Excessive alcohol consumption is a major public health issue that can negatively affect behavior among university students. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of alcohol consumption in nursing students as well as to describe the pattern of alcohol consumption after COVID-19 lockdown. A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study was carried out, in which 1162 degree-level nursing students were evaluated. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles and levels of physical activity were determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire: Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and alcohol consumption was determined using the ISCA (Systematized Alcohol Consumption Questionnaire) and AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Inventory Test) questionnaires. According to the AUDIT questionnaire, 36.7% of the students met the criteria for excessive alcohol consumption (26.8% men vs. 39.9% women; p < 0.001). The prevalence of hazardous drinkers was found to be 10.2% (95% CI 5.6–11.7), with the difference between men and women being statistically significant. The IPAQ-SF questionnaire indicated that 26.1% of students were sedentary. No relationship was observed between alcohol consumption and the level of physical activity. The frequency of hazardous drinkers was significantly higher in women (OR: 2.2) and in smokers (OR: 4.2). In conclusion, approximately 10% of nursing students can be considered hazardous drinkers, with significant differences between the sexes. The percentage is higher in women and in smokers. Strategies should be created that encourage healthy lifestyles, emphasizing preventive activities against excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, given the differences in excessive alcohol consumption between men and women, it would be advisable to include the gender perspective in these activities.
Background/Objective: One of the life stages that affects the consolidation of habits and health is the university stage. This transition to adulthood is associated with a decrease in physical activity, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study describes lifestyle habits related to physical activity level, diet quality, and body composition in nursing students and analyzes cardiovascular risk using the ABSI-z index. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 296 students from the Faculty of Nursing of Albacete (Spain). Physical activity was assessed via the IPAQ-SF. Body composition was measured by bioimpedance, from which BMI and ABSI-z scores were obtained as indicators of cardiovascular risk. The eating patterns of the participants were analyzed. Results/Discussion: The active students had significantly better body composition, with greater fat-free mass and muscle mass than the sedentary students, both in men (p = 0.037 and p = 0.046, respectively) and in women (p = 0.002 and p = 0.007). These findings corroborate evidence of the protective role of physical activity in maintaining metabolic health. The analysis of the ABSI-z score revealed different patterns in the distribution of body fat. High ABSI values were associated with greater abdominal girth (p < 0.001) and visceral fat (p < 0.001) in women, confirming its usefulness as an early marker of cardiovascular risk in university students. In contrast, the fulfillment of healthy dietary criteria was low, especially in the consumption of legumes (19%) and fish (25.9%). Conclusions: Regular physical activity is a determining factor in the body composition of university students, and ABSI is a good indicator of cardiovascular risk.
Alcohol consumption in university students is a public health problem that is especially relevant nursing students because of their role as future health p
Background: Performing and maintaining high-altitude cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could pose a significant physical challenge for rescuers. The objective of this study is to analyse the effects of reducing the oxygen fraction at altitudes of 3000 m and 5000 m above sea level (asl), with and without conditioning to hypoxia, on the quality of resuscitation performed in adults. Methods: An analytical before–after study in which 56 students with a Degree in Nursing between 18 and 30 years old perform 10 min of resuscitation on a mannequin at different altitudes (670, 3000 and 5000 m asl) will be carried out. Subsequently completing an intermittent hypoxia conditioning programme, the participants will perform the resuscitation manoeuvres at previously referenced altitudes. Sociodemographics, CPR quality, self-perception CPR, adequate anthropometric data, physical condition, blood tests, oxygenation in muscular tissue, biceps, brachii and erector spinae, subjective perception of effort, anxiety levels and quality of resuscitation will be measured in all participants at different altitudes. Discussion: Although CPR is a submaximal effort manoeuvre, it is subject to being performed by anyone without motor disabilities. Our study will also provide evidence as to whether this characteristic continues to hold true in a hostile environment such as medium and high altitudes. Our study aims to demonstrate that the improvement in physical performance and recovery capacity induced by intermittent hypoxia conditioning programmes increases the quality of CPR in prolonged cardiac arrests and in adverse conditions, such as at high altitudes. The proposed study will contribute as a novelty to the estimation of the influence of high altitudes and conditioning on performing basic CPR manoeuvres. If the hypothesis turns out to be true, recommendations about the practice of moderate-intensity physical exercise could be incorporated into the CPR guidelines as one of the important aspects in the training of rescuers to conduct CPR.