensa de forma irregular. Este aumento no se ha encontrado en el caso de las actividades de fuerza muscular y flexibilidad. Conclusión: los resultados del estudio nos indican que, aunque los niveles de adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y de actividad física han mejorado tras el confinamiento por la COVID-19, la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y el nivel de actividad física de la población universitaria analizada siguen siendo bajos. Es necesario aplicar estrategias para la consecución o mantenimiento de un estilo de vida saludable en dicha población.

Clusters of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Their Impact on the 20-Year Cardiovascular Risk in a General Population.

BACKGROUND: Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is extraordinarily common and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the particular impact of the sum of CVRFs on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been sufficiently explored in Europe. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in survival-free probability of CVD in relation to the number of CVRFs in a Spanish population. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted from 1992 to 2016 in a Spanish population that included 1144 subjects with no history of CVD (mean age, 46.7 years) drawn from the general population. We calculated the number of CVRFs for each subject (male sex, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and left ventricular hypertrophy). Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality records were collected, and survival analysis was applied (competing risk models). RESULTS: There were 196 cardiovascular events (17.1%). The differences in total survival-free probability of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of the different values of the sum of CVRFs were significant, increasing the risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.50) per each additional risk factor. CONCLUSION: Differences in survival-free probability of CVD in relation to the number of CVRFs present were statistically significant. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results.

Prognostic value of obesity on both overall mortality and cardiovascular disease in the general population.

BACKGROUND: Obesity represents an important health problem and its association with cardiovascular risk factors is well-known. The aim of this work was to assess the correlation between obesity and mortality (both, all-cause mortality and the combined variable of all-cause mortality plus the appearance of a non-fatal first cardiovascular event) in a general population sample from the south-east of Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study used stratified and randomized two-stage sampling. Obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2)] as a predictive variable of mortality and cardiovascular events was assessed after controlling for age, sex, cardiovascular disease history, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, high-density lipoprotein/triglycerides ratio, total cholesterol and smoking with the Cox regression model. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time of the 1,248 participants was 10.6 years. The incidence of all-cause mortality during this period was 97 deaths for every 10,000 person/years (95% CI: 80-113) and the incidence of all-cause mortality+cardiovascular morbidity was 143 cases for every 10,000 person/years (95% CI: 124-163). A BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) yielded a hazard ratio for all-cause mortality of 1.94 (95% CI: 1.11-3.42) in comparison to non-obese subjects (BMI <30 kg/m(2)). For the combination of cardiovascular morbidity plus all-cause mortality, a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) had a hazard ratio of 1.84 (95% CI: 1.15-2.93) compared to non-obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: A BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) is an important predictor of both overall mortality and of the combination of cardiovascular morbidity plus all-cause mortality.