Gender-specific changes in physical activity pattern in Iran: national surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases (2007–2011)

Objectives

This study describes the gender-specific pattern of physical activity (PA) in Iran 2011. The 4-year changes in PA levels (domains) are also determined according to the Iran’s national surveys conducted on 2007 and 2011.

Methods

Physical activity assessed based on the global physical activity questionnaire. In all, 4,121 (2007), and 7,436 (2011) adults were analyzed.

Results

Based on 2011 survey, 56.4 %, 39.2 %, and 74.4 % of participants were physically inactive at work, commuting and recreation, respectively. In all domains of PA, males showed a higher degree of activity (min/day) than females (P value <0.001). The overall prevalence of physical inactivity was increased from 15 % (2007) to 21.5 % (2011) (P value <0.001). Over the 4 years, a significant decline in total physical activity (MET × min/week) and the duration of commuting activity were noted in both genders. Work-related activity was dramatically decreased in females. However, the time spent in recreational activity remained relatively constant.

Conclusions

This report indicating that the Iranian population, particularly females, have become less active during the survey period. Physical inactivity should receive more attention as a public health issue.     

Messung der motivationalen Bereitschaft zu körperlicher Aktivität

Background

The central construct of the transtheoretical model conceptualises behaviour change as a progression through a series of five stages. The aim of the current study was to examine the behavioural validity of these stages with two different physical activity (PA) recommendations.

Design and methods

Students (14–16 years; n=560) completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing stages of change for exercise and PA, PA, and sedentary behaviour. Validity was evaluated by the association between stages and PA as well as sedentary behaviour, respectively.

Results

The stages were mainly differentiated by exercise but only marginally by PA. The correct stage assignment with respect to recommended PA levels was low for PA compared with exercise. Findings for discriminant validity were acceptable.

Conclusions

The behavioural validation of two German-language scales with regard to stages of change suggests that only the exercise stage allocation is valid.     

Thirty years of evolution of oral health behaviors in the working-age Poles

Introduction

In an average Polish person aged 35–44, more than 16 teeth have or had been affected by dental caries. Of that number, almost half of the teeth have already been extracted. Oral health behaviours contribute to this civilization disease in 50%. Such poor oral health status limits the ability of the affected people to take many social and professional roles.

Objectives

To evaluate current oral health behaviours and their trends among 35–44 year old Polish people during the period of recent 30 years.

Material and Methods

The data were obtained from the International Collaborative Studies conducted in 1978 and 1988 at the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, ?ód?, Poland, under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as from 3 stages of the study on Nationwide Monitoring of Oral Health Status and Its Conditioning performed in 1998, 2002 and 2010. The researchers evaluated oral health behaviours and oral health condition of 5425 subjects.

Results

Despite a noticeable improvement, poor oral health behaviours are observed in 30%–40% of the adults. In the analysed period, the number of people brushing their teeth at least twice a day increased by more than 10% and the number of people using dental floss increased by 38%. Only 60% of the adults visited a dentist at least once a year. Reduced accessibility of state-run, free-of-charge dental care has caused that over 58% of Poles paid for their dental services. Every 3rd person of working age has not visited a dentist for longer than 2.5 half years, primarily due to behavioural and financial reasons. Oral health behaviours of Polish people are among the poorest in Europe.

Conclusions

Despite a noticeable improvement of the behaviours, gap between the Poles and citizens of other highly developed countries is around 20 years. A health promotion programme including oral health issues, if implemented in workplaces, might considerably reduce this gap.     

Validation of the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-BM22 module for the assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with bone metastases

Purpose

The aim of our study was to undertake a prospective validation study of the Polish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) bone metastases (QLQ-BM22) module used alongside the EORTC core measure.

Methods

The translated module was pilot-tested according to the established EORTC guidelines. Patients with histological confirmation of malignancy and bone metastases, diagnosed by imaging studies, were eligible for the study. All patients filled out the Polish version of the QLQ-BM22 module in addition to QLQ-C30 and a demographic questionnaire. Standard validity and reliability analyses were performed.

Results

One hundred and fifty-five patients were enrolled into the study, including 94 women (60.7 %) and 61 men (mean age ± SD; 59.1 ± 12.1). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, range 0.68–0.93, showed positive internal consistency. Re-test was undertaken with fifty patients (32.3 %). Interclass correlations for the EORTC QLQ-BM22 ranged from 0.91 to 0.93 and proved sufficient test–retest reliability. Satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity in multi-trait scaling analyses was seen.

