Valid assessment tools are needed when investigating adherence to national dietary and lifestyle guidelines.
The relative validity of the new digital food frequency questionnaire, the DIGIKOST-FFQ, ...against 7-day weighed food records and activity sensors was investigated.
In total, 77 participants were included in the validation study and completed the DIGIKOST-FFQ and the weighed food record, and of these, 56 (73%) also used the activity sensors. The DIGIKOST-FFQ estimates the intake of foods according to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in addition to lifestyle factors.
At the group level, the DIGIKOST-FFQ showed good validity in estimating intakes according to the Norwegian FBDG. The median differences were small and well below portion sizes for all foods except "water" (median difference 230 g/day). The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to rank individual intakes for all foods (r=0.2-0.7). However, ranking estimates of vegetable intakes should be interpreted with caution. Between 69% and 88% of the participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartile for foods and between 71% and 82% for different activity intensities. The Bland-Altman plots showed acceptable agreements between DIGIKOST-FFQ and the reference methods. The absolute amount of time in "moderate to vigorous intensity" was underestimated with the DIGIKOST-FFQ. However, estimated time in "moderate to vigorous intensity," "vigorous intensity," and "sedentary time" showed acceptable correlations and good agreement between the methods. The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to identify adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations.
The DIGIKOST-FFQ gave valid estimates of dietary intakes and was able to identify individuals with different degrees of adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations. Moderate physical activity was underreported, water was overreported, and vegetables showed poor correlation, which are important to consider when interpreting the data. Good agreement was observed between the methods in estimating dietary intakes and time in "moderate to vigorous physical activity," "sedentary time," and "sleep."
Summary Background & aims Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an accessible and cheap method to measure fat-free mass (FFM). However, BIA estimates are subject to uncertainty in patient ...populations with altered body composition and hydration. The aim of the current study was to validate a whole-body and a segmental BIA device against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and to investigate the ability of different empiric equations for BIA to predict DXA FFM (FFMDXA ). Methods Forty-three non-metastatic CRC patients (aged 50–80 years) were enrolled in this study. Whole-body and segmental BIA FFM estimates (FFMwhole-bodyBIA , FFMsegmentalBIA ) were calculated using 14 empiric equations, including the equations from the manufacturers, before comparison to FFMDXA estimates. Results Strong linear relationships were observed between FFMBIA and FFMDXA estimates for all equations (R2 = 0.94–0.98 for both devices). However, there were large discrepancies in FFM estimates depending on the equations used with mean differences in the ranges −6.5–6.8 kg and −11.0–3.4 kg for whole-body and segmental BIA, respectively. For whole-body BIA, 77% of BIA derived FFM estimates were significantly different from FFMDXA , whereas for segmental BIA, 85% were significantly different. For whole-body BIA, the Schols* equation gave the highest agreement with FFMDXA with mean difference ±SD of −0.16 ± 1.94 kg ( p = 0.582). The manufacturer's equation gave a small overestimation of FFM with 1.46 ± 2.16 kg ( p < 0.001) with a tendency towards proportional bias ( r = 0.28, p = 0.066). For segmental BIA, the Heitmann* equation gave the highest agreement with FFMDXA (0.17 ± 1.83 kg ( p = 0.546)). Using the manufacturer's equation, no difference in FFM estimates was observed (−0.34 ± 2.06 kg ( p = 0.292)), however, a clear proportional bias was detected ( r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Both devices demonstrated acceptable ability to detect low FFM compared to DXA using the optimal equation. Conclusion In a population of non-metastatic CRC patients, mostly consisting of Caucasian adults and with a wide range of body composition measures, both the whole-body BIA and segmental BIA device provide FFM estimates that are comparable to FFMDXA on a group level when the appropriate equations are applied. At the individual level (i.e. in clinical practice) BIA may be a valuable tool to identify patients with low FFM as part of a malnutrition diagnosis.
Physical activity (PA) monitoring is applied in a growing number of studies within cancer research. However, no consensus exists on how many days PA should be monitored to obtain reliable estimates ...in the cancer population. The objective of the present study was to determine the minimum number of monitoring days required for reliable estimates of different PA intensities in cancer survivors when using a six-days protocol. Furthermore, reliability of monitoring days was assessed stratified on sex, age, cancer type, weight status, and educational level.
