Dr. Garrido-Méndez, Alex

Background: Housewives represent a important proportion of the Chilean population. However, there is limited evidence about their lifestyles. Aim: To characterize lifestyles and determine the level of compliance with healthy lifestyles guidelines of housewives in Chile. Material and Methods: Housewives from the 2009-2010 National Health Survey were included. The variables studied included levels of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, diet, hours of sleep and smoking. Compliance with healthy lifestyle behaviors was evaluated through logistic regression, granting a value of 1 for compliance and 0 for non-compliance. A healthy lifestyle was defined as meeting at least four healthy behaviors. Results: Housewives aged > 55 years had a higher BMI and waist circumference compared to those aged < 40 years. Housewives were also more likely to report moderate alcohol consumption and were more likely to meet a healthier lifestyle score (Odds ratio = 1.52 [95% confidence intervals: 1.09 to 2.11], p = 0.013). No significant age trends were observed for other lifestyle behaviors. Conclusions: Housewives had high levels of central obesity, excess body weight and high levels of salt intake but low alcohol intake. Their healthy lifestyles behaviors increased along with increasing age.

La pandemia del COVID-19 modificó los estilos de vida de la población mundial, debido a las medidas de confinamiento para reducir la actividad social masiva. Esto aumentó los niveles de inactividad física y sus riesgos para la salud. Por ello, el Ministerio de Salud de Chile estableció una banda horaria exclusiva para la práctica de actividad física. Los objetivos del estudio fueron conocer las percepciones de los usuarios y las características de la actividad física realizada durante la banda horaria. Se empleó un enfoque interpretativo, de diseño cualitativo, mediante un estudio de caso, con una entrevista personal y presencial. El instrumento fue un guion semiestructurado, aplicado a once sujetos adultos de ambos sexos, con edades entre los 24 y 69 años, que realizaban actividad física en un parque de la ciudad de Concepción, Chile, durante el año 2021. Los resultados indican que las personas realizaban actividades físicas por placer, para cuidar la salud y socializar, y reportaron sentirse con energía durante el día. Manifestaron un alto nivel de satisfacción con esta medida y una alta motivación hacia la práctica de actividad física, pero sugirieron ampliar el horario de la mañana e introducir una nueva banda en la tarde. Por otro lado, realizaron actividades físicas preferiblemente grupales, de cuatro a siete veces por semana, y de una a dos horas de duración. En conclusión, las percepciones hacia la banda horaria fueron positivas, y las características de las prácticas físicas contribuyeron significativamente a mejorar la salud y el bienestar durante el confinamiento.

Background: Healthy lifestyles are associated with a better metabolic and cardiovascular health profile. Aim: To investigate the association between a lifestyle score and cardiovascular risk in Chilean adults. Material and Methods: A healthy lifestyle score was derived for 2,774 participants in the Chilean National Health Survey 2009-2010 and based on seven modifiable behaviors (salt intake, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, smoking, physical activity and sedentary behaviors). A high score represented a healthier lifestyle whereas a low score represents an unhealthy lifestyle. The association between the lifestyle score and cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome), was explored using logistic regression models. Results: One quartile increment in the healthy lifestyle score was associated with a lower risk for obesity (Odds ratio (OR): 0.82 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.75 to 0.90], p < 0.01), central obesity (OR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.81 to 0.96], p < 0.01), diabetes (OR: 0.84 [95% CI: 0.75 to 0.95], p < 0.04) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.83 to 0.98], p = 0.01). These results were independent of major confounding factors. Conclusions: The adherence to a healthy lifestyle is associated with lower cardiovascular risk.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity (PA), both occupational (OPA) and during leisure time (LTPA), with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in Chilean adults. 5,157 participants from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009–2010 were included in this study. OPA and LTPA levels were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. The association between both PA with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors was determined using logistic regression. Our findings showed a significant trend between higher LTPA and lower odds for obesity (OR 0.64 [95% CI: 0.53; 0.76], central obesity 0.52 [0.44; 0.61]) and other cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes (OR: 0.72 [0.55; 0.94]), hypertension (OR: 0.59 [0.50; 0.71]) and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.62 [0.50; 0.78]). In contrast, OPA was only associated with lower odds of diabetes (OR: 0.79 [0.65; 0.98]) and hypertension (0.85 [0.74; 0.98]). In conclusion, LTPA was associated with a lower risk of all major cardiovascular risk factors, whereas OPA was only associated with a lower risk of diabetes and hypertension.

