Salud,deporte y vulnerabilidad socioeconómica en una comunidad urbana

ObjectiveTo analyse the association between perceived and diagnosed health, sport practice, and the belonging to a vulnerable socioeconomic group.DesignObservational study. Questionnaire.SettingCasablanca neighbourhood. Primary Health Care Area in the city of Zaragoza (Spain).Participants1032 residents aged over 15 years.Main measurementsa) Perceived health using the Health Perception Questionnaire of Davis and Ware; b) diagnosed morbidity; c) sport practice using the Healthy Lifestyles questionnaire-94 of Herrero, Musitu and Gracia, and d) socioeconomic vulnerability based on the occupational, educational and economic conditions of the family unit.ResultsSocioeconomic vulnerability had a statistically significant association with diagnosed health, self-perceived health, and sport practice. Vulnerability and exercise showed a higher influence over self-perceived health than over diagnosed health. In the analysis stratified by gender, the association could only be observed in men.ConclusionsThe impact of health social factors is modulated by gender. Social stratification and lifestyles, such as sport practice, are predictors of self-perceived health and, thus, of the relationship between the population and the use of health services.     

Different Fish-Eating Habits and Cytokine Production in Chronic Urticaria with and without Sensitization against the Fish-Parasite Anisakis simplex

BackgroundAnisakis simplex sensitization has been associated with acute, but also with chronic urticaria. The objective of this study is to characterize chronic urticaria with (CU +) and without sensitization (CU-) against the ubiquitous fish parasite A. simplex in a transversal and longitudinal evaluation.Methods16 CU + and 22 CU- patients were included and assessed for Urticaria activity score (UAS), fish-eating habits by standardized questionnaire and cytokine production (assessed by flow cytometric bead-based array) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with A. simplex extract or Concanavalin A (Con A). Patients were randomly put on a fish-free diet for three months and UAS, as well as cytokine production were again assessed. A difference of ≥ 1 in UAS was defined as improvement.ResultsThere was no difference in UAS in both groups. Anisakis induced IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ production was higher in CU +. Con A induced IL-6 and IL-10 production was higher in CU +. CU + was associated with higher total fish intake, whereas CU- was associated with oily fish intake. The correlation of UAS was positive with oily fish, but negative with total fish intake.There was a better UAS-based prognosis in CU + without diet. Improvement was associated with higher Con A induced IL-10/IFN-γ as well as IL-10/IL-6 ratios. Further, previous higher oily fish intake was associated with improvement.ConclusionsOur data confirm the different clinical and immunological phenotype of CU +. Our results show a complex relationship between fish-eating habits, cytokine production and prognosis, which could have important consequences in dietary advice in patients with CU. When encountering A. simplex sensitization, patients should not be automatically put on a diet without fish in order to reduce contact with A. simplex products.