Data was obtained from two studies where PA was monitored for seven days using the SenseWear Armband Mini in a total of 984 cancer survivors diagnosed with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. Participants with ≥22 hours monitor wear-time for six days were included in the reliability analysis (n = 736). The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Spearman Brown prophecy formula were used to assess the reliability of different number of monitoring days.
For time in light PA, two monitoring days resulted in reliable estimates (ICC >0.80). Participants with BMI ≥25, low-medium education, colorectal cancer, or age ≥60 years required one additional monitoring day. For moderate and moderate-to-vigorous PA, three monitoring days yielded reliable estimates. Participants with BMI ≥25 or breast cancer required one additional monitoring day. Vigorous PA showed the largest within subject variations and reliable estimates were not obtained for the sample as a whole. However, reliable estimates were obtained for breast cancer survivors (4 days), females, BMI ≥30, and age <60 years (6 days).
Shorter monitoring periods may provide reliable estimates of PA levels in cancer survivors when monitored continuously with a wearable device. This could potentially lower the participant burden and allow for less exclusion of participants not adhering to longer protocols.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Clinical guidelines for postpartum follow-up after HDP often recommend ...lifestyle counseling to reduce this risk. However, knowledge about lifestyle behaviors and perceptions among women with a history of HDP is limited. We linked data from the fourth survey of the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) with data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. The associations between HDP and postpartum lifestyle behaviors and perceptions were examined using multivariable logistic regression. In a secondary analysis, HUNT4 participants with a recent history of pre-eclampsia were compared with women with a recent history of pre-eclampsia participating in a postpartum pilot intervention study. Lifestyle behaviors and perceptions were self-reported and included diet (intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and sugar-sweetened beverages), alcohol intake, physical activity, sleep, smoking, lifestyle satisfaction, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Among 7551 parous HUNT4 participants, 610 had a history of HDP. We found no differences in lifestyle behaviors between women with and without a history of HDP. However, women with HDP had higher odds of being unsatisfied with their lifestyle. Women with pre-eclampsia participating in a postpartum lifestyle intervention study tended to have a healthier lifestyle at baseline than women participating in HUNT4. Future studies should explore how lifestyle intervention programs could be adapted to the needs of women who have experienced HDP or other pregnancy complications that are associated with an increased risk of CVD.
BackgroundDietary and lifestyle indices are composite tools that are used to estimate risk of health outcomes. ObjectiveWe aimed to develop a diet and a lifestyle index assessing adherence to the ...national guidelines in Norway, and to investigate adherence in a nationwide survey of healthy subjects (Norkost3). DesignCut-off values for the indices were based on the Norwegian food based dietary guidelines and national lifestyle guidelines. Adherence was evaluated in the Norkost3 (n = 1,787). ResultsTwelve dietary components were included in the diet index 1) fruit and berries, 2) vegetables, 3) whole grains, 4) unsalted nuts, 5) fish, 6) low-fat dairy products, 7) margarine/oils, 8) red meat, 9) processed meat, 10) foods rich in sugar and fat, 11) drinks with added sugar, and 12) dietary supplements. Each of the components was assigned a value of 0, 0.5 or 1 corresponding to low, intermediate and high adherence, except for plant-based foods, which were assigned a value of 0, 1.5 or 3, providing a composite diet index ranging from 0 to 20 points. The five components in the lifestyle index (i.e. diet, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, tobacco and alcohol) was assigned a value of 0, 0.5 or 1, giving a final score ranging from zero to five points. In Norkost3, 49% (95% CI: 47, 52) of the participants had low adherence to the diet component, whereas only 2% (95% CI: 2, 3) achieved high adherence, although most of the subjects had high educational level. High adherence to the recommendations of BMI, tobacco and alcohol intake was observed in 50% (95% CI: 47, 52), 72% (95% CI: 70, 74) and 68% (95% CI: 66, 70) of the participants, respectively. Due to the lack of data on physical activity, adherence to this component in the lifestyle index is not presented in this study. ConclusionThe new diet and lifestyle indices assess adherence to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) and other national lifestyle guidelines. In this study, half of the subjects had low diet and lifestyle index scores. There is a need to implement interventions to improve this by focusing on the specific lifestyle components with low adherence.
