Dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonism reduces energy intake in type 2 diabetes with obesity.

AIMS: To establish which components of energy balance mediate the clinically significant weight loss demonstrated with use of cotadutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucagon receptor dual agonist, in early-phase studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a phase 2a, single-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes. Following a 16-day single-blind placebo run-in, participants were randomized 2:1 to double-blind 42-day subcutaneous treatment with cotadutide (100-300 µg daily) or placebo. The primary outcome was percentage weight change. Secondary outcomes included change in energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE). RESULTS: A total of 12 participants (63%) in the cotadutide group and seven (78%) in the placebo group completed the study. The mean (90% confidence interval [CI]) weight change was -4.0% (-4.9%, -3.1%) and -1.4% (-2.7%, -0.1%) for the cotadutide and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.011). EI was lower with cotadutide versus placebo (-41.3% [-66.7, -15.9]; p = 0.011). Difference in EE (per kJ/kg lean body mass) for cotadutide versus placebo was 1.0% (90% CI -8.4, 10.4; p = 0.784), assessed by doubly labelled water, and -6.5% (90% CI -9.3, -3.7; p < 0.001), assessed by indirect calorimetry. CONCLUSION: Weight loss with cotadutide is primarily driven by reduced EI, with relatively small compensatory changes in EE.

Sumatriptan, a serotonin 5HT1B receptor agonist, acutely reduces insulin secretion and sensitivity and glucose effectiveness in overweight humans: A double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over trial.

AIM: Evidence from mouse models suggests that brain serotonergic pathways control blood glucose. We hypothesized that sumatriptan (5HT1B -receptor agonist) would alter glucose homeostasis in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a two-visit random-order double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over trial in 10 overweight adults that were otherwise healthy. Participants received sumatriptan (single dose, 100 mg) or placebo before undergoing a 60-min intravenous glucose tolerance test, followed by a 120-min hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. RESULTS: Glucose excursion was greater during intravenous glucose tolerance test with sumatriptan compared with placebo [iAUC0-60 min 316 (268-333) vs. 251 (197-319) min/mmol/L p = .047]. This was probably explained by a combination of reduced circulating insulin levels [iAUC0-10 min 1626 (1103-2733) vs. 2336 (1702-3269) min/pmol/L, p = .005], reduced insulin sensitivity [M/I-value 2.11 (1.15, 4.05) vs. 3.03 (1.14, 4.90) mg/kg/min per pmol/L, p = .010] and glucose effectiveness [SG 0.17 (0.12, 0.21) vs. 0.22 (0.18, 0.65)/min, p = .027]. CONCLUSIONS: 5HT1B receptors have a glucoregulatory role in humans, probably acting on insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness.

Non-occupational physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality outcomes: a dose-response meta-analysis of large prospective studies.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the dose-response associations between non-occupational physical activity and several chronic disease and mortality outcomes in the general adult population. DESIGN: Systematic review and cohort-level dose-response meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and reference lists of published studies. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Prospective cohort studies with (1) general population samples >10 000 adults, (2) ≥3 physical activity categories, and (3) risk measures and CIs for all-cause mortality or incident total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, total cancer and site-specific cancers (head and neck, myeloid leukaemia, myeloma, gastric cardia, lung, liver, endometrium, colon, breast, bladder, rectum, oesophagus, prostate, kidney). RESULTS: 196 articles were included, covering 94 cohorts with >30 million participants. The evidence base was largest for all-cause mortality (50 separate results; 163 415 543 person-years, 811 616 events), and incidence of cardiovascular disease (37 results; 28 884 209 person-years, 74 757 events) and cancer (31 results; 35 500 867 person-years, 185 870 events). In general, higher activity levels were associated with lower risk of all outcomes. Differences in risk were greater between 0 and 8.75 marginal metabolic equivalent of task-hours per week (mMET-hours/week) (equivalent to the recommended 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic physical activity), with smaller marginal differences in risk above this level to 17.5 mMET-hours/week, beyond which additional differences were small and uncertain. Associations were stronger for all-cause (relative risk (RR) at 8.75 mMET-hours/week: 0.69, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.73) and cardiovascular disease (RR at 8.75 mMET-hours/week: 0.71, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.77) mortality than for cancer mortality (RR at 8.75 mMET-hours/week: 0.85, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.89). If all insufficiently active individuals had achieved 8.75 mMET-hours/week, 15.7% (95% CI 13.1 to 18.2) of all premature deaths would have been averted. CONCLUSIONS: Inverse non-linear dose-response associations suggest substantial protection against a range of chronic disease outcomes from small increases in non-occupational physical activity in inactive adults. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018095481.