Conclusions

Our study provides new and robust evidence which shows that the Polish version of the QLQ-BM22 module is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with bone metastases. It is suitable for use in clinical trials and in research.     

Replacing sedentary time with physical activity: effects on health-related quality of life in older Japanese adults

Background

The isotemporal substitution (IS) approach can be used to assess the effect of replacing one activity with the equal duration of another activity on relevant outcomes. This study examined the associations of objectively assessed sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older Japanese adults, using the IS approach.

Methods

Participants were 287 older Japanese adults (aged 65–84?years) who wore accelerometers for at least 7 days. We calculated the average daily time spent in SB (≤1.5 METs); light-intensity PA (LPA: >?1.5 to <?3.0 METs); and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA: ≥3.0 METs) per day. HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-8 questionnaire.

Results

The IS models showed replacing SB or LPA with MVPA to be significantly associated with better physical component summary scores. Replacing SB with MVPA was marginally associated with better mental component summary scores.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that replacing SB with the same amount of MVPA may contribute to better physical HRQOL in older adults.

     

Large ethnic variations in recommended physical activity according to activity domains in amsterdam, the netherlands

Purpose

The level of recommended physical activity (PA) is met less frequently by people from some ethnic minorities than others. We explored whether these differences in recommended PA between ethnic minority groups and the general population varied by domain and type of culturally-specific activity.

Methods

Participants were sampled from the population based SUNSET study and were from ethnic Dutch (n = 567), Hindustani-Surinamese (n = 370) and African-Surinamese (n = 689) descent. The validated SQUASH-questionnaire measured PA for the following domains: commuting, occupation, household, leisure time. Culturally-specific activities were added as extra question within the leisure time domain. The effect of each domain on ethnic differences in recommended PA prevalence was examined by odds-ratio (OR) analysis through recalculating recommended PA, while, in turn, excluding the contribution of each domain.

Results

In the ethnic Dutch population, more vigorous PA in commuting and leisure time was reported compared to the Surinamese groups. The Hindustani-Surinamese and African-Surinamese reported more walking as commuting activity, while the Dutch group reported cycling more frequently. Ethnic differences in recommended PA became smaller in both Surinamese groups compared with the Dutch after removing commuting activity, for example, in Hindustani-Surinamese men (OR = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.62-1.37 vs. OR = 1.33, 0.89-2.00) and women (OR = 1.61, 1.12-2.32 vs. OR = 2.03, 1.41-2.92). Removing occupational activity resulted in larger ethnic differences in both groups compared with the Dutch. Smaller effects were found for yoga and dancing, leisure time and household activities.

Conclusion

This study shows that differences in PA between ethnic minority groups and the general population vary according to the activity domain. The results indicate that including all relevant domains and activities is essential for assessment of ethnic differences in recommended PA.     

Low muscle mass in older men: The role of lifestyle,diet and cardiovascular risk factors

Objective

To explore associations between low muscle mass and a wide range of lifestyle, dietary and cardiovascular risk factors in older men including metabolic risk factors, markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and coagulation.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

British Regional Heart Study.

Participants

4252 men aged 60–79 years.

Measurements

Participants attended a physical examination in 1998–2000, and completed a general questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire. Low muscle mass was assessed by two measures: midarm muscle circumference (MAMC) and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Associations between risk factors and low muscle mass were analysed using logistic regression.

Results

Physical inactivity, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen were associated with significantly increased odds of low MAMC and FFMI after adjustment for body mass index, lifestyle characteristics and morbidity. Those with higher percent energy intake from carbohydrates showed decreased odds of low MAMC (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55–0.96) and FFMI (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–0.99). Other dietary variables, smoking, alcohol intake, D-dimer, interleukin 6 and homocysteine showed no important associations with MAMC and FFMI.

Conclusion

Increasing physical activity, consuming a diet with a high proportion of energy from carbohydrates, and taking steps to prevent insulin resistance and reduce inflammation and endothelial dysfunction may help to reduce the risk of low muscle mass in older men.     

Quality of life and physical activity among adults: population-based study in Brazilian adults

Objective

To analyze the association between leisure-time physical activity (PA) (walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities) and transport (active commuting) with quality of life (QoL) domains (physical, social relations, environmental and psychological).

