University students are predisposed to stress, which could be even higher in Nursing students since they are directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic given their health training and area of knowledge. Our purpose was to assess the stress levels of Nursing students before and during lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Murcia (Spain), its influence on taking an online exam and how it was affected by physical exercise. This was an observational and prospective study including Nursing students from the second year of the Nursing Degree from 3 February to 23 April 2020. Three measurements were performed: one before lockdown and two during lockdown. Stress increased substantially during lockdown. Financial, family or emotional problems, as well as physical exercise, also increased. Indeed, at 40 days of lockdown, those students with financial, family or emotional problems, and less physical exercise reported significantly higher stress levels. In addition, those who passed the online exam had lower stress levels compared to those who failed. In conclusion, during lockdown, stress in Nursing students increased. This could be triggered by students’ personal problems, and physical exercise may be used as a way to reduce stress. Academic performance was better in those students reporting less stress.

Background: Several anthropometric measurements are used to assess cardiovascular risk and progress during clinical treatment. Most commonly used anthropometric measurements include total body weight and body mass index (BMI), with several other simple anthropometric measures typically underused in clinical practice. Herein, we review the evidence on the relationship between different anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk in patients with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: Data for this review were identified by searches in PubMed, the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and references from relevant articles by using appropriate and related terms. The last search was performed on June 22, 2022. Articles published in English and Spanish were reviewed and included, if appropriate. We included studies detailing the relationship between skinfolds thickness, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and Conicity index with cardiovascular risk in adults with/without CVD. Results: In patients from the general population, elevated subscapular and triceps skinfolds showed a positive relationship with the development of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. A higher subscapular skinfold was also associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. A higher WHR, as well as other less common anthropometric measurements such as the Conicity index, was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, incident CVD, major adverse cardiovascular events, and mortality in both patients with and without previous CVD. Conclusions: Non-traditional anthropometric measurements including skinfolds and WHR seem to improve the prediction of cardiovascular risk in the general population, and recurrent events in patients with previous CVD. Use of additional anthropometric techniques according to an objective and standardized method, may aid cardiovascular risk stratification in patients from the general population and the evaluation of therapeutic interventions for patients with CVD.

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