A synthesis of pathways linking diet, metabolic risk and cardiovascular disease: a framework to guide further research and approaches to evidence-based practice.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common non-communicable disease occurring globally. Although previous literature has provided useful insights into the important role that diet plays in CVD prevention and treatment, understanding the causal role of diets is a difficult task considering inherent and introduced weaknesses of observational (e.g. not properly addressing confounders and mediators) and experimental research designs (e.g. not appropriate or well designed). In this narrative review, we organised current evidence linking diet, as well as conventional and emerging physiological risk factors, with CVD risk, incidence and mortality in a series of diagrams. The diagrams presented can aid causal inference studies as they provide a visual representation of the types of studies underlying the associations between potential risk markers/factors for CVD. This may facilitate the selection of variables to be considered and the creation of analytical models. Evidence depicted in the diagrams was systematically collected from studies included in the British Nutrition Task Force report on diet and CVD and database searches, including Medline and Embase. Although several markers and disorders linked to conventional and emerging risk factors for CVD were identified, the causal link between many remains unknown. There is a need to address the multifactorial nature of CVD and the complex interplay between conventional and emerging risk factors with natural and built environments, while bringing the life course into the spotlight.

Do markers of adiposity and glycaemia mediate the association between low carbohydrate diet and cardiovascular risk factors: findings from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008-2016.

Objectives: To examine the associations between low carbohydrate diet (LCD) and conventional cardiovascular risk factors and investigate whether these associations are mediated by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) applying causal mediation analyses. Methods: We included 3640 adults aged 45-80 years from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey programme (2008-2016) with data on dietary intake, anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Four hypothetical interventions were examined: (1) LCD, (2) Low carbohydrate (LC) and high fibre diet (LCHF), (3) LC and high saturated fat diet (LCHS) and (4) LC and high unsaturated fat diet (LCHU). BMI and WC were used as markers of obesity. Biochemical markers included HbA1c, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and C reactive protein (CRP). BMI, WC and HbA1c were used as a mediator of the effects. The analysis was adjusted for sociodemographic characteristic, smoking, estimated total energy intake, alcohol consumption and antihypertensive medication. To identify a potential causal effect of LCD on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, we estimated the average treatment effect, and corresponding p values and CI for the total, indirect and direct effect of the treatment on the outcome. Results: BMI, WC and HbA1c fully mediated the association between LCD and triglycerides and fully mediated the effects of LCHF on LDL, although BMI and WC were not sufficient to fully mediate the effects of LCHF on triglycerides and CRP. BMI alone fully mediated the effects of LCHS on HbA1c, triglycerides, LDL and CRP. None of these mediators explained the effect of LCHU on CVD risk markers. Conclusion: The causal hypotheses tested in this study demonstrate that individuals on LCD with high fibre intakes improved their CVD markers as expected, but those on LCD who increase fat intake had no effects on CVD markers mediated by obesity and diabetes.

Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Depression is the leading cause of mental health-related disease burden and may be reduced by physical activity, but the dose-response relationship between activity and depression is uncertain. Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze the dose-response association between physical activity and incident depression from published prospective studies of adults. Data Sources: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the reference lists of systematic reviews retrieved by a systematic search up to December 11, 2020, with no language limits. The date of the search was November 12, 2020. Study Selection: We included prospective cohort studies reporting physical activity at 3 or more exposure levels and risk estimates for depression with 3000 or more adults and 3 years or longer of follow-up. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction was completed independently by 2 extractors and cross-checked for errors. A 2-stage random-effects dose-response meta-analysis was used to synthesize data. Study-specific associations were estimated using generalized least-squares regression and the pooled association was estimated by combining the study-specific coefficients using restricted maximum likelihood. Main Outcomes and Measures: The outcome of interest was depression, including (1) presence of major depressive disorder indicated by self-report of physician diagnosis, registry data, or diagnostic interviews and (2) elevated depressive symptoms established using validated cutoffs for a depressive screening instrument. Results: Fifteen studies comprising 191 130 participants and 2 110 588 person-years were included. An inverse curvilinear dose-response association between physical activity and depression was observed, with steeper association gradients at lower activity volumes; heterogeneity was large and significant (I2 = 74%; P < .001). Relative to adults not reporting any activity, those accumulating half the recommended volume of physical activity (4.4 marginal metabolic equivalent task hours per week [mMET-h/wk]) had 18% (95% CI, 13%-23%) lower risk of depression. Adults accumulating the recommended volume of 8.8 mMET hours per week had 25% (95% CI, 18%-32%) lower risk with diminishing potential benefits and higher uncertainty observed beyond that exposure level. There were diminishing additional potential benefits and greater uncertainty at higher volumes of physical activity. Based on an estimate of exposure prevalences among included cohorts, if less active adults had achieved the current physical activity recommendations, 11.5% (95% CI, 7.7%-15.4%) of depression cases could have been prevented. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review and meta-analysis of associations between physical activity and depression suggests significant mental health benefits from being physically active, even at levels below the public health recommendations. Health practitioners should therefore encourage any increase in physical activity to improve mental health.

Time for nutrition in medical education.

AIM: To synthesise a selection of UK medical students' and doctors' views surrounding nutrition in medical education and practice. METHODS: Information was gathered from surveys of medical students and doctors identified between 2015 and 2018 and an evaluation of nutrition teaching in a single UK medical school. Comparative analysis of the findings was undertaken to answer three questions: the perceived importance of nutrition in medical education and practice, adequacy of nutrition training, and confidence in current nutrition knowledge and skills. RESULTS: We pooled five heterogeneous sources of information, representing 853 participants. Most agreed on the importance of nutrition in health (>90%) and in a doctor's role in nutritional care (>95%). However, there was less desire for more nutrition education in doctors (85%) and in medical students (68%). Most felt their nutrition training was inadequate, with >70% reporting less than 2 hours. There was a preference for face-to-face rather than online training. At one medical school, nutrition was included in only one module, but this increased to eight modules following an increased nutrition focus. When medical students were asked about confidence in their nutrition knowledge and on advising patients, there was an even split between agree and disagree (p=0.869 and p=0.167, respectively), yet few were confident in the UK dietary guidelines. Only 26% of doctors were confident in their nutrition knowledge and 74% gave nutritional advice less than once a month, citing lack of knowledge (75%), time (64%) and confidence (62%) as the main barriers. There was some recognition of the importance of a collaborative approach, yet 28% of doctors preferred to get specialist advice rather than address nutrition themselves. CONCLUSION: There is a desire and a need for more nutrition within medical education, as well as a need for greater clarity of a doctor's role in nutritional care and when to refer for specialist advice. Despite potential selection bias and limitations in the sampling frame, this synthesis provides a multifaceted snapshot via a large number of insights from different levels of training through medical students to doctors from which further research can be developed.

Insights from a general practice service evaluation supporting a lower carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: a secondary analysis of routine clinic data including HbA1c, weight and prescribing over 6 years.

