Abstract

GIL-DELGADO, Y.; DOMINGUEZ-ZAMORANO, J. A.  and  MARTINEZ-SANCHEZ-SUAREZ, E.. Assessment of health benefits from a nutrition program aimed at inmates with cardiovascular risk factors at Huelva Prison. Rev. esp. sanid. penit. [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.3, pp.75-83. ISSN 2013-6463.

Background: Diet and lifestyle are important factors in improving cardiovascular health and preventing chronic diseases. Objectives: Assessment of changes brought about in cardiovascular risk (CVR) and metabolic syndrome (MS) after inclusion in a nutritional program. Materials and methods: Intervention, nonrandomized prospective cohort study carried out at Huelva prison in a one year period. Information about quarterly and bi-annual anthropometric and blood biochemical variables was obtained to assess changes in diet. A descriptive analysis with LC 95% and pre-post study was also completed, using T-Student quantitative variables and Wilcoxon test averages. Qualitative testing was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: The sample consisted of 139 subjects, 44 patients were lost in the follow-up study and 95 completed the program. Diet modification took place in 86.3% of the cases. We obtained significant improvements in weight, body mass, fat mass, abdominal perimeter and diastolic blood pressure rate index variables (Table 3). We see a reduction in high and low CVR vs. medium CVR according to features of Framingham and REGICOR (without significance), remaining stable in the SCORE model (Table 4). Conclusions: Health education and proper diet improved anthropometric and biochemical parameters in these patients. This may imply a new tool in the health care repertoire that can be applied to other centres.

Keywords : Nutrition programs; Food and nutrition education; Primary prevention; Anthropometry; Body mass index; Blood chemical analysis; Diet; Prisons.

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