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F Alvarez-Guisasola

Publications and source records attributed to F Alvarez-Guisasola.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Predictive factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and pulmonary tuberculosis in prisoners.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis currently represents a serious problem in prison populations. METHODS: With the aim of studying the predictive factors for, and the prevalence of, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and pulmonary tuberculosis in a Spanish prison, all those admitted during 1991 and 1992 were included (N = 1314). The tuberculin skin test, HIV serology, chest X-ray and bacteriological examination of sputum were carried out. Statistical analysis was done by univariant tests, stratified analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection was 55.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 52.5-58.5). An association was found with sex, imprisonment more than once, HIV infection and age. The co-infection rate (tuberculosis plus HIV) was 9.2%. Logistic regression showed a greater risk with age (4.4% per year), time spent in prison and for males. The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.26% and an association was found with M. tuberculosis infection, HIV infection (odds ratio [OR] = 13.7), intravenous drug users (OR = 17.2) and imprisonment more than once (OR = 7.3). Logistic regression showed an association with HIV co-infection (OR = 20.2). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection and pulmonary tuberculosis is high when compared with similar studies. The influence of age, time spent in prison and co-infection with HIV is relevant to recommendations for specific tuberculosis prevention programmes in correctional facilities.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Self-reported height and weight and prevalence of obesity. Study in a Spanish population.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the usefulness of self-reported measures of height and weight under the hypothesis that they under-estimate the prevalence of obesity. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of the adult population of the province of León, Spain. The study involved 572 participants (262 men and 310 women). All participants were interviewed and questioned about socio-cultural characteristics plus their weight and height. All respondents were later weighted and measured for height using standard methods. A Quetelet or body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m2 was used as the index for obesity. Many people were unaware of their weight and/or height. Self-reported BMI could not be calculated in 40 men (15%) and 107 women participants (35%). This occurrence was more frequent in women than in men (chi 2 = 3.98; P < 0.05). The prevalence of obesity, based on measured weight and height, was 1.8 times that from self-reported values in men and 2.5 times that from self-reported values in women. If we consider only the measured values for those individuals who supplied self-reported heights and weights, these prevalences fall to 1.7 and 1.6 times those from self-reported values respectively. In addition, the difference between measured and self-reported height increase with age. All these differences are statistically significant. We believe that the use of self-reported values of weight and height in epidemiological studies should be avoided in an elderly population. These measurements could, however, be used on a younger population.

Adult↗