BACKGROUND: In a single general practice (GP) surgery in England, there was an eightfold increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in three decades with 57 cases and 472 cases recorded in 1987 and 2018, respectively. This mirrors the growing burden of T2D on the health of populations round the world along with healthcare funding and provision more broadly. Emerging evidence suggests beneficial effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets on glycaemic control in T2D, but its impact in a 'real-world' primary care setting has not been fully evaluated. METHODS: Advice on a lower carbohydrate diet was offered routinely to patients with newly diagnosed and pre-existing T2D or prediabetes between 2013 and 2019, in the Norwood GP practice with 9800 patients. Conventional 'one-to-one' GP consultations were used, supplemented by group consultations, to help patients better understand the glycaemic consequences of their dietary choices with a particular focus on sugar, carbohydrates and foods with a higher Glycaemic Index. Those interested were computer coded for ongoing audit to compare 'baseline' with 'latest follow-up' for relevant parameters. RESULTS: By 2019, 128 (27%) of the practice population with T2D and 71 people with prediabetes had opted to follow a lower carbohydrate diet for a mean duration of 23 months. For patients with T2D, the median (IQR) weight dropped from of 99.7 (86.2, 109.3) kg to 91.4 (79, 101.1) kg, p<0.001, while the median (IQR) HbA1c dropped from 65.5 (55, 82) mmol/mol to 48 (43, 55) mmol/mol, p<0.001. For patients with prediabetes, the median (IQR) HbA1c dropped from 44 (43, 45) mmol/mol to 39 (38, 41) mmol/mol, p<0.001. Drug-free T2D remission occurred in 46% of participants. In patients with prediabetes, 93% attained a normal HbA1c. Since 2015, there has been a relative reduction in practice prescribing of drugs for diabetes leading to a T2D prescribing budget £50 885 per year less than average for the area. CONCLUSIONS: This approach to lower carbohydrate dietary advice for patients with T2D and prediabetes was incorporated successfully into routine primary care over 6 years. There were statistically significant improvements in both groups for weight, HbA1c, lipid profiles and blood pressure as well as significant drug budget savings. These results suggest a need for more empirical research on the effects of lower carbohydrate diet and long-term glycaemic control while recording collateral impacts to other metabolic health outcomes.

Management of perioperative myocardial ischaemia after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objectives: Updated knowledge about perioperative myocardial ischaemia (MI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and treatment of acute graft failure is needed. We analysed main factors associated with perioperative MI and effects of immediate coronary angiography-based treatment strategy on patient outcome. Methods: Among 1119 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease who underwent isolated CABG between January 2011 and December 2015, 43 (3.8%) patients underwent urgent coronary angiography due to suspected perioperative MI. All the data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analysed. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality; postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction) and major adverse cardiac events were secondary endpoints.ResultsOverall, 30-day mortality in patients with CABG was 1.4% while in patients who developed perioperative MI was 9% (4 patients). Angiographic findings included incorrect graft anastomosis, graft spasm, dissection, acute coronary artery thrombotic occlusion and ischaemia due to incomplete revascularisation. Emergency reoperation (Redo) was performed in 14 (32%), acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 15 (36%) and conservative treatment (Non-op) in 14 patients. Demographic and preoperative clinical characteristics between the groups were comparable. Postoperative LVEF was significantly reduced in the Redo group (45% post-op vs 53% pre-op) and did not change in groups PCI (56% post-op vs 57% pre-op) and Non-op (58% post-op vs 57% pre-op). Conclusions: Urgent angiography allows identification of the various underlying causes of perioperative MI and urgent treatment when this is needed. Urgent PCI may be associated with improved clinical outcome in patients with early graft failure.

