Research

12 pages, 470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Hypertensive Disorders, Antihypertensive Therapy and Pregnancy Outcomes among Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Review of Cases at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana

by Amos Adapalala Bugri, Solomon Kwabena Gumanga, Peter Yamoah, Ebenezer Kwabena Frimpong and Manimbulu Nlooto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(12), 6153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126153 - 16 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1886

Abstract

Hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy are a major health concern and a leading cause of maternal indisposition and transience. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy as well as antihypertensive therapy and pregnancy outcomes among [...] Read more.

Hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy are a major health concern and a leading cause of maternal indisposition and transience. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy as well as antihypertensive therapy and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women at Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) in Ghana. This was a retrospective study conducted using data from the folders of pregnant hypertensive patients. The study was conducted at the maternity ward of TTH from 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019. Participants were all pregnant women with a diagnosis of hypertensive disorders. The prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was 12.5%. The most common antihypertensive medication prescribed was sustained-release oral nifedipine, which was prescribed for 548 (81.4%) participants either alone or with methyldopa, followed by oral methyldopa: 506 (75.2%), intravenous hydralazine: 94 (14.0%), intravenous labetalol: 28 (4.2%) and diuretics: 10 (1.5%). Thirty-eight (5.7%) babies died before delivery, whereas 635 (94.3%) babies were born alive. Twenty-six out of the 38 dead babies (68.4%) were babies of pregnant women with elevated BP, whereas 12 (31.6%) were babies of those with normal BP. There was a statistically significant association between BP control and delivery outcomes. The study observed adherence to antihypertensive medicines recommended by the standard treatment guidelines of Ghana for the management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The BPs of about two-thirds of the study participants were well controlled with the antihypertensive therapy. The majority of the study participants with well-controlled BP had positive delivery outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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18 pages, 1404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of a Diet Containing Sources of Prebiotics and Probiotics and Modification of the Gut Microbiota on the Reduction of Body Fat

by Paweł Jagielski, Izabela Bolesławska, Iwona Wybrańska, Juliusz Przysławski and Edyta Łuszczki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1348; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021348 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2385

Abstract

In 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the WHO European Region, affecting almost 60% of adults. Based on the assessment of BMI (Body Mass Index), a group of 56 women aged 25–45 [...] Read more.

In 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the WHO European Region, affecting almost 60% of adults. Based on the assessment of BMI (Body Mass Index), a group of 56 women aged 25–45 years (31 women group A average BMI 34.9 ± 4.86 kg/m² and 25 women group B average BMI 33.4 ± 4.02 kg/m²) were qualified for the study. In a multi-center, two-arm, parallel, non-randomized study, two types of weight-reduction diets (A and B) were used over a 3-month period. In group A, a standard low-energy diet was used with individually adjusted caloric intake of 1100–1300 kcal, with an increase in the amount and frequency of consumption of sauerkraut and groats and a daily intake of fermented milk drinks (300–400 g), fermented cucumbers (100 g), mineral water (1 L) and cod liver oil (5 mL). In group B, a standard low-energy diet with individually adjusted caloric intake of 1100–1300 kcal with daily intake of fermented milk products (150 g), highly mineralized water (0.5 L), once a week fermented cucumbers, and once a week buckwheat groats was used. The following measurements were taken: body weight, body fat mass, water content, body height, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Body weight and body composition were measured using the Tanita MC-780 MA and TANITA BC-601 analyzer using the bioelectric bioimpedance method. The stool samples were analyzed in the microbiology laboratory where quantification of Bifidobcaterium spp., Bacteroides spp., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii species, Akkermansia muciniphila and total bacterial count (TBC) was performed. Under the influence of the introduced nutritional intervention, a statistically significant reduction in body weight, body fat, waist circumference, and hip circumference was demonstrated after 3 months. Under the influence of weight reduction, as well as dietary changes, there was an increase in the number of Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria in the women studied. The low-energy diet containing sources of natural prebiotics and probiotics had a more favorable effect on the number of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii bacteria compared to the standard diet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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11 pages, 1209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Investigation of the Utility of Waist Circumference Predicting Cardiorespiratory Fitness in School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Maria Zadarko-Domaradzka, Marek Sobolewski, Edyta Nizioł-Babiarz, Zbigniew Barabasz, Krzysztof Warchoł, Klaudia Niewczas-Czarna and Emilian Zadarko

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010851 - 02 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1496

Abstract

The early identification of modifiable risk factors and their monitoring, also within school physical education (PE) classes, are becoming indispensable in the context of public health. The aim of this study was to test whether making use of waist circumference (WC) measurements increases [...] Read more.

