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.

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.

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: 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: Walking speed is a strong predictor of non-communicable diseases and mortality. Aim: To investigate the association of self-reported walking pace with adiposity, metabolic and cardiovascular markers in the Chilean population. Material and Methods: Analysis of data from 5,077 participants of the 2009-2010 National Health Survey (ENS 2009-2010). Walking speed was self-reported as average or slow pace. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid profile were the outcome. Results: In Chile, 11% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 10.0; 12.7) of the population reported a slow walking pace. Compared with average walking people, those reporting a slow pace had a higher body weight (difference (∆) 5.65 kg [95% CI: 3.22; 8.09], p < 0.01), BMI (D 2.48 kg/m 2 [95% CI: 1.53; 3.44], p < 0.01), WC (D 6.23 cm [95% CI: 4.12; 8.34], p < 0.01), serum triglycerides (D 30,9 mg/dl [95% CI: 5,31; 57,5], p = 0.018), and lower HDL cholesterol (D -2.32 mg/dl [95% CI: -4,24; -0,34], p = 0.022). Those reporting a slow pace had also a higher odd of being obese (odds ratio (OR): 2.46 [95% CI: 1.82; 3.33], p < 0.01), being diabetic (OR: 1.54 [95% CI: 1.02; 2.40], p = 0.018) and having metabolic syndrome (OR: 2.03 [95% CI: 1.30; 3.18], p = 0.002). Conclusions: In Chilean adults, slow walking pace is associated with and unfavorable adiposity and lipid profile, including a higher probability of being obese, diabetic and having metabolic syndrome.

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor of mortality and chronic diseases. However, its estimation is costly and time consuming which may limit it broad use in population-based studies. Aim: To estimate the cardiorespiratory fitness of the Chilean population by using equations and to characterize fitness levels of the Chilean population by sociodemographic factors. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 5,958 adults from the Chilean Health Survey conducted between 2016 and 2017. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated from sex-specific equations for men and women and expressed as METs (Energy Metabolic Equivalent). Fitness levels were characterized by sociodemographics factors (age, sex, education, income and area of residency). Results: Fitness levels were higher in men (9.01 METs) than in women (6.76 METs) and in average decrease by 0.59 and 0.34 METs per each year increment in age for men and women, respectively. Fitness levels were 12.7 METs and 7.8 METs for 20-year-old men and women, respectively. However, fitness levels decreased to 7.8 METs and 4.3 METs in 90-year-old men and women, respectively. Fitness levels were also higher in individuals living in urban setting, those with higher education or income levels and lean individuals. Conclusions: This study reports fitness levels in a nationally representative sample of Chile. Fitness levels were higher in men than women however, its decline with age was more pronounce in men than women.