The Cambridge Intensive Weight Management Programme Appears to Promote Weight Loss and Reduce the Need for Bariatric Surgery in Obese Adults.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of the Cambridge Intensive Weight Management Programme (IWMP) on weight change, eligibility for bariatric surgery, HbA1c, and blood pressure. Design: Prospective non-randomized intervention. Setting: The IWMP is a multi-disciplinary weight loss intervention for severely obese patients to avoid or optimize their physiological state thus enabling bariatric surgery. It uses dietary interventions, pharmacotherapy, and physical activity along with behavior change counseling. Participants: Severely obese patients (Body Mass Index, BMI≥40 kg/m2). Interventions: IWMP is a prospective intervention conducted in a National Health Service Tier 3 obesity service. It includes 3 phases of 8 weeks each: weight loss, weight stabilization, and weight maintenance. In each phase, patients adhered to a prescribed dietary regime and attended regular clinic visits. Data included in this analysis are from those who enrolled in IWMP between 2009 and 2013. Primary and secondary measures: The primary outcome was weight change between baseline and completion of the programme. Secondary outcomes included changes in blood pressure, HbA1c and eligibility for bariatric surgery pre-assessment. Changes in outcomes were compared by age, sex, smoking status, and employment. Results: Of n = 222 eligible patients, complete data were available for n = 141 patients (63.5%). At baseline, the mean (SD) BMI was 49.7 (9.2) kg/m2 for women, and 47.9 (7.2) kg/m2 for men. Mean (SD) weight change for women was -18.64 (8.36) kg and -22.46 (10.98) kg for men. N = 97 (69%) of patients achieved ≥10% weight loss. Individuals aged ≤ 50 years lost significantly more weight than those aged >50 years [mean (SD) weight loss: 22.18 (10.9) kg vs. 18.32 (7.92) kg, p = 0.020]. Changes in weight were non-significant by smoking status or employment. Median (IQR) change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was -6 (-14.6) mmHg and 0 (-8.6) mmHg (non-significant), respectively. There was ~50% reduction in the need for bariatric surgery. Conclusions: For the majority of the patients, IWMP is promoting weight loss and allowing for avoidance of, or optimization before, bariatric surgery.

Modeling Learning in Surgical Practice.

OBJECTIVE: Methods that model surgical learning curves are frequently descriptive and lack the mathematical rigor required to extract robust, meaningful, and quantitative information. We aimed to formulate a method to model learning that is tailored to dealing with the high variability seen in surgical data and can readily extract important quantitative information such as learning rate, length of learning, and learnt level of performance. METHODS: We developed a method where progressively more complex models are fitted to learning data. These include novel models that split the learning data into 2 linear phases and fit adjoining lines using least squares regression. The models were compared and the least complex model was selected unless a more complex one was significantly better. Significance was tested by Fischer tests. We applied this method to total hip and knee replacements using imageless navigation, analyzing the operative time for a surgeon's first 50 and 60 operations, respectively. This method was then tested against 4 sets of simulated learning data. RESULTS: The proposed method of progressive model complexity successfully modeled the learning curve among real operative data. It was also effective in deducing the underlying trends in simulated scenarios, created to represent typical situations that can practically arise in any learning process. CONCLUSIONS: The novel modeling method can be used to extract meaningful and quantitative information from learning data displaying high variability seen in surgical practice. By using simple and intuitive models, the method is accessible to researchers and educators without the need for specialist statistical knowledge.

Physical Activity Types and Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Middle-Aged and Elderly Persons: The Rotterdam Study.

Physical activity is associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The specific physical activity types that provide beneficial effects in an older population remain unclear. We assessed the association of total physical activity, walking, cycling, domestic work, sports, and gardening with CHD by using Cox proportional hazard models among 5,901 participants aged >55 (median age, 67) years from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study, enrolled between 1997 and 2001. Activities were categorized into tertiles, and the lowest tertiles were used as reference. In the multivariable model, we adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, education, diet, and other physical activity types. During 15 years of follow-up (median, 10.3 (interquartile range, 8.0-11.8) years), 642 participants (10.9%) experienced a CHD event. In the multivariable model, the respective hazard ratios for the medium and high categories compared with the low category were 0.79 (95% confidence interval CI): 0.66, 0.96) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.87) for total physical activity, 0.76 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.92) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.88) for cycling, and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.98) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.56, 0.90) for domestic work. Walking, sports, and gardening were not associated with CHD. In conclusion, in this long-term follow-up study of older adults, domestic work and cycling were associated with reduced CHD risk. Physical activity should be promoted in this population with the aim to prevent CHD.

