It has been pointed out that moderate to vigorous exercise improves metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria; however, studies on functional fitness in subjects with MetS are scarce.
This study aimed to ...assess functional fitness abilities in MetS and non-MetS subjects.
Cross-sectional study. Participants living in the Balearic Islands (
= 477, 52% men, 55-80 years old) with MetS (n = 333) and without MetS (n = 144). Anthropometric, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics were measured, and blood samples were collected. Functional fitness tests included: one leg balance, standing and sitting handgrip, 30-s chair stand, arm curl, chair sit-and-reach, back scratch, 8-foot time up-and-go, 30-m walk, and 6-min walk tests. A Functional Fitness Score was created from tests that measured agility and dynamic balance, static balance, lower-and-upper body strength, lower-and-upper body flexibility, aerobic endurance, and speed.
All functional fitness tests were lower in MetS subjects, except for back scratch and standing handgrip test. After adjusting for possible confounders (sex, age, civil status, education level, leisure-time physical activity) MetS subjects were more likely to be below average for a sex and age specific cut-off value of one leg balance (Odds Ratio, OR: 2.37; 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.25-4.48), chair stand (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.26-3.20), arm curl (OR: 3.43; 95% CI:1.90-6.26), back scratch (OR: 3.49; 95% CI: 2.31-5.91), 8-foot up-&-go (OR: 13.03; 95% CI: 6.66-25.55), 30-m walk (OR: 8.10; 95% CI: 4.33-15.57) and 6-min walk test (OR: 3.28; 95% CI: 1.76-6.52), whereas they were more likely to be above average for sitting handgrip test (OR:1.69; 95% CI:1.21-2.95). Functional Fitness Score was lower in MetS subjects (5.44 ± 2.40 vs. 7.04 ± 1.72,
< 0.001), independently of sex and age.
MetS participants showed lower functional fitness abilities and lower Functional Fitness Score than non-MetS peers, independently of sex, age, body mass index and waist circumference, showing lower ability to perform everyday activities safely and independently.
Tourism is a crucial economic sector in the Balearic Islands (Spain). COVID-19 pandemic might severely impact hotel housekeepers (HHs) due to their already precarious employment situation. The ...purpose is to assess the evolution of the concern about employment status, anxiety, and depression of HHs. This is a longitudinal study conducted with a subset of participants from a primary care, health promotion intervention study. Two additional visits were added (March-April and October-December 2020) for the purpose of this study. We recruited 290 HHs in March-April 2020; 237 were again interviewed during October-December 2020. In the first visit, high level of concern about employment was associated with age under 50, temporary contracts and external locus of control (LOC). Moderate-severe anxiety was associated with low social support and external LOC; moderate-severe depression was associated with low social support. Regarding the second visit, age, years working as HH, type of contract, social support, and LOC were not associated with concern about employment status, anxiety, and depression. There was a larger proportion of HHs with moderate-severe anxiety and depression among HHs with high degree of concern. Concern increased significantly among HHs: over 50 years of age; with more than 15 years in the job, a recurring seasonal contract and normal social support. After adjusting by age, type of contract, LOC, and social support, we found a statistically significant increase (12.0%) of HHs highly concerned about their job situation: compared to the first visit, HHs were 2.3 more likely to have a high degree of concern in December 2020. In contrast, increases in moderate-severe anxiety (0.3%) and depression (4.3%) between the two periods were not significant. In HHs, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant concern about employment status and symptoms of depression and anxiety. In the uncertain times of the pandemic, mental wellbeing benefits from variables that confer stability, such as internal LOC, perception of social support, and a stable job. Longitudinal results point at long lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. It is crucial to allocate additional resources in primary care to adequately address the anticipated influx of needs.