Methods

Participants were 1,461 adults (18?C65?years) living in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. QoL was assessed using the abbreviated WHOQoL questionnaire and PA through the IPAQ long version. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between PA types (walking, moderate and vigorous) and domains (leisure and transport) with QoL domains.

Results

Walking for leisure was positively associated with social relations (???=?1.5; P?=?0.011) and environment (???=?3.3; P?=?0.015) domains among men and with physical (???=?3.2; P?=?0.04), environment (???=?4.1; P?=?0.011) and psychological (???=?3.2; P?=?0.009) domains among women. Moderate intensity PA was associated with all but the physical QoL domain among women. Among men, this association was observed only between insufficient levels of PA and the physical domain of QoL (???=?3.0; P?=?0.016). Vigorous PA was associated with social relations (???=?3.4;?P?=?0.034)?and psychological (???=?4.2; P?=?0.009) QoL domains. Transport PA was only associated with the physical QoL domain in men (???=?3.1; P?=?0.042).

Conclusion

There is a positive relationship between PA and QoL, though this association varies according to the type and intensity of PA and differs across QoL domains. Unlike transport PA, leisure-time PA shows consistent association with QoL.     

Objective Measures of Activity in the Elderly: Distribution and Associations With Demographic and Health Factors

Background

Little is known about the distribution of activity over the full 24-hour spectrum in late old age and its association with demographic and health factors. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the distribution of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep, and associated factors in the elderly population.

Criterion-related validity of the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire in adults who are Deaf

Background

To implement appropriate programs for promoting physical activity (PA) in people who are Deaf, it is important to have valid instruments for assessing PA in this population.

Adherence to dietary guidelines for fruit,vegetables and fish among older Dutch adults; the role of education,income and job prestige

Objectives

Little is known about socio-economic differences in dietary intake among older adults. In this study we describe self-reported dietary adherence to the fruit, vegetables and fish guidelines among older Dutch adults and investigate the independent associations of three socio-economic status (SES) indicators with adherence to these guidelines.

Design

Cross sectional data-analyses.

Settings

The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), the Netherlands.

Subjects

1057 community dwelling older adults, aged 55–85 years.

Measurements

Fruit, vegetable and fish intake was assessed using a short food frequency questionnaire. We measured SES using self-reported levels of education, household income and occupational prestige.

Results

82.5% of the respondents reported to adhere to the fruit guideline, 65.1% to the vegetables guideline, and 31.7% to the fish guideline. After adjustment for confounders and the other two SES indicators, respondents in the lowest education group adhered less often to the vegetables guideline (OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.22–0.70)) compared to those in the highest education group. Respondents in the lowest income group adhered less often to the fruit (0.44 (95 % CI 0.22–0.91) and fish guideline (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.33–0.91) compared to those in the highest groups. Occupational prestige was not independently associated with adherence any the guidelines.

Conclusion

Selfreported adherence to the fruit, vegetables and fish guidelines among older adults can be improved and particularly in those with a low SES. Education and income have independent and unique contributions to dietary adherence. Future research should investigate potential pathways through which these specific SES indicators influence dietary adherence.     

The contribution of school breaks to the all-day physical activity of 9- and 10-year-old overweight and non-overweight children

Objectives

This study examines whether moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), in at least 30-min school breaks (SB), helps to achieve the health-related amount of daily physical activity (PA) and whether these exercises influence after-school PA.

Methods

The ActiTrainer-based PA was monitored over two school days in 239 children aged from 9 to 10 (57.3% female; 20.1% overweight, and 19.2% obese), in Katowice, in February 2010. PA was assessed based on steps, heart rate, and duration of PA.

Results

MVPA, for 30?min during SB, represented an average of 1,258 steps for overweight girls and 1,620 steps for boys, and 1,336 steps for non-overweight girls and 1,758 steps for boys. Children with 30?min of MVPA during SB attained a higher daily amount of steps (p?p?Conclusion The daily 30?min of MVPA during SB amounts to 12.5% of the overall number of steps for girls and 16.3% for boys, thus contributing to higher school PA and overall PA and leading to the achievement of the health-related minimum of PA.     

Influenza vaccination in healthy working adults in Russia

Background

All age groups are affected by influenza infection, resulting in significant medical and economic burden. Influenza infection of healthy working adults can have a marked effect on companies due to lost work days and reduced productivity. Studies in corporate settings have shown that vaccination programmes reduce this burden, although there is a lack of data in Eastern European countries.

