Trends in lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors in women: analysis from the Canadian National Population Health Survey

Determining Information on Cardiology Disease Risk Factors of Disease in Women

In an attempt to decrease the rate of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, first cardiovascular risk factors should be controlled. This study was carried out to reveal the level of knowledge about cardiovascular disease risk factors in women who presented to a primary healthcare center in Erzurum, Turkey, and the prevalence of such risk factors. Our study is a descriptive one and its data were collected between February and April 2013. The study included 168 women who presented to Filiz Dolunay Family Healthcare Center and who met the criteria and agreed to participate in the study. It was found that 22.6% of the women did not exercise at all above normal range, 53.6% of them had weights above normal, 23.8% smoked, and 22% had hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, or excess fat around their waist. It was concluded that, although women were knowledgeable, they did not put this into practice in their lives.

Maternal weight gain during pregnancy and overweight in Portuguese children

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to assess the association between maternal weight gain during pregnancy and childhood overweight.

DESIGN

This study was a cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

The data were derived from a community-based survey of children from primary schools of Portugal.

SUBJECTS

The study was performed in a sample of 6-12-year-old Portuguese school children (2445 girls and 2400 boys; age was 8.5+/-0.91 years).

MEASUREMENTS

Height and weight were measured according to international standards, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The definition of overweight was based on average centiles according to the International Obesity Task Force cutoffs. Children's parents completed a self-administered questionnaire, which provided information on general family background characteristics, maternal weight gain during pregnancy and children's physical activity. The response rate was 70.6%. Children's dietary intake was measured using a 24-h dietary recall. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the magnitude of the association between maternal weight gain during pregnancy and overweight in their children, adjusting for confounders (gender, age, birthweight, order of birth, breastfeeding, smoking during pregnancy, physical activity, parental BMI, parental education, calcium to protein ratio and energy intake).

RESULTS

The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was 29% in boys and 33% in girls. The odds favouring overweight (including obesity) increased significantly for those women who gained > or =16 kg during pregnancy, compared to those with <9 kg , even after adjustment for confounders (crude odds ratio (OR)=1.53, confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.27-1.84, P-trend <0.001; Adjusted OR=1.27, CI 95% 1.01-1.61, P-trend=0.038).

CONCLUSION

Large maternal weight gain during pregnancy (> or =16 kg) was significantly associated with higher risk of overweight in Portuguese children.

The role of economic and educational factors in asthma: evidence from the Portuguese health survey

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the importance of economic and educational factors in determining the risk of asthma in adults.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of Portuguese adults (20,977 females and 18,663 males) from the main regions of mainland Portugal. Participants were categorized according to years of education (< or = 4, 5-9, 10-12 and >12 years) and income (< or = 314, 315-547, 548-815 and >815Euros/month). Information on asthma was based on answers to the following question: 'Have you had asthma in the previous year?' Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the magnitude of the association between asthma and education/income, adjusting for confounders (body mass index, age, smoking habits, physical activity, area of residence, number of household members and income/education).

RESULTS

In females and males, the odds of having asthma decreased with increasing income (P-value for trend <0.001), with odds ratios of 0.52 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.41-0.66] and 0.55 (95%CI 0.44-0.68) for those with a monthly income >815 Euros compared with those with a monthly income 314 Euros, respectively. For both genders, the odds of having asthma were not significantly associated with years of education.

CONCLUSION

A significant positive association between per capita national income and asthma reinforces that public policy should stress the importance of economic growth as a means for preventing asthma occurrence and improving quality of life.

Educational, economic and dietary determinants of obesity in Portuguese adults: a cross-sectional study

In industrialized countries, studies have shown that lower socioeconomic status is generally associated with higher rates of obesity. Furthermore, poorer eating habits with insufficient intake of low energy-dense and micronutrient rich foods may increase the risk of obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of educational, economic and dietary factors in determining obesity risk in a representative sample of the Portuguese general adult population. Study design was cross-sectional in a representative sample of Portuguese adults (20,977 women and 18,663 men). Participants were distributed in categories according to years of education (< or =4, 5-9, 10-12, and >12), income (< or =314 euros, 315-547 euros, 548-815 euros, and >815 euros), and dietary intake (vegetable soup, vegetable, fruit, bread and starchy foods). Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the magnitude of the association between obesity and education/income, and food groups, adjusting for confounders. In women and men, the odds favouring obesity decreased with increasing education (p-value for trend <0.001) being the odds ratios, respectively, 0.19 (0.14-0.27), and 0.40 (0.30-0.54) for those having >12 years of education compared to those with < or =4 years vegetable; soup consumption also decreased the risk of obesity in both genders (odds ratios were very similar in women and men, being respectively, 0.86 and 0.89). The odds favouring obesity in women also decreased with consumption of fruit and starchy foods, being the odds ratios, respectively, 0.77 (0.64-0.92), and 0.65 (0.55-0.78). In conclusion, educational attainment and vegetable intake decreased significantly the risk of obesity in Portuguese adults from both genders; fruits and starchy foods consumption also decreased the risk of obesity in women.