Levels of physical activity among a nationally representative sample of people in early old age: results of objective and self-reported assessments.

BACKGROUND: Detailed assessment of physical activity (PA) in older adults is required to comprehensively describe habitual PA-levels in this growing population segment. Current evidence of population PA-levels is predominantly based on self-report. METHODS: We examined PA and sedentary behaviour in a nationally representative sample of British people aged 60-64, using individually-calibrated combined heart-rate and movement sensing and a validated questionnaire (EPAQ2), and the socio-demographic and behavioural factors that may explain between-individual variation in PA. RESULTS: Between 2006-2010, 2224 participants completed EPAQ2 capturing the past year's activity in four domains (leisure, work, transportation and domestic life) and 1787 participants provided 2-5 days of combined-sensing data. According to objective estimates, median(IQR) physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) was 33.5 (25.3-42.2) and 35.5 (26.6- 47.3) kJ/kg/day for women and men, respectively. Median (IQR) time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; >3MET), light-intensity PA (1.5-3 MET) and sedentary (<1.5 MET) was 26.0 (12.3-48.1) min/day, 5.4 (4.2-6.7) h/day and 18.0 (16.6-19.4) h/day, respectively, in women; and 41.0 (18.8-73.0) min/day, 5.2 (4.0-6.5) h/day and 17.9 (16.3-19.4) h/day in men. PAEE and time spent in MVPA were lower and sedentary time was greater in obese individuals, those with poor health, and those with lower educational attainment (women only). Questionnaire-derived PAEE and MVPA tended to have similar patterns of variation across socio-demographic strata. In the whole sample, domestic PA had the greatest relative contribution to total questionnaire-derived PAEE (58%), whereas occupational PA was the main driver among employed participants (54%). Only 2.2% of participants achieved an average of >30 min MVPA per day combined with >60 min strength-training per week. CONCLUSIONS: The use of both self-report and objective monitoring to assess PA in early old age provides important information on the domains of PA, PAEE and time spent at different intensity levels. Our findings suggest PA levels are generally low and observed patterns of variation indicate specific subgroups who might benefit from targeted interventions to increase PA.

Validity of electronically administered Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire (RPAQ) in ten European countries.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire (RPAQ) which assesses physical activity (PA) in 4 domains (leisure, work, commuting, home) during past month. METHODS: 580 men and 1343 women from 10 European countries attended 2 visits at which PA energy expenditure (PAEE), time at moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary time were measured using individually-calibrated combined heart-rate and movement sensing. At the second visit, RPAQ was administered electronically. Validity was assessed using agreement analysis. RESULTS: RPAQ significantly underestimated PAEE in women [median(IQR): 34.9 (22.3, 52.8) vs. 40.6 (32.4, 50.9) kJ/kg/day, 95%LoA: -44.4, 66.1 kJ/kg/day) and overestimated PAEE in men [45.9 (30.6, 71.1) vs. 45.5 (34.1, 57.6) kJ/kg/day, 95%LoA: -44.8, 102.6 kJ/kg/day]. Using individualised definition of 1MET, RPAQ significantly underestimated MVPA in women [median(IQR): 63.7 (30.5, 126.9) vs. 73.6 (47.8, 107.2) min/day, 95%LoA: -127.4, 311.9 min/day] and overestimated MVPA in men [90.0 (42.3, 188.6) vs. 83.3 (55.1, 125.0) min/day, 95%LoA: -134.8, 427.3 min/day]. Correlations (95%CI) between subjective and objective estimates were statistically significant [PAEE: women, rho = 0.20 (0.15-0.26); men, rho = 0.37 (0.30-0.44); MVPA: women, rho = 0.18 (0.13-0.24); men, rho = 0.31 (0.24-0.38)]. When using non-individualised definition of 1MET (3.5 mlO2/kg/min), MVPA was substantially overestimated (16 min/day, and 32 min/day in women and men, respectively). Revisiting occupational intensity assumptions in questionnaire estimation algorithms with occupational group-level empirical distributions reduced median PAEE-bias in manual (38.8 kJ/kg/day vs. 6.8 kJ/kg/day, p<0.001) and heavy manual workers (63.6 vs. -2.8 kJ/kg/day, p<0.001) in an independent hold-out sample [corrected]. CONCLUSION: Relative validity of RPAQ-derived PAEE and MVPA is comparable to previous studies but underestimation of PAEE is smaller. Electronic RPAQ may be used in large-scale epidemiological studies including surveys, providing information on all domains of PA.