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in healthy working adults in Russia and the economic benefits of such a programme from an employer’s perspective.

Methods

In a prospective, non-randomized, non-placebo-controlled, observational study, healthy vaccinated and unvaccinated adults employed at the Russian Railways Public Corporation were followed for 8 months during the 2005–6 influenza season using questionnaires. A first questionnaire was administered at inclusion to collect general employee information; a second questionnaire was administered to collect data on post-vaccination adverse events; and monthly questionnaires were used to gather data on influenza-like illness (ILI). Effectiveness calculations and cost analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of the influenza vaccination programme on employee productivity and costs for the employer. The study vaccine used was the trivalent, inactivated, split vaccine Vaxigrip® (sanofi pasteur, France).

Results

A total of 1331 employees volunteered for the study: 701 were vaccinated and 630 were not. The vaccine effectiveness was 70.4% against ILI events and 80.8% against sick leave days. Assuming that employees working with ILI symptoms had a reduced level of productivity (30–70% of normal), cost savings per vaccinated employee ranged from ?.13 to ?.43.

Conclusions

This study showed that an influenza vaccination programme significantly reduced ILI episodes and absenteeism, and may provide a positive return on investment for the employer.     

The associations between lifestyles and mental health using the General Health Questionnaire 12-items are different dependently on age and sex: a population-based cross-sectional study in Kanazawa,Japan

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine potential differences of the associations between mental health and lifestyle factors across a wide range of age.

Methods

In August/September 2011, data were collected from 4693 males (age 51.6 ± 19.5) and 5678 females (age 52.4 ± 19.4) living in Kanazawa, Japan. A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted with self-administered questionnaire including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 12-item version, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors. Associations between the GHQ scores and other variables were examined using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparisons and logistic regression stratified by age and gender.

Results

Multiple comparisons indicated that people aged 20–39 or 40–64 had higher GHQ scores than older aged. The two-way ANOVA revealed significant interaction between body mass index and age group, and between exercise and age group. Overweight or underweight males aged 40–64 had poorer mental health than those at normal weight. In the elderly, being underweight was significantly associated with poor mental health. There were no significant effects of exercise on mental health for young adults. The logistic regression showed significant negative effects of short-time sleep in adults.

Conclusions

The associations between mental health and lifestyles differ across age groups. Further study is needed to reveal effects of aging on lifestyle and mental health with a longitudinal design.

     

Characteristics of patients initiating raloxifene compared to those initiating bisphosphonates

Background

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects and feasibility of individual physical activity (PA) counseling in maternity and child health clinics in Finland.

Methods

Three clinics including both maternity and child health care signed up for the experimental (EXP) and three for the control group (CON). The participants were 132 pregnant and 92 postpartum primiparas. The nurses in EXP integrated a primary and four booster PA counseling sessions into routine visits. An option for supervised group exercise was offered. In CON former practices, usually including brief PA advice, were continued. Leisure-time PA (LTPA) prior to pregnancy was elicited by questionnaire and followed 16–18 and 36–37 weeks' gestation in maternity clinics and 5 and 10 months postpartum in child health clinics. Feasibility included safety, participant responsiveness, realization of counseling and applicability.

Results

According to analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline LTPA and possible confounders, no relative between-group differences in LTPA were found at the first follow-up in either maternity or child health clinics. At the last follow-up in maternity clinics the weekly number of at least moderate-intensity LTPA days was 43% (95% CI: 9, 87) higher and the weekly duration of at least moderate-intensity LTPA 154% (95% CI: 16, 455) higher in EXP compared with CON. Counseling proved feasible in both maternity and child health clinics.

Conclusion

Counseling encouraged pregnant women to sustain their moderate-intensity LTPA and was feasible in routine practices. No effects were observed if counseling was initiated postpartum.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN21512277     

Lifestyle behavior affecting prevalence of anemia among women in EAG states, India

Aim

In India, the prevalence of anemia among women of age group 15–49 years is much higher and it is necessary to see the effect of lifestyle behaviors on women’s anemia level for better understanding of women’s health in eight empowered action group (EAG) states.

Subject and methods

This research investigates the prevalence and determinants of anemia among women in EAG states. The researcher has examined the effect of lifestyle variables on the anemia level of women of age group 15–49 years in EAG states. This study utilizes the data obtained from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3, 2005–06). Bivariate and multivariate analyses are used as well as the multinomial regression analysis and multiple classification analysis conversion model to calculate adjusted percentage of anemia level of women.

