Análisis de la distribución de la práctica de actividad física en alumnos de educación infantil

La práctica de actividad física (AF) es un elemento muy importante en la promoción de la salud durante la infancia. Sin embargo, hay pocos estudios que profundicen en las características de la AF que desarrollan los niños a lo largo del día. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir la distribución de la actividad física de una intensidad determinada en bouts o secuencias de diferente duración y durante tres períodos: lunes a viernes, horario escolar y horario extraescolar. Se seleccionaron 107 alumnos de segundo ciclo de Educación Infantil (3,81±0,87 años; 19,64±4,32 kg, 1,19±0,29 m). Los sujetos llevaron un acelerómetro (Actigraph GT3X) durante 5 días consecutivos. Se calcularon los niveles de actividad física, de acuerdo con los puntos de corte propuestos por Sirard et al. (2005) y se analizó la agrupación de la AF de intensidad moderada y vigorosa (AFMV) en bouts de 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 y 12 min de duración. Los resultados mostraron el predominio de una AF de carácter esporádico, donde alrededor del 90% de la AFMV se realizó en bouts de 1 y 2 min. Se observó un mayor volumen de bouts de 1, 2, 4, 5 y 6 min de duración de lunes a viernes y en horario extraescolar que en el horario escolar (p<0,001). Se pone de manifiesto que la AF en niños de estas edades tiene un carácter intermitente, realizándose en secuencias o intervalos cortos que oscilan entre 1 y 2 min de duración.

Explorando el potencial de aprendizaje de personas con esquizofrenia en distintas condiciones psicopatológicas

En el presente trabajo tratamos de explorar empíricamente el potencial de aprendizaje de personas con esquizofrenia en condiciones opuestas de estabilidad psicopatológica. Con este objetivo se realizó un experimento de equivalencia de estímulos o procedimiento general de aprendizaje de discriminaciones condicionales, estudiando seguidamente la formación de clases de equivalencia. La muestra incluyó 8 adultos en tratamiento en el programa de atención a trastornos mentales severos, con edades comprendidas entre 20 y 53 años. Debido a los abandonos, el procedimiento inicial fue modificado para reducir la duración y el esfuerzo atencional de la tarea. Los resultados mostraron que personas con esquizofrenia pueden adquirir la equivalencia de estímulos tanto en condiciones psicopatológicas de estabilidad como de descompensación en presencia de sintomatología positiva intensa. Este hallazgo es relevante para la terapia, concebida como aprendizaje, así como para el diseño de programas en el contexto de la rehabilitación y recuperación en la esquizofrenia.

Non-institutionalized nonagenarians health-related quality of life and nutritional status: is there a link between them?

Introduction: Nonagenarian population, clearly increasing, shows different characteristics from the rest of elderly people. Health-related quality of life is a way to study population health in physical, psychological and social dimensions. Objectives: To examine the relationship between nutritional status and health-related quality of life in a group of free-living nonagenarians. Differences with octogenarians were also studied. Methods: Within Villanueva Older Health Study, 20 non-institutionalised people (92.5±3.5 years; 80% women) make the nonagenarian subsample. Nutritional risk was assessed by Mininutritional Assessment questionnaire, dietary intake by a 24-hour dietary recall and health-related quality of life by EuroQoL-5D questionnaire. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results: 40% nonagenarians were at risk of malnutrition. Dietary assessment showed magnesium, zinc, potassium, folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin E deficiencies. Problems in mobility were more frequently reported (80%). EQ-5Dindex was associated with MNA (p<0.05). Self-care dimension was associated with calcium and niacin (p<0.05), retinol and cholesterol (p<0.01) intake. Usual activities dimension was associated with niacin (p<0.01) and cholesterol(p<0.05) intake. Pain/discomfort dimension was associated with protein (p<0.01), energy, selenium and niacin (p<0.05) intake. Anxiety/depression was associated with protein(p<0.01) and selenium (p<0.05) intake. Conclusions: Risk of malnutrition is a factor associated to health-related quality of life. Results suggest that energy and some nutrient intakes could be possibly associated to health-related quality of life but further research on this influence is required.

Food consumption and risk of malnutrition in community-dwelling very old Spanish adults (≥ 80 years)

Introduction: There are few studies assessing overall diet and food patterns of the oldest population. Objectives: To examine food groups consumption (grams and servings) and their compliance with the dietary guidelines in community-dwelling very old Spanish adults. The relationship with the risk of malnutrition was also studied. Methods: Within the cross-sectional health study of elderly people of Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid, Spain), in 98 non-institutionalized elders aged ≥ 80 years (66% women) food consumption was calculated from a 24-hour dietary recall and nutritional risk was assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Statistical significance was evaluated at 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). Results: Men consumed significantly higher amounts of snacks/pickles and alcoholic beverages. The consumption of cereals/grain products (2 servings/day), vegetables (1.5 servings/day) and meat, fish, eggs (1.4 servings/day), was below desirable levels. As nutritional status got worse, fruit consumption was significantly smaller (p = 0.039). Relatively weak but highly significant correlations were found between MNA and oils/fats, fruits and alcoholic beverages. After adjustment for energy intake, oils and fats and fruits associations disappeared whereas a negative association between milk/dairy products and MNA was found. Conclusions: Dietary patterns of the elderly population of Villanueva are departing from the traditional Mediterranean diet and though adequate consumption of fruits, milk/dairy products, oils/fats and sugar/confectionery has been achieved, cereals/grain products, vegetables and the meat,fish,eggs group consumption was below the desirable levels. Deterioration of the nutritional status coincided with a reduction in the consumption of all food groups except for ready meals and milk/dairy products whose consumption increased. Further research on the influence of fruit, milk/dairy products, wine and olive oil consumption on nutritional status is required.