Los estilos de vida de los universitarios chilenos suelen ser poco saludables, con respecto a la práctica de actividad física, alimentación, consumo de tabaco, alcohol, drogas y sueño nocturno. Los objetivos del estudio fueron describir los estilos de vida del estudiantado de Pedagogía en Educación Física de una Universidad del centro sur de Chile, junto con establecer relaciones entre las variables de los comportamientos del mismo grupo de estudiantes. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, de diseño transversal, de alcance descriptivo y correlacional. El instrumento aplicado fue el cuestionario de preguntas cerradas ESTIPENDO, respondido por 108 estudiantes de la mencionada carrera. El análisis de los datos se realizó con el software SPSS v.25. Los resultados señalan que un 89,8% de los estudiantes declaró realizar actividad física tres o más veces por semana, siendo mayor en hombres (χ²=12,823, p=0,012), además, quienes realizan actividad física tienen menos posibilidad de consumir drogas (χ²=9,896, p=0,042); un 11,1% declaró consumir frutas y verduras todos los días, un 65% consume algún alimento chatarra; 84,3% declaró no fumar y un 94,5% consume alcohol de entre 0 a 7 tragos de semanales, sin embargo, un 45,4% usa drogas a menudo, mayormente hombres (χ²=17,203; p=0,002). Un 25% declaró dormir bien siempre, mientras que un 64,8% a veces. Se concluye que los estudiantes tienen un estilo de vida poco saludable, pues, si bien declaran ser físicamente activos, consumir poco alcohol y tabaco, tienen baja ingesta de frutas y verduras a diario, consumen comida chatarra, drogas y tienen insuficiente sueño nocturno.

Background: One of the side effects of cancer treatment is a low level of physical activity (PA) due to fatigue and pain. Aim: To quantify PA levels in Chilean people with cancer. Material and Methods: Analysis of the National Health Survey 2016-2017 including 6,233 participants, comparing those with and without a self-report of cancer was conducted. Levels of PA and sitting time were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: 3% of participants [confidence intervals (CI): 2.6; 3.9] reported having cancer and 34% [95% CI: 22.7; 46.7] of these reported being physically inactive, compared to 25% [95% CI: 22.5; 27,3] of those without cancer. Participants with cancer performed 56 and 77 minutes/day lower vigorous and total PA than participants without cancer. No differences between groups were observed for commuting PA, moderate PA and sedentary time. Lower level of PA was independent of the years elapsed since the diagnosis of cancer. Conclusions: People with cancer are less physically active than their counterparts without the disease.

