Association between waist-to-height ratio and anxiety in middle-aged women: a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter Latin American study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and anxiety in middle-aged women. METHODS: We carried out a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter study of women between 40 and 59 years old from 11 Latin America countries. Anxiety was assessed using the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale. WHtR was calculated according to World Health Organization standards and categorized in tertiles: upper, middle, and lower using 0.45 and 0.6 as cutoff values. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs were calculated by generalized linear models of Poisson family with robust standard errors, both crude and adjusted models based on statistical and epidemiological criteria. RESULTS: Data of a total of 5,580 women were analyzed. Mean age was 49.7 ±â€Š5.5 years, and 57.9% were postmenopausal. The 61.3% of women had anxiety and mean WHtR was 0.54 ±â€Š0.1. In the crude model, compared with women in lower tertile, those in the middle (PR: 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13) and upper (PR: 1.23 95% CI, 1.07-1.29) WHtR tertile were significantly more likely to have anxiety. In the adjusted models, only women in upper tertile were, however, more likely of displaying anxiety than those in lower tertile (PR: 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: In this series, WHtR was associated with anxiety in middle-aged women. It is advisable to further study this anthropometric measure in order for it to be incorporated in the routine clinical practice and evaluation of middle-aged women.

[Association between the risk of major depression and low physical activity in peruvian workers studying in universities]. / Asociación entre el riesgo de depresión mayor y el bajo nivel de actividad física en trabajadores peruanos que cursan estudios universitarios.

In order to assess if an association exists between the risk of major depression (RMD) and physical activity (PA), controlling for demographic and academic variables in workers enrolled in undergraduate studies at a private university in Lima, Peru, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 1,111 people. We used the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure RMD and PA, respectively. RMD prevalence was 4.2%. In the multiple regression model adjusted for age, gender, unemployment and hours of sleep, low levels of PA were associated with increased odds of RDM (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.16 to 4.00). We conclude that there is an association between RMD and PA in the study population, independent of demographic and academics factors. Strategies to improve screening and development of longitudinal studies to assess causality are suggested.

Asociación entre el riesgo de depresión mayor y el bajo nivel de actividad física en trabajadores peruanos que cursan estudios universitarios / Association between the risk of major depression and low physical activity in peruvian workers studying in universities

Con el objetivo de evaluar si existe asociación entre el riesgo de depresión mayor (RDM) y la actividad física (AF) controlado por variables sociodemográficas y académicas en trabajadores que cursan estudios de pregrado en una universidad privada