Obesity prevalence odds ratios in four Puerto Rican towns: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a major public health problem associated with major mortality causes. It is the second leading cause of preventable diseases in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico (PR). The purpose of the study is to estimate the Obesity Prevalence Odds Ratios in Four Puerto Rican Towns. Obesity prevalence in PR has been estimated by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2005 (23%) for both sexes. The obesity estimation of the BRFSS was used in order to relate it with our sample and compare results. METHOD: This is a descriptive-observational cross sectional study, based on a sample of 801 subjects selected from four major Puerto Rican municipalities (Loiza, Rio Grande, Luquillo and Canovanas). A valid questionnaire with main questions to obtain health/nutrition and sociodemographic information were administered. An obesity prevalence odds ratio (OPOR) was calculated. RESULTS: The obesity prevalence of the whole sample under study was higher (mean prevalence rate 42%) than the reported prevalence rate in the 2005 BRFSS. Canóvanas have the highest obesity prevalence (49%) followed by Loiza (41 %), Rio Grande (39 %) and Luquillo (37 %). Luquillo and Canovanas are the areas with higher possibility for obesity taking into consideration waist circumference as a risk factor for obesity (OPOR= 1.49 and 1.36, respectively; 95% CI). CONCLUSIONS: The sample under study has a higher OPOR as related to the BRFSS. These individuals may have a higher risk for chronic diseases associate to obesity. Future studies needs to address lifestyle prevention modifications and socioeconomic disparities in addition to evaluate intervention(s) that modify environmental factors in order to prevent obesity.

Patient profiles and their relationship with the CES-D scale at the Diabetes Center for Puerto Rico.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Puerto Ricans has been identified and reported as being disproportionately higher as compared to other metabolic pathologies. Recently, diabetes has been identified as the third cause of mortality in Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Health Department, Vital Statistics Annual Report, 1999-2001). The Research Center, Education and Medical Services for Diabetes in Puerto Rico (also known as the "Centro de Diabetes para Puerto Rico" [CDPR]) is a public corporation in the island created by the government to reduce diabetes prevalence, mortality and morbidity. METHOD: The CDPR offers Diabetes Self Management Educational Training Program Schools for patients (DSMETPS) island wide. The research design was an ex-post facto. As part of the process, patients are administered an extensive sociodemographic and health information questionnaire, which also includes the CES-D (a symptomatology depressive scale). This study pretends to describe the diabetic patient profiles (n=27) using information from the DSMETPS of the CDPR and explore the association with the CES-D. Variables such as patients' needs, knowledge and understanding of the condition (i.e., pathology management, type and medications utilized and exercise and nutritional patterns), patient attitudes to diabetes and their relations with the CES-D were explored. RESULTS: Results show a negative association, controlling for age and gender, between patients diabetic education/knowledge and CES-D score. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes educators in Puerto Rico need to identify depressive symptomatology in order to prevent mental health complications in their patients since this may affect their future treatment and prognosis. An interdisciplinary team is recommended to improve the effectivity of the intervention.