Background: Physical inactivity is an important cardiovascular risk factor. Aim: To investigate the association of physical inactivity with obesity, metabolic markers, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and metabolic syndrome in Chilean adults. Material and Methods: Participants from the National Health Survey 2009-10 (n = 5,157) were included in this study. Body mass index, waist circumference, metabolic markers (blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid profile) were the outcomes. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome were determined using international criteria. Physical activity levels were determined using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and physical inactivity was defined as < 600 METs/minutes/week. Results: Compared to their physically active peers, inactive men and women had a higher odds ratio (OR) for obesity (OR: 1.77 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.29-2.42], p < 0.01 and 1.25 [95% CI: 102-1.54], p < 0.035, respectively), diabetes (OR: 2.47 [1.80-3.38], p < 0.01 and 1.72 [1.35-2.19], p = 0.002, respectively) and hypertension (OR: 1.66 [1.31-2.09], p < 0.01 and 1.83 [1.54-2.18] respectively. An association of physical inactivity with central obesity and metabolic syndrome was observed only in men (OR: 1.92 [1.42- 2.58], p < 0.01 and 1.74 [1.23-2.47], p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: Not meeting the physical activity recommendations is associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome, which are important cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Walking pace is a well-known indicator of physical capability, but it is also a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, there is a lack of evidence on the association between walking pace and T2D, specifically, within developing countries such as Chile. Aim: To investigate the association between self-reported walking pace and T2D in the Chilean adult population. Methods: 5520 Chilean participants (aged 15 to 90 years, 52.1% women) from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016–2017 were included in this cross-sectional study. Both walking pace (slow, average, and brisk) and diabetes data were collected through self-reported methods. Fasting blood glucose (reported in mg/dl) and glycosylated haemoglobin A (HbA1c) scores were determined via blood exams. Results: In the unadjusted model, and compared to people who reported a slow walking pace, those with average and brisk walking pace had lower blood glucose levels (β = −7.74 mg/dL (95% CI: −11.08 to −4.40) and β = −11.05 mg/dL (95% CI: −14.36 to −7.75), respectively) and lower HbA1c (β = −0.34% (95% CI: −0.57 to −0.11) and β= −0.72% (95% CI: −0.94 to −0.49)), respectively. After adjusting for sociodemographic, Body Mass Index and lifestyle factors, the association between glycaemia and HbA1c remained only for brisk walkers. Both the average and brisk walker categories had lower odds of T2D (OR: 0.59 (95% CI: 0.41 to 0.84) and (OR 0.48 (95% CI: 0.30 to 0.79), respectively). Conclusion: Brisk walkers were associated with lower blood glucose and HbA1c levels. Moreover, average to brisk walking pace also showed a lower risk for T2D.

Background: It is unknown if nutritional status could influence the accuracy of self-reported physical activity (PA) levels. Aim: To compare PA measured using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and by accelerometry (ActiGraph) according to nutritional status in Chilean adults. Material and Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study that used information from the GENADIO project carried out in Chile between 2009-2011. The sample consisted of 322 people. PA levels and sitting time were determined through the IPAQ self-report questionnaire and ActiGraph accelerometers (GTM1). The nutritional status was determined according to body mass index (BMI). Results: Compared with the measurement made with accelerometry, the IPAQ self-report questionnaire underestimated the levels of light PA, total PA and sedentary time in -171.5, -54.8 and -40.6 min / day, respectively. However, IPAQ overestimated the levels of moderate PA and vigorous PA in 91.0 and 47.3 min/day respectively, compared with accelerometry. Compared with normal weight, obese subjects reported higher levels of moderate PA (105.5 and 48.9 min/day, respectively) and vigorous PA (54.1 and 38.3 min/day respectively). Total PA had a greater delta of underestimation between IPAQ and accelerometer measurements in normal weight than in obese subjects (-122.1 vs -16.5 min/day, respectively). Conclusions: The measurement of PA by means of a self-report questionnaire was discrepant with its objective measurement with an accelerometer. The discrepancy is even higher in obese people.

Background: Although cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an impaired cognitive function, the impact of diabetes on cognitive function in Chilean adults is unknown. Aim: To investigate the association of diabetes or family history of the disease with cognitive impairment in older adults. Materials and Methods: Data from the 2009-2010 Chilean National Health Survey including 1,384 participants aged ≥ 60 years were included in this study. A score below 13 points for the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was considered an indication of cognitive impairment. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between MMSE, diabetes and family history of the disease. Results: Cognitive impairment increased with age (Odds ratio (OR): 1.83 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.53; 2.19], p < 0.01, per 5 years increment in age). This trend was greater in individuals with diabetes (OR: 2.37 [95% CI: 1.68; 3.35], p < 0.01) compared to those without the disease. A similar trend was identified among individuals with a family history of diabetes compared to those without. Conclusions: Older adults with diabetes are more susceptible to develop cognitive impairment.