The early identification of modifiable risk factors and their monitoring, also within school physical education (PE) classes, are becoming indispensable in the context of public health. The aim of this study was to test whether making use of waist circumference (WC) measurements increases the possibility of predicting the results of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in school-age children, as compared with body mass index (BMI) and other somatic indicators related to body fat. The cross-sectional study covered 190 children aged 10 to 15 years, participating in school PE classes. Body height (BH), body weight (BW), WC, hip circumference (HC) and percentage of body fat (BF%) were measured. BMI, waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were calculated, and a CRF test was performed by means of a 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT). The peak heart rate (HR_peak) of the children was also measured. The regression model that was developed showed that WC (R² = 47.1%), beyond BF% (R² = 50.3%) and WHtR (R² = 50.0%), was a useful measure of CRF, and stronger than BMI (R² = 45.8%) or WHR (R² = 39.2%). The risk of obtaining the CRF result classified below a good level (below the percentile range of P60-P80) was significantly higher in children with a larger WC (odds ratio (OR) for the WC change of 1 cm equals 1.14 (95% CI: 1.09–1.20; p < 0.001)). The simplicity of measuring WC and the possibility of using this measurement in the calculation of WHtR with reference to CRF indicate its usefulness in the prophylactic exams of school children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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21 pages, 1332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Hybrid MCDM Approach Based on Fuzzy-Logic and DEMATEL to Evaluate Adult Obesity

by Mahmood Safaei, Elankovan A. Sundararajan, Shahla Asadi, Mehrbakhsh Nilashi, Mohd Juzaiddin Ab Aziz, M. S. Saravanan, Maha Abdelhaq and Raed Alsaqour

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315432 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1922

Abstract

Obesity and its complications is one of the main issues in today’s world and is increasing rapidly. A wide range of non-contagious diseases, for instance, diabetes type 2, cardiovascular, high blood pressure and stroke, numerous types of cancer, and mental health issues are [...] Read more.

Obesity and its complications is one of the main issues in today’s world and is increasing rapidly. A wide range of non-contagious diseases, for instance, diabetes type 2, cardiovascular, high blood pressure and stroke, numerous types of cancer, and mental health issues are formed following obesity. According to the WHO, Malaysia is the sixth Asian country with an adult population suffering from obesity. Therefore, identifying risk factors associated with obesity among Malaysian adults is necessary. For this purpose, this study strives to investigate and assess the risk factors related to obesity and overweight in this country. A quantitative approach was employed by surveying 26 healthcare professionals by questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed with the DEMATEL and Fuzzy Rule-Based methods. We found that lack of physical activity, insufficient sleep, unhealthy diet, genetics, and perceived stress were the most significant risk factors for obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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10 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Prevalence and Associated Factors of Underweight and Overweight/Obesity among Bangladeshi Adults by Gender: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Survey

by Rajat Das Gupta, Shams Shabab Haider, Sumaiya Zabin Eusufzai, Ehsanul Hoque Apu and Nazeeba Siddika

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10698; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710698 - 27 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1475

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find the differences in prevalence and associated factors of underweight and overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi adults by gender, using the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–2018 data. To identify the factors associated with underweight and [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to find the differences in prevalence and associated factors of underweight and overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi adults by gender, using the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–2018 data. To identify the factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity in both genders, multilevel multivariable logistic regression was conducted. The prevalence of underweight was 19.79% and 15.49% among males and females, respectively. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 32.67% and 45.60% among males and females, respectively. Among both genders, participants with the highest likelihood of overweight/obesity were aged 30–49 years and 50–69 years, had the highest educational attainment up to primary and secondary level, resided in a household that belonged to the middle, richer, or richest wealth quintiles, and were currently married. On the other hand, among both genders, increased educational attainment and wealth index were inversely associated with being underweight. Health promotion programs in Bangladesh should focus on these high-risk groups to address the burden of underweight and overweight/obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

12 pages, 1583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obesity, Burden of Ischemic Heart Diseases and Their Ecological Association: The Case of Uzbekistan

by Murodkhon Marufkhonovich Usmanov, Odgerel Chimed-Ochir, Bilegt Batkhorol, Yui Yumiya, Lola Mamazairovna Hujamberdieva and Tatsuhiko Kubo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10447; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610447 - 22 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1668

Abstract

Ischemic heart diseases are the leading cause of death in Uzbekistan. There are numerous risk factors affecting ischemic heart disease, and obesity is one of the major independent risk factors. This study is the first attempt to estimate the ecological association between obesity [...] Read more.

Ischemic heart diseases are the leading cause of death in Uzbekistan. There are numerous risk factors affecting ischemic heart disease, and obesity is one of the major independent risk factors. This study is the first attempt to estimate the ecological association between obesity prevalence and the burden of ischemic heart disease between 1990 and 2019 in Uzbekistan. To define the prevalence of all obesity types, death, and incidences of ischemic heart disease for certain periods, the Joinpoint regression tool was used. A separate linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between obesity and ischemic heart disease mortality and morbidity. A positive linear relation was found between the prevalence of obesity types and incidence/death rates for both sexes (r = 0.59–0.87). All types of obesity were highly significant positive predictors of incidence of and death from ischemic heart disease (p < 0.0001). The slope (B1) suggested that for an increment in obesity prevalence of 1% among adults aged over 20, the incidence of ischemic heart disease increased by 40.2 (p < 0.0001) and 38.3 (p < 0.0001) per 100,000 persons for men and women, respectively. The current country-level conclusions are valuable, because it allows decision makers to draw specific conclusions, applicable at the state and local level for policymaking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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14 pages, 1068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adipokines Level and Cognitive Function—Disturbance in Homeostasis in Older People with Poorly Managed Hypertension: A Pilot Study

by Agnieszka Kujawska, Sławomir Kujawski, Mariusz Kozakiewicz, Weronika Hajec, Małgorzata Kwiatkowska, Natalia Skierkowska, Jakub Husejko, Julia L. Newton, Paweł Zalewski and Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116467 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1689