IntroductionWomen with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recommendations for postpartum ...follow-up include targeted lifestyle advice to lower the risk.The aim of this study was to compare postpartum lifestyle behaviours and perceptions among women with and without a history of GDM. In addition, we examined whether lifestyle behaviours of women with a history of GDM participating in a lifestyle intervention study differed from lifestyle behaviours of women with a history of GDM in the general population.Research design and methodsWe linked data from the fourth survey of the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) to information from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway for women with registered births between 2000 and 2019. Using logistic regression, we compared lifestyle behaviours in women with and without GDM. In secondary analyses, lifestyle behaviours in women with GDM participating in a postpartum lifestyle intervention study were compared with HUNT participants with GDM using Fisher’s exact tests/t-tests.ResultsA high proportion of the women in our population, regardless of GDM history, reported several unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. We found no significant association between history of GDM and lifestyle behaviours. The lifestyle intervention study for women with a history of GDM appeared to recruit women with more favourable lifestyle behaviours.ConclusionsWomen, regardless of GDM history, could potentially benefit from further support for lifestyle improvement, but it may be especially important in women with a history of GDM given their increased risk of T2DM and CVD. Interventions targeting women with GDM might not reach the women with the unhealthiest lifestyle behaviours, and measures to reach out to all women should be further investigated.
Colorectal cancer survivors are not only at risk for recurrent disease but also at increased risk of comorbidities such as other cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and functional ...decline. In this trial, we aim at investigating whether a diet in accordance with the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines and focusing at dampening inflammation and oxidative stress will improve long-term disease outcomes and survival in colorectal cancer patients.
This paper presents the study protocol of the Norwegian Dietary Guidelines and Colorectal Cancer Survival study. Men and women aged 50-80 years diagnosed with primary invasive colorectal cancer (Stage I-III) are invited to this randomized controlled, parallel two-arm trial 2-9 months after curative surgery. The intervention group (n = 250) receives an intensive dietary intervention lasting for 12 months and a subsequent maintenance intervention for 14 years. The control group (n = 250) receives no dietary intervention other than standard clinical care. Both groups are offered equal general advice of physical activity. Patients are followed-up at 6 months and 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 years after baseline. The study center is located at the Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, and patients are recruited from two hospitals within the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. Primary outcomes are disease-free survival and overall survival. Secondary outcomes are time to recurrence, cardiovascular disease-free survival, compliance to the dietary recommendations and the effects of the intervention on new comorbidities, intermediate biomarkers, nutrition status, physical activity, physical function and quality of life.
The current study is designed to gain a better understanding of the role of a healthy diet aimed at dampening inflammation and oxidative stress on long-term disease outcomes and survival in colorectal cancer patients. Since previous research on the role of diet for colorectal cancer survivors is limited, the study may be of great importance for this cancer population.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01570010 .
Abstract
Background
Joint British Societies have developed a tool that utilizes information on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors to estimate an individual’s ‘heart age’. We studied if using ...heart age as an add-on to conventional risk communication could enhance the motivation for adapting to a healthier lifestyle resulting in improved whole-blood cholesterol and omega-3 status after 4 weeks.
Methods
A total of 48 community pharmacies were cluster-randomized to use heart age+conventional risk communication (intervention) or only conventional risk communication (control) in 378 subjects after CVD risk-factor assessment. Dried blood spots were obtained with a 4-week interval to assay whole-blood cholesterol and omega-3 fatty acids. We also explored pharmacy-staff’s (n=27) perceived utility of the heart age tool.
Results
Subjects in the intervention pharmacies (n=137) had mean heart age 64 years and chorological age 60 years. In these, cholesterol decreased by median (interquartile range) −0.10 (−0.40, 0.35) mmol/l. Cholesterol decreased by −0.20 (−0.70, 0.30) mmol/l (P difference =0.24) in subjects in the control pharmacies (n=120) with mean chronological age 60 years. We observed increased concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids after 4 weeks, non-differentially between groups. Pharmacy-staff (n=27) agreed that heart age was a good way to communicate CVD risk, and most (n=25) agreed that it appeared to motivate individuals to reduce elevated CVD risk factors.
