Status of novel cardiovascular risk factor and cardiovascular disease risk in an urban Cuban population--a pilot study.

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in Cuba, yet the prevalence of novel risk factors is not known. To examine the prevalence of risk factors of traditional and novel cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among an urban Cuban population, a cross-sectional pilot survey was undertaken in Havana city, Cuba. Ninety-seven adults aged 45-60 years registered to receive medical care at a policlinic. The prevalences of rates of CVD risk factors were: hypertension (> or =140/90 mmHg) (53.6%), hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol >5.2 mmol/L) (47.0%), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (<1.03 mmol/L) (64.3%); diabetes (self-reported) (24.6%); metabolic syndrome (ATP III criteria) (58.2%); overweight and obesity (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2) (78.0%); current smoking (39.3%); elevated level of C-reactive protein (3 15 micromol/L) (11.1%). The total carotenoid status was independently associated with waist-circumference and risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In this small unrepresentative sample of people aged 40-65 years from Havana city, there was a high prevalence of traditional and novel CVD risk factors. The total serum carotenoid status appeared to be associated with an increased prevalence of CVD risk factors.

La formación de recursos humanos en alimentación y nutrición / Training of human resources in feeding and nutrition

Objetivo: hacer una breve historia de la formación de recursos humanos en alimentación y nutrición, y describir cómo se ha comportado la formación de recursos humanos en el instituto, así como algunos elementos que la caracterizan, enfatizando en el proceso de formación del Maestro en Ciencias en Nutrición en Salud Pública. Métodos: se realizó una revisión del diseño curricular de la maestría y otras maneras de formación de recursos humanos, haciéndose una descripción de los resultados alcanzados hasta el presente. Resultados: se dan a conocer los elementos del diseño curricular que constituyen la Maestría de Nutrición en Salud Pública, el número de versiones (12) desde su creación en el año 1993, la matrícula (menos de 20 profesionales por año académico como promedio, con un incremento en las 2 últimas versiones que se cursan en la actualidad) y el número de graduados (138). Conclusiones: la Maestría de Nutrición en Salud Pública cumple con los requisitos pedagógicos y de salud pública para la correspondiente atención a los desórdenes o trastornos relacionados con la alimentación y dietas inadecuadas. Las evaluaciones y los rediseños de nuevas propuestas obedecen básicamente al logro de la prevención de la salud utilizando diversas estrategias, entre las que se puede citar la educación alimentaria y nutricional.

Aim: to make a brief account of the training of human resources in feeding and nutrition, and to describe the behaviour of the training of human resources in the Institute, as well as of some characteristic elements, making emphasis on the training process of the Master of Public Health in Nutrition. Methods: a review of the curricular design of the Master Degree and of other ways of training human resources was made, describing the results attained up to now. Results: the elements of the curricular design included in the Master Degree of Public Health in Nutrition are made known, as well as the number of versions (12) since its creation in 1993, the enrolment (less than 20 professionals by academic year as an average, with an increase in the two last versions conducted at present), and the number of graduates (138). Conclusions: the Master Degree of Public Health in Nutrition fulfils the pedagogic and public health criteria necessary to give attention to the disorders related to feeding and to inadequate diets. The evaluations and redesigns of the new proposals are basically the result of the achievement of health prevention by using different strategies, including food and nutritional education.

La formación de recursos humanos en alimentación y nutrición / Training of human resources in feeding and nutrition

Objetivo: hacer una breve historia de la formación de recursos humanos en alimentación y nutrición, y describir cómo se ha comportado la formación de recursos humanos en el instituto, así como algunos elementos que la caracterizan, enfatizando en el proceso de formación del Maestro en Ciencias en Nutrición en Salud Pública. Métodos: se realizó una revisión del diseño curricular de la maestría y otras maneras de formación de recursos humanos, haciéndose una descripción de los resultados alcanzados hasta el presente. Resultados: se dan a conocer los elementos del diseño curricular que constituyen la Maestría de Nutrición en Salud Pública, el número de versiones (12) desde su creación en el año 1993, la matrícula (menos de 20 profesionales por año académico como promedio, con un incremento en las 2 últimas versiones que se cursan en la actualidad) y el número de graduados (138). Conclusiones: la Maestría de Nutrición en Salud Pública cumple con los requisitos pedagógicos y de salud pública para la correspondiente atención a los desórdenes o trastornos relacionados con la alimentación y dietas inadecuadas. Las evaluaciones y los rediseños de nuevas propuestas obedecen básicamente al logro de la prevención de la salud utilizando diversas estrategias, entre las que se puede citar la educación alimentaria y nutricional(AU)

Aim: to make a brief account of the training of human resources in feeding and nutrition, and to describe the behaviour of the training of human resources in the Institute, as well as of some characteristic elements, making emphasis on the training process of the Master of Public Health in Nutrition. Methods: a review of the curricular design of the Master Degree and of other ways of training human resources was made, describing the results attained up to now. Results: the elements of the curricular design included in the Master Degree of Public Health in Nutrition are made known, as well as the number of versions (12) since its creation in 1993, the enrolment (less than 20 professionals by academic year as an average, with an increase in the two last versions conducted at present), and the number of graduates (138). Conclusions: the Master Degree of Public Health in Nutrition fulfils the pedagogic and public health criteria necessary to give attention to the disorders related to feeding and to inadequate diets. The evaluations and redesigns of the new proposals are basically the result of the achievement of health prevention by using different strategies, including food and nutritional education(AU)

The nutrition transition in Cuba in the nineties: an overview.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyse the changes in diet, physical activity and body composition of the Cuban population during the 1990s and the health implications of these changes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data on national food balance and physical activity are from government agencies and the Ministry of Public Health; nation-wide and local representative surveys were used to analyse body composition and leisure activities. Data on morbidity and mortality are from the Ministry of Public Health. RESULTS: The collapse of the European socialist countries and the Soviet Union, as well as the reinforced United States' blockade, provoked a sudden shortage of fuel, raw materials, imported foods and essential supplies. Per capita energy availability decreased, physical activity increased, and the prevalence of obesity decreased. Nutrition deficiencies were observed in the early 1990s, while the trend of morbidity from non-communicable disease continued to increase. The nutrition transition characteristics following the economic recovery in 1995-1996 resembled those of the 1980s because of the increased food availability, decreased physical activity and increased obesity prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Programmes to deal with the complex situation generated a response in a remarkably short time. Undesirable changes in diet composition and the reduction of physical activity constitute a challenge in the current post-critical stage that must be prevented.