Abstract

Aim: To explore the network relationship between cognitive function, depressive symptom intensity, body composition, proxies of cognitive reserve, trophic factor, adipokines and myokines, physical performance and blood pressure in a group of older people with poorly managed hypertension (PMHTN) compared to a normotensive [...] Read more.

Aim: To explore the network relationship between cognitive function, depressive symptom intensity, body composition, proxies of cognitive reserve, trophic factor, adipokines and myokines, physical performance and blood pressure in a group of older people with poorly managed hypertension (PMHTN) compared to a normotensive (NTN) group. Materials and methods: History of hypertension and blood pressure level were examined in older participants. Thirty-one subjects diagnosed with PMHTN (history of hypertension diagnosis and values of sBP or dBP over 140/90 mmHg) and eighteen NTN (lack of history of hypertension and sBP and dBP lower than 140/90 mmHg) participated. Participants completed physical and cognitive function assessments: including the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and its two subtests Delayed Recall (DR) and Verbal Fluency (VF) and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT B). Factors associated with cognitive functioning: age, years of education, cognitive and travel activity were assessed using a questionnaire. Visceral fat was determined by bioimpedance testing and gait velocity and agility assessed using an Up and Go test. To summarize the strength and direction (negative or positive) of a relationship between two variables, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used. Then, network graphs were created to illustrate the relationship between variables. Node strength (number of edges per node), neighbourhood connectivity (the average connectivity of all the neighbours of a node), stress (the number of shortest paths passing through each node) were compared in network from PMHTN group to network from NTN group. Results: Neighbourhood connectivity and stress were significantly higher in of the PMHTN network compared to NTN (6.03 ± 1.5 vs. 4.23 ± 2.5, p = 0.005 and 118.21 ± 137.6 vs. 56.87 ± 101.5, p = 0.02, accordingly). Conclusion: In older subjects with poorly managed hypertension, dyshomeostasis was observed, compared to normotensive subjects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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13 pages, 410 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adipocytokines and Insulin Resistance: Their Role as Benign Breast Disease and Breast Cancer Risk Factors in a High-Prevalence Overweight-Obesity Group of Women over 40 Years Old

by Daniel Sat-Muñoz, Brenda-Eugenia Martínez-Herrera, Luis-Aarón Quiroga-Morales, Benjamín Trujillo-Hernández, Javier-Andrés González-Rodríguez, Leonardo-Xicotencatl Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, Caridad-Aurea Leal-Cortés, Eliseo Portilla-de-Buen, Benjamín Rubio-Jurado, Mario Salazar-Páramo, Eduardo Gómez-Sánchez, Raúl Delgadillo-Cristerna, Gabriela-Guadalupe Carrillo-Nuñez, Arnulfo-Hernán Nava-Zavala and Luz-Ma-Adriana Balderas-Peña

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6093; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106093 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2257

Abstract

Insulin levels, adipocytokines, and inflammatory mediators trigger benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC). The relationship between serum adipocytokines levels, overweight-obesity, metabolic disturbs, and BC is unclear. Methods: To analyze the serum levels of the adipocytokines, insulin, and the HOMA IR in [...] Read more.

Insulin levels, adipocytokines, and inflammatory mediators trigger benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC). The relationship between serum adipocytokines levels, overweight-obesity, metabolic disturbs, and BC is unclear. Methods: To analyze the serum levels of the adipocytokines, insulin, and the HOMA IR in women without breast disease, with BBD or BC, and the role of these as risk factors for benign breast disease or breast cancer. Results: Adipsin values > 0.91 and visfatin levels > 1.18 ng/mL represent a risk factor to develop BBD in NBD lean women (OR = 18; and OR = 12). Data in overweight-obese women groups confirm the observation due to insulin levels > 2.6 mU/mL and HOMA IR > 0.78, with OR = 60.2 and 18, respectively; adipsin OR = 26.4, visfatin OR = 12. Breast cancer risk showed a similar behavior: Adipsin risk, adjusted by insulin and visfatin OR = 56 or HOMA IR and visfatin OR = 22.7. Conclusion: Adipose tissue is crucial for premalignant and malignant tissue transformation in women with overweight-obesity. The adipocyte–breast epithelium interaction could trigger a malignant transformation in a continuum, starting with BBD as premalignant disease, especially in overweight-obese women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Hypertension)

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