Background Rapid antigen-detection tests (Ag-RDTs) are used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection. Real-world studies of Ag-RDTs are necessary to evaluate their diagnostic yield in paediatric patients. ...Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the PanbioTM Rapid Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2 in the setting of a primary health care centre (PHC), with use of the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as gold standard. Methods This prospective diagnostic study was conducted at PHCs in Mallorca, Spain. Patients were less than or equal to 18 years-old that attended sites for RT-PCR testing due to symptoms suggestive of infection (fever, headache, nasal congestion and dry cough, among others) or epidemiological exposure (close contacts). Two samples were collected: a nasal mid-turbinate sample for Ag-RDTs and a nasopharyngeal swab for RT-PCR testing. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the AgRDT were calculated using the RT-PCR results as the reference. Results We examined 1142 participants from 0 to 18 years (47.5% female, mean age 8.9 + or - 4.8 years, median 9.0 5.0-13.0). There were 84 positive RT-PCR results (pre-test probability of 7.3%) and 52 positive Ag-RDT results. The sensitivity of the Ag-RDT was 59.5% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 48.2-69.9%), the specificity was 99.8% (95%CI: 99.2-99.9%), the positive predictive value was 96.1% (95%CI: 85.6-99.4%), and the negative predictive value was 96.8% (95%CI: 95.6-97.7%). The sensitivity for individuals referred by a general practitioner (GP) or paediatrician due to symptoms was 71.4% (95%CI: 51.5-86.0%) and for asymptomatic individuals was 50.0% (95%CI: 9.1-90.8%). The specificity was greater than 98.9% overall and in all subgroups. The sensitivity was 73.0% (95%CI: 52.0-87.5%) for referred patients due to symptoms and who were tested within 5 days since symptom onset. No significant statistical differences between any groups were found. There were 34 false-negative Ag-RDT results (40.5%) and 2 false-positive Ag-RDT results (0.2%). Conclusion The sensitivity of the PanbioTM Test in paediatric individuals is below the minimum of 80% recommended by the World Health Organization for Ag-RDTs. This test had better accuracy in individuals referred by a GP or paediatrician due to symptoms, rather than those who were asymptomatic or referred due to epidemiological exposure. The RT-PCR test using a nasopharyngeal swab is accurate, but a less invasive alternative that has better sensitivity than the PanbioTM Test is needed for paediatric populations. Keywords: COVID-19, Rapid antigen test, SARS-CoV-2, Primary care, Paediatric
The aim of this study was to assess free fatty acids' (FAs)
anti-/proinflammatory capabilities and their influence on inflammatory gene expression and H
O
production by human peripheral blood ...mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Anthropometric and clinical measurements were performed in 26 participants with metabolic syndrome. Isolated PBMCs were incubated
for 2 h with several free fatty acids-palmitic, oleic, α-linolenic, γ-linolenic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic at 50 μM, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination. H
O
production and IL6, NFκB, TLR2, TNFα, and COX-2 gene expressions were determined. Palmitic, γ-linolenic, and arachidonic acids showed minor effects on inflammatory gene expression, whereas oleic, α-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic acids reduced proinflammatory gene expression in LPS-stimulated PBMCs. Arachidonic and α-linolenic acids treatment enhanced LPS-stimulated H
O
production by PBMCs, while palmitic, oleic, γ-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic acids did not exert significant effects. Oleic, α-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic acids induced anti-inflammatory responses in PBMCs. Arachidonic and α-linolenic acids enhanced the oxidative status of LPS-stimulated PBMCs. In conclusion, PBMC
assays are useful to assess the anti-/proinflammatory and redox-modulatory effects of fatty acids or other food bioactive compounds.
