Romero Riaño, Paola
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Preferred name
Romero Riaño, Paola
Main Affiliation
Ambato
Email
paolaromero@uti.edu.ec
ORCID
Scopus Author ID
58759048700

Research Output
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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Is There a Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Anthropometric Status?

2025 , Camaño Carball, Lilian , Alejandro Ernesto Lorenzo Hidalgo , Romero Riaño, Paola , Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez , Loaiza Martinez, Daniela

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection, overweight, and obesity are global health concerns. This bacterium is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Additionally, overweight and obesity, associated with unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, cause alterations in the gut microbiota that facilitate gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori. Moreover, individuals with obesity tend to consume low-quality foods due to episodes of anxiety and exhibit elevated insulin levels, which may promote the development of gastric neoplasms. Studies conducted in Latin America have found that over 50% of participants are infected with Helicobacter pylori, a situation similar to that reported in Ecuador, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals aged 19 to 59 years reached 64.58% in 2018. Both health issues are influenced by the high consumption of processed foods or those prepared under inadequate hygiene conditions. Methods: In this context, this research aimed to correlate the body composition of university students with the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted with 57 Nursing, Medicine, and Psychology students from Universidad Indoamérica, Ambato campus, during 2024. Fecal samples were analyzed to detect the presence of the bacterium, and anthropometric measurements were taken to establish a possible relationship between these parameters. Results: Of the 57 students who participated, 54.39% tested positive for Helicobacter pylori. However, the presence of the bacteria did not show any relationship with body composition parameters such as fat mass, lean mass, BMI, weight, height, or age. Conclusions: The study found no evidence of a connection between Helicobacter pylori infection and anthropometric parameters in this university population. However, the high incidence of infections highlights the importance of promoting the consumption of safe food and ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.

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Body Composition Evaluation using Bioelectrical Impedance and its Impact on Academic Performance of Nursing Students

2023 , Romero Riaño, Paola , Camaño Carball, Lilian , Yánez-Rueda H. , Buele, Jorge

In the past, nutritional assessment relied on manual measurements that did not allow for the differentiation of body composition components. With technological advancements, the introduction of bioelectrical impedance has provided a more specific approach to obtaining results. This study aims to utilize this innovative method to assess the connection between body composition and academic performance in nursing students. The research focused on a representative sample of 89 participants, utilizing bioelectrical impedance to measure the primary bioelements of the human body. Strong and significant correlations were observed between height and weight, height and muscle mass, and muscle mass and weight. A moderate correlation was found between weight and fat, as well as significant weak correlations between age and fat, and between fat and body mass index. Additionally, a significant weak negative correlation was observed between height and fat. Of the participants, 42.2% of women and 48% of men were classified as overweight. However, the statistical analysis did not reveal significant correlations between academic performance and variables such as weight, muscle mass, fat, and body mass index. Based on this information, it was concluded that most students had a body mass index within the normal range, and no direct relationship between body composition and academic performance was identified. Continuous monitoring of overweight students using this technology is recommended to promote healthy nutritional practices. © 2023 IEEE.

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High levels of anxiety and depression in women farmers from Ecuador: A cross-section study in Coastal and Highlands regions

2024 , Aline Siteneski , Viviana Septimia Gómez Mieles , Romero Riaño, Paola , Karime Montes Escobar , German Josuet Lapo-Talledo , Andrea Valeria Dueñas-Rodriguez , María Antonieta Palma Cedeño , Yliana Consuelo Villacis Lascano , Lincon Oliver Echeverria Zurita

Background: Previous studies have shown that women farmers are particularly vulnerable to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women farmers from Ecuador Coastal and Highlands regions. Method: General Anxiety Disorder‑7 (GAD‑7) and Patient Health Questionnaire‑9 (PHQ‑9) were applied. In addition, self-reported number of children, days off, hours of work, pesticide use, sleep habits and years of work in agriculture, were also collected. This cross-sectional study occurred during 2023 with 443 women, for Coastal (197) and Highlands (246), respectively. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were performed to obtained adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: 34.5% of Coastal women had depression, while 27.2% of Highlands women had depression. 20.3% of coastal women farmers had anxiety, while in the Highlands 24.8% had anxiety. Coastal mestizo and montubio women exhibited lower probability of depression, but this was not significant in the Highlands. Coastal women farmers that did not have children showed lower odds of depression (aOR 0.05, 95% CI [0.01, 0.34]). A lower likelihood of depression was observed in coastal women that worked more than 8 hours (aOR 0.22, 95% CI [0.07, 0.72]). Women from the Highlands that had shortened sleep duration exhibited lower odds of depression and anxiety. Conclusions: A higher proportion of depressed women farmers was observed in the Coast region and slightly higher numbers of anxiety cases in the Highlands. The number of children may cause workload and is correlated with depression in Coastal women.

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