González GWA, Yaguachi ARA

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 287-297
PDF size: 524.12 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Rationale: Food habits acquired during the early years of life are transmitted to adulthood when they impact (like it nor not) upon the health status of the subject. Hence, health status in adult years is directly linked to food intake and life styles acquired in childhood. Objective: To determine associations between salt intake, life styles, and cardiovascular risk (CVR) of patients assisted at the Cardiology outpatient clinic in an Ecuadorian specialties hospital. Study location: “Dr. Abel Gilbert Pontón” Hospital, city of Guayaquil (Province of Guayas, Republic of Ecuador). Study design: Crosssectional, analytical. Study serie: Four-hundred and four patients (Women: 63.1%; Average age: 53.5 ± 13.5 years; Ages ≥ 60 years: 36.1%). Methods: An anthropometric evaluation oriented to the recognition of excessive body weight and CVR assessment, a diet survey aimed to document the current salt intake, and a structured questionnaire on life styles and physical exercise practice, were administered to the participating patients. Results: Excessive body weight (BMI ≥ 25 Kg.m-2) affected 61.6% of the study serie. In contrast, 90.1% of them presented WHR > 0.5. Regarding physical activity, surveyed subjects were distributed as follows: Mild: 77.5%; Moderate: 20.8%; Intense: 1.7%; respectively. Intake of salt added to foods once prepared was referred by 83.2% of the surveyed patients. Consumption of foods known to be hidden sources of salt was prevalent: Hams, sausages and canned foods: 67.8%; Bread: 93.1%. Conclusions: Excessive body weight, abdominal obesity, poor physical activity, and disproportionate salt intake were prevalent in patients assisted at a hospital Cardiology service. These findings place the examined subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular damage. Aforementioned factors should be intervened in order to lower the CVR, and thus to improve the prognosis of the hypertensive disease.