Dietary guidelines emphasize the importance of a varied diet to provide an adequate nutrient intake. However, an older age is often associated with consumption of monotonous diets that can be ...nutritionally inadequate, increasing the risk for the development or progression of diet-related chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). To assess the association between dietary diversity (DD) and nutrient intake adequacy and to identify demographic variables associated with DD, we cross-sectionally analyzed baseline data from the PREDIMED-Plus trial: 6587 Spanish adults aged 55-75 years, with overweight/obesity who also had MetS. An energy-adjusted dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated using a 143-item validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Nutrient inadequacy was defined as an intake below 2/3 of the dietary reference intake (DRI) forat least four of 17 nutrients proposed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between DDS and the risk of nutritionally inadequate intakes. In the higher DDS quartile there were more women and less current smokers. Compared with subjects in the highest DDS quartile, those in the lowest DDS quartile had a higher risk of inadequate nutrient intake: odds ratio (OR) = 28.56 (95% confidence interval (CI) 20.80-39.21). When we estimated food varietyfor each of the food groups, participants in the lowest quartile had a higher risk of inadequate nutrient intake for the groups of vegetables, OR = 14.03 (95% CI 10.55-18.65), fruits OR = 11.62 (95% CI 6.81-19.81), dairy products OR = 6.54 (95% CI 4.64-9.22) and protein foods OR = 6.60 (95% CI 1.96-22.24). As DDS decreased, the risk of inadequate nutrients intake rose. Given the impact of nutrient intake adequacy on the prevention of non-communicable diseases, health policies should focus on the promotion of a healthy varied diet, specifically promoting the intake of vegetables and fruit among population groups with lower DDS such as men, smokers or widow(er)s.
A progressive shift away from traditional healthy dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), has been observed in recent decades. The aim of this study was to assess determinants of ...optimal adherence to the MedDiet in Spanish children and adolescents. A cross-sectional analysis was included in the PASOS nationwide representative study in Spain. Participants were 3607 children and adolescents; 8-16 years old. Primary and secondary outcome measures of weight and height were measured. Adherence to the MedDiet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in children and adolescents, as well as parental physical activity and dietary habits, were assessed. Optimal adherence to the MedDiet was observed in 45.5% of primary school students and 34.8% of secondary school students (OR: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.56-0.75). Optimal adherence to the MedDiet was higher in children/adolescents meeting daily recommended moderate and vigorous physical activity (OR: 2.39, 95%CI: 1.97-2.89) and in those meeting daily recommended screen time on weekdays (OR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.77-2.38) and weekends (OR: 1.76, 95%CI: 1.48-2.10). Participants with optimal adherence to the MedDiet were more likely to have mothers with a high-level education and high-tercile of SDQS, mothers who never smoked or were former smokers, and mothers who met the recommended physical activity and screen time. It can be concluded that a low prevalence of optimal adherence to the MedDiet was found among current Spanish children and adolescents. Optimal adherence to the MedDiet was associated with reaching the recommendations on physical activity and screen time, with the highest maternal educational level, and healthier maternal lifestyles.
The World Health Organization recommended simultaneous measurement of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and suggested joint use to predict disease risks. The aim of this study was to ...assess the prevalence of BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) categories among Spanish children and adolescents, as well as their associations with several lifestyle factors.
Cross-sectional analysis of 8-16-year-old children and adolescents (
= 3772) were included in the PASOS nationwide representative study. Children/adolescents and their mothers/female caregivers answered a questionnaire on lifestyle and health factors. Child/adolescent anthropometrics were measured. Four combined BMI-WHtR disease risk categories were built.
A third of participants showed combined BMI-WHtR categories with high disease risk (12.3% 'increased risk', 9.7% 'high risk', 14.3% 'very high risk'). Participants in the 'very high risk' group were less likely to be females (odds ratio 0.63; 95% CI: 0.52-0.76) and adolescents (0.60; 95% CI: 0.49-0.72), to practice ≥60 min/day of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (0.73; 95% CI: 0.57-0.93), and to watch <120 min/day of total screen time on weekdays (0.61; 95% CI: 0.49-0.76). Mothers of participants in the 'very high risk' group were less likely to have a high educational level, be in the overweight or normal range, have never smoked or were former smokers, and watch <120 min/day of total screen time on weekends. Participants in the 'increased' and 'high risk' categories had mothers with normal weight and ≥60 min/day of MVPA. Participants in the 'high risk' group did not achieve ≥60 min/day of MVPA and showed lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
Adherence to a healthy lifestyle in children and adolescents, but also in their mothers/female caregivers during offspring's childhood and adolescence, is associated with low BMI-WHtR disease risk.