Conclusions
The heart age tool was considered a convenient and motivating communication tool by pharmacy-staff. Nevertheless, communicating CVD risk as heart age was not more effective than conventional risk communication alone in reducing whole-blood cholesterol levels and improving omega-3 status.
Background
In-person dietary counseling and interventions have shown promising results in changing habits toward healthier lifestyles, but they are costly to implement in large populations. ...Developing digital tools to assess individual dietary intake and lifestyle with integrated personalized feedback systems may help overcome this challenge. We developed a short digital food frequency questionnaire, known as the DIGIKOST-FFQ, to assess diet and other lifestyle factors based on the Norwegian Food-Based Dietary Guidelines. The DIGIKOST-FFQ includes a personalized feedback system, the DIGIKOST report, that benchmarks diet and lifestyle habits. We used qualitative focus group interviews and usability tests to test the feasibility and usability of the DIGIKOST application.
Objective
We aimed to explore attitudes, perceptions, and challenges in completing the DIGIKOST-FFQ. We also investigated perceptions and understanding of the personalized feedback in the DIGIKOST report and the technical flow and usability of the DIGIKOST-FFQ and the DIGIKOST report.
Methods
Healthy individuals and cancer survivors were invited to participate in the focus group interviews. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Another group of healthy individuals completed the usability testing, which was administered individually by a moderator and 2 observers. The results were analyzed based on predefined assignments and discussion with the participants about the interpretation of the DIGIKOST report and technical flow of the DIGIKOST-FFQ.
Results
A total of 20 individuals participated in the focus group interviews, divided into 3 groups of healthy individuals and 3 groups of cancer survivors. Each group consisted of 3 to 4 individuals. Five main themes were investigated: (1) completion time (on average 19.1, SD 8.3, minutes, an acceptable duration), (2) layout (participants reported the DIGIKOST-FFQ was easy to navigate and had clear questions but presented challenges in reporting dietary intake, sedentary time, and physical activity in the last year), (3) questions (the introductory questions on habitual intake worked well), (4) pictures (the pictures were very helpful, but some portion sizes were difficult to differentiate and adding weight in grams would have been helpful), and (5) motivation (users were motivated to obtain personalized feedback). Four individuals participated in the usability testing. The results showed that the users could seamlessly log in, give consent, fill in the DIGIKOST-FFQ, and receive, print, and read the DIGIKOST report. However, parts of the report were perceived as difficult to interpret.
Conclusions
The DIGIKOST-FFQ was overall well received by participants, who found it feasible to use; however, some adjustments with regard to reporting dietary intake and lifestyle habits were suggested. The DIGIKOST report with personalized feedback was the main motivation to complete the questionnaire. The results from the usability testing revealed a need for adjustments and updates to make the report easier to read.
Background
Body composition is of clinical importance in colorectal cancer patients, but is rarely assessed because of time‐consuming manual segmentation. We developed and tested BodySegAI, a deep ...learning‐based software for automated body composition quantification from routinely acquired computed tomography (CT) scans.
Methods
A two‐dimensional U‐Net convolutional network was trained on 2989 abdominal CT slices from L2 to S1 to segment skeletal muscle (SM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and intermuscular and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT). Human ground truth was established by combining segmentations from three human readers. BodySegAI was tested using 154 slices against the human ground truth and compared with a software named AutoMATiCA.
Results
Median Dice scores for BodySegAI against human ground truth were 0.969, 0.814, 0.986, and 0.990 for SM, IMAT, VAT, and SAT, respectively. The mean differences per slice for SM were −0.09 cm3, IMAT: −0.17 cm3, VAT: −0.12 cm3, and SAT: 0.67 cm3. Median absolute errors for SM, IMAT, VAT, and SAT were 1.35, 10.54, 0.91, and 1.07%, respectively. When analysing different anatomical levels separately, L3 and S1 demonstrated the overall highest and lowest Dice scores, respectively. On average, BodySegAI segmented 148 times faster than human readers (4.9 vs. 726.5 seconds, P < 0.001). Also, BodySegAI presented higher Dice scores for SM, IMAT, SAT, and VAT than AutoMATiCA (slices = 154).
Conclusions
BodySegAI rapidly generates excellent segmentation of SM, VAT, and SAT and good segmentation of IMAT in L2 to S1 among colorectal cancer patients and may replace semi‐manual segmentation.
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