Comparison of the EPIC Physical Activity Questionnaire with combined heart rate and movement sensing in a nationally representative sample of older British adults.

OBJECTIVES: To compare physical activity (PA) subcomponents from EPIC Physical Activity Questionnaire (EPAQ2) and combined heart rate and movement sensing in older adults. METHODS: Participants aged 60-64y from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development in Great Britain completed EPAQ2, which assesses self-report PA in 4 domains (leisure time, occupation, transportation and domestic life) during the past year and wore a combined sensor for 5 consecutive days. Estimates of PA energy expenditure (PAEE), sedentary behaviour, light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were obtained from EPAQ2 and combined sensing and compared. Complete data were available in 1689 participants (52% women). RESULTS: EPAQ2 estimates of PAEE and MVPA were higher than objective estimates and sedentary time and LPA estimates were lower [bias (95% limits of agreement) in men and women were 32.3 (-61.5 to 122.6) and 29.0 (-39.2 to 94.6) kJ/kg/day for PAEE; -4.6 (-10.6 to 1.3) and -6.0 (-10.9 to -1.0) h/day for sedentary time; -171.8 (-454.5 to 110.8) and -60.4 (-367.5 to 246.6) min/day for LPA; 91.1 (-159.5 to 341.8) and 55.4 (-117.2 to 228.0) min/day for MVPA]. There were significant positive correlations between all self-reported and objectively assessed PA subcomponents (rho= 0.12 to 0.36); the strongest were observed for MVPA (rho = 0.30 men; rho = 0.36 women) and PAEE (rho = 0.26 men; rho = 0.25 women). CONCLUSION: EPAQ2 produces higher estimates of PAEE and MVPA and lower estimates of sedentary and LPA than objective assessment. However, both methodologies rank individuals similarly, suggesting that EPAQ2 may be used in etiological studies in this population.

Malnutrition in healthcare institutions: a review of the prevalence of under-nutrition in hospitals and care homes since 1994 in England.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: One in four hospital patients in the UK are estimated to be affected by 'hospital malnutrition' (under-nutrition). There is a need for robust epidemiological data relating to the frequency, distribution and determinants of this clinical problem of public health importance. This review aims to undertake a narrative synthesis of data on the descriptive epidemiology of under-nutrition, and to address some of the methodological limitations. METHODS: A methodical review of literature was undertaken, tracking the reported prevalence and incidence of under-nutrition in hospital, in the UK, since 1994. RESULTS: The 16 articles retrieved and reviewed demonstrate that nutrition in hospital is a long standing problem in UK hospitals and care homes. The existing literature is comprised mainly of cross-sectional surveys describing the prevalence of under-nutrition in hospital which ranges from 11 to 45%. There is considerable heterogeneity in the published literature on hospital malnutrition (under-nutrition) and very few studies either measure or have estimated incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Under-nutrition in hospital continues to be under-addressed, yet a major public health problem in the UK. Defining the descriptive epidemiology of this problem is one of the first steps towards understanding its aetiology or planning and evaluating appropriate prevention or treatment strategies.