To assess the efficacy of different modalities and frequencies of physical exercise on glycaemic control in adults with prediabetes. A two-phase, parallel, randomised, controlled clinical trial will ...be carried out, in 210 participants. In phase 1, 120 participants will be randomized into four arms: (1) aerobic exercise, (2) aerobic exercise combined with resistance, (3) high-intensity intervallic exercise and (4) control group. In phase 2, 90 new participants will be randomized into three arms, using the exercise modality that showed the best glycaemic control in phase 1 in the following manner: (1) frequency of 5 days/week, (2) frequency of 3 days/week and (3) frequency of 2 days/week. The control group (n = 30) will be included in phase 1 to evaluate the effect of any type of intervention versus no intervention. Data collection will be performed at baseline and after 15 weeks of follow up. Sociodemographic data, medication, comorbidity, blood biochemical parameters, blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, body composition, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, quality of life and sleep questionnaires will be collected. Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep will be further determined with an accelerometer, and continuous glycaemia will be determined with a glycaemic monitor, both during seven days, at two time points. The main dependent variable will be the reduction in the mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions. The impact of these interventions on health will also be evaluated through gene expression analysis in peripheral blood cells. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the glucose response to physical exercise in a population with prediabetes as well as improve physical exercise prescriptions for diabetes prevention. Increasing glycaemic control in people with prediabetes through physical exercise offers an opportunity to prevent diabetes and reduce associated comorbidities and health costs.
Research examining associations between objectively-measured napping time and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate daytime napping in relation to T2D and adiposity measures ...in elderly individuals from the Mediterranean region. A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 2190 elderly participants with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome, in the PREDIMED-Plus trial, was carried out. Accelerometer-derived napping was measured. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for T2D were obtained using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression with constant time. Linear regression models were fitted to examine associations of napping with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Participants napping ≥90 min had a higher prevalence of T2D (PR 1.37 (1.06, 1.78)) compared with those napping 5 to <30 min per day. Significant positive associations with BMI and WC were found in those participants napping ≥30 min as compared to those napping 5 to <30 min per day. The findings of this study suggest that longer daytime napping is associated with higher T2D prevalence and greater adiposity measures in an elderly Spanish population at high cardiovascular risk.
Lifestyle factors heavily influence the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD); therefore, interventions delivering adequate lifestyle changes may improve the prognosis among patients at ...cardiovascular (CV) risk. Recently published research on the effectiveness of dietary and exercise intervention programmes, alone or combined, on reducing risk factors associated with CVD as well as preventing CV events have been now assessed.
Using the Medline database via PubMed, we searched for prospective studies published between January 2000 and January 2020 assessing the efficacy of dietary interventions alone or in combination with exercise on reducing CV risk factors or events in human adults at risk. Study quality was assessed using the American Dietetic Association Quality Criteria Checklist.
From 934 articles, 21 prospective experimental design studies (15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one cluster RCT, and five quasi-experimental intervention studies with a control group) met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most interventions improved at least some markers of CV risk and the most improvement was time devoted to physical activity increased. A low-fat intervention diet seemed to be effective only when coupled with moderate intensity exercise and weight loss, while a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) intervention without physical activity, decreased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, major CV events rate and risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The MedDiet appears to have the most beneficial effect on CV events and increased hours of physical training are strongly related to greater improvement of risk factors; nevertheless, adherence to intervention is fundamental as it directly relates to health outcomes.
•Papers on effectiveness of dietary and exercise intervention programs on decrease or prevent CVD risk factors were assessed.•The Mediterranean Diet and increased physical activity have high benefits on improving CVD risk factors.•Diet and exercise interventions controlled modifiable factors in patients at CVD risk, reducing the risk for fatal CV events.•Personalized strategies and social support to adherence to an intervention is fundamental and directly related to health.
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