Results

Prevalence of anemia was high among all women. About 40.0 % of women had mild, 13.0 % had moderate, and 1.4 % had severe anemia. Those women who belong to the 15–19 year age group, no and low education, poorest quintile and 3+ children are significantly more likely to be anemic. Those women who are under weight, have been working in the past years, smoke and chew tobacco, have no exposure to mass media and never eating pulses and fruits are found to be more anemic.

Conclusion

The present study shows that lifestyle variables play a significant role in causing anemia among non-pregnant women in reproductive age groups.     

Lebensstilrisiken bei Leichtverletzten einer Rettungsstelle

Background

Various psychosocial variables are associated with outcome after trauma.

Aim

The purpose of the study was to evaluate how many patients with subcritical trauma report lifestyle-associated problems in a computerized questionnaire in an emergency department (ED).

Method

After informed consent, 3,026 subcritically injured ED patients (men:women 62:38%) participated in this computerized evaluation of lifestyle problems (e.g. diet, exercise, fitness, social well-being, problems with pain, stress, sleep, sexuality and alcohol, tobacco and drugs).

Results

The median age was 32 years. Risky alcohol consumption (men: 49%, women 21%), smoking (M: 52%, W 38%) or drug consumption (M: 25%, W: 16%) were reported frequently; 96.6% of the patients reported at least one other lifestyle problem.

Conclusion

Lifestyle-associated problems were reported frequently in an ED setting by using a computerized questionnaire.     

Physical activity and health-related quality of life: US adults with and without limitations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the dose–response relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adults with and without limitations.

Methods

We dichotomized HRQOL as ≥14 unhealthy (physical or mental) days (past 30 days), or <14 unhealthy days. By using a moderate-intensity minute equivalent, PA categories were as follows: inactive, 10–60, 61–149, 150–300, and >300 min/week. Persons with limitations reported having problems that limited their activities or required use of special equipment. Age-adjusted prevalence estimates and logistic regression analyses were performed with 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (n = 357,665), controlling for demographics, BMI, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.

Results

For adults without limitations, the odds of ≥14 unhealthy days were lower among adults obtaining any PA (10–60 min/week, AOR = 0.79, 95 % CI 0.70, 0.88), compared with those inactive. A quadratic trend (P < 0.001) indicated enhanced HRQOL with each PA level, but improvements were less marked between lower and upper sufficient PA categories (150-300 and >300 min/week). Because of a significant age interaction, persons with limitations were stratified by age (18–34, 35–64, and 65+ years). Findings for persons aged 35 years or older with limitations were similar to those without limitations. Lower odds of poor HRQOL for persons aged 18–34 years with limitations were associated with recommended levels of PA (150–300 min/week; AOR = 0.61, 95 % CI 0.43, 0.88 and >300 min/week; AOR = 0.58, 95 % CI 0.43, 0.80).

Conclusions

PA is positively associated with HRQOL among persons with and without limitations.     

Serum uric acid is associated with dietary and lifestyle factors in elderly women in Suburban Guangzhou in Guangdong Province of South China

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of hyperuricemia and lifestyle risk factors for hyperuricemia in elderly women.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The suburban area of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.

Participants

The study included 856 Chinese women aged 60 to 102 years who received their annual health examinations in the suburban area of Guangzhou, South China in 2002.

Measurements

Information on anthropometric measurements and lifestyle factors were obtained via a questionnaire processed by the attending physicians or nurses. Blood biochemistry was performed after subjects fasted for 8–14 h. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between hyperuricemia, meat intake quintiles, physical activity quintiles, and alcohol intake quintiles.

Results

The prevalence of hyperuricemia in the studied population was 12.01%. Alcohol, meat and seafood consumption; being overweight or obese; hypertension; and abnormal triglyceride levels were strongly associated with a higher prevalence of hyperuricemia. Physical activity was inversely related to the prevalence of hyperuricemia. The odds ratios for hyperuricemia for quintiles of physical activity were 1.00, 0.74, 0.72, 0.63, and 0.55 (P<0.01).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the prevalence of hyperuricemia is high in elderly women in suburban Guangzhou in Guangdong province of South China. Obesity, meat and seafood intake and alcohol consumption are associated with a higher prevalence of hyperuricemia, whereas daily physical activity is inversely related to the prevalence of hyperuricemia.