Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy workers

Background: the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is well known in the general population. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of unknown major cardiovascular risk factors, in an apparently healthy Balearic working population. Method: data were obtained to 3,035 people randomly selected and with unknown previous diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. To compare proportions we used the χ2 test and the t-Student test for comparison of means. Results: the prevalence of unknown hypertension in men was 20.6%, hypercholesterolemia 11.6% and 2.6% diabetes. The prevalence of unknown hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes in women were 8.3, 5.4 and 0.8%, respectively. All cardiovascular risk factors except low HDL-cholesterol were more prevalent in men. 14.4% of men and 5.5% of women met metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: there is a very high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the working population considered theoretically healthy. This highlights the important role in this field from the occupational health units to make them emerge

Effect of the use of a commercial phosphate mixture on selected quality characteristics of 2 Spanish-style dry-ripened sausages.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the addition of a commercial phosphate mixture in 2 dry-ripened Spanish-style sausages: "salchichón" and "chorizo." Three batches of each of those sausages were prepared with low and high levels of phosphates, and selected quality variables (moisture, pH, a(w) , lactic and acetic acid, α-amino nitrogen, total free fatty acids, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, microbial counts, color, and texture analysis) were compared against controls. Furthermore, phosphate-added and control sausages were ranked by consumers in order of preference. In "salchichón," phosphate addition resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in drying rate, and tendencies (not significant) toward a decrease in lipid oxidation and an increase in hardness and chewiness. In "chorizo," the addition of phosphates resulted in higher hardness, elasticity and chewiness, and lower yellowness (P < 0.05). In the manufacture process of dry-ripened sausages, phosphates can be considered as additives with potential enhancement effect in drying and eating quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The main outcome from the present study is to find evidence on which points of reference could be drawn for the technological application of phosphates in dry-ripened sausages. It has been observed that the drying rate and several eating quality characteristics can be enhanced with the use of phosphates

[Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Balearic workers apparently healthy].

BACKGROUND: the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is well known in the general population. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of unknown major cardiovascular risk factors, in an apparently healthy Balearic working population. METHOD: data were obtained to 3,035 people randomly selected and with unknown previous diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. To compare proportions we used the χ2 test and the t-Student test for comparison of means. RESULTS: the prevalence of unknown hypertension in men was 20.6%, hypercholesterolemia 11.6%and 2.6% diabetes. The prevalence of unknown hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes in women were 8.3,5.4 and 0.8%, respectively. All cardiovascular risk factors except low HDL-cholesterol were more prevalent in men. 14.4%of men and 5.5% of women met metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: there is a very high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the working population considered theoretically healthy. This highlights the important role in this field from the occupational health units to make them emerge

Manejo de glucómetros: detección de errores e intervención farmacéutica

INTRODUCCIÓN La técnica de automonitorización de la glucemia en sangre capilar (AMG) es una parte esencial en el control de la diabetes y de sus complicaciones. OBJETIVOS Registrar y evaluar los errores cometidos por los pacientes diabéticos en la técnica de AMG y comprobar la mejora obtenida tras una intervención farmacéutica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental pretest-postest utilizando una encuesta previamente consensuada. Se estudiaron 78 pacientes de un total de siete farmacias. El periodo de estudio fue del 1 de marzo al 30 de junio de 2009. El farmacéutico observó y registró los errores cometidos por el paciente diabético al realizar la técnica de AMG y le instruyó de manera individualizada en el procedimiento correcto. Tras un periodo de 30 días se le citó de nuevo y se le pidió que realizase un nuevo autoanálisis, y así comprobar la efectividad de la intervención farmacéutica. Los errores se clasificaron según su influencia en el resultado de la medición de la glucemia