Isabel García-Cuesta

Ms. Isabel García-Cuesta

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 June 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SNSergio Rodríguez Núñez
Sergio Rodríguez Núñez
LÁLaura Álvarez Álvarez
Laura Álvarez Álvarez
Vicente MartínVicente Martín
Vicente Martín
LQLucía Callejo Quintanilla
Lucía Callejo Quintanilla
IGIsabel García-Cuesta
Isabel García-Cuesta
Antonio José J MolinaAntonio José J Molina
Antonio José J Molina
Background/Objectives: Plant-based dietary patterns like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) reduce cardiovascular risk, which is a leading cause of mortality globally and in Spain. Diet is also a major environmental determinant, highlighting the need to evaluate public health alongside environmental sustainability. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of adherence to the DASH dietary pattern in Spain between 2006 and 2023 and evaluate its relationship with environmental sustainability indicators. Methods: This was an ecological epidemiological study. Food consumption data were harmonized into daily servings to calculate annual DASH scores using a standard 80-point methodology. Environmental impact was assessed by calculating the comprehensive Ecological Footprint (EF) using the Agribalyse® 3.2 database. The study utilized open data from the Spanish Household Budget Surveys, capturing the consumption habits of approximately 24,000 randomly selected Spanish households annually from 2006 to 2023. The primary measures evaluated were the annual DASH adherence index score and the overall environmental Ecological Footprint. Temporal trends were evaluated using segmented regression models selected via the Akaike Information Criterion and Davies test. Pareto analysis determined individual food group environmental contributions, and correlations assessed the relationship between DASH scores and the EF. Results: DASH adherence increased by 8.26% over the study period, peaking in 2020. The EF demonstrated an overall decrease over time, largely driven by reduced consumption of meat, fish, and eggs. A strong inverse correlation was found between the DASH score and the EF (r = −0.8237 (95% CI: −0.932 to −0.580; p < 0.001)). Conclusions: A shift toward the DASH dietary pattern in Spain demonstrates potentially convergent health and environmental associations, promoting population cardiovascular health potential while simultaneously mitigating environmental impacts.

1 August 2026 in Environments
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IGIsabel García-Cuesta
Isabel García-Cuesta
IMIsabel Martínez-Pérez
Isabel Martínez-Pérez
SPSami Petricola
Sami Petricola
AVAntònia Valentín
Antònia Valentín
MGMonica Guxens
Monica Guxens
AFAna Fernández-Somoano
Ana Fernández-Somoano
Cerebrovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. This study aimed to identify geographic patterns and sex differences in unplanned hospital admissions for cerebrovascular diseases, and to assess their association with ambient air pollution within small areas of Asturias, a northern region of Spain that exhibits elevated rates of mortality and morbidity from these pathologies. The study included 20,305 unplanned hospital admissions recorded between 2016 and 2023. Standardized admission ratios, smoothed relative risks, and posterior risk probabilities were estimated using reparameterized Besag–York–Mollié models at the census tract level. Global and Local Moran’s I statistics were computed to evaluate the spatial correlation of admissions. Subsequently, estimates of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were incorporated into the models, adjusting for average net income per person, to assess their association with admission risk and their contribution to the geographical patterns observed. Spatial analysis revealed marked inequalities in cerebrovascular admissions both between sexes and across small areas. High-risk clusters were consistently identified in the north-central coastal area for both sexes. For men, higher PM10 and PM2.5 levels were statistically significantly associated with hospitalizations (PM10: RR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.14; PM2.5: RR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.07–1.40, per 5 µg/m3 increase) and explained part of the spatial variability observed. For women, neither pollutant showed statistically significant associations nor appeared to be associated with the geographic patterns. Integrating both geographic and sex-related factors is essential for identifying high-risk areas and potential risk factors in the burden of cerebrovascular disease. In men, exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 was associated with cerebrovascular hospitalizations and explained part of the spatial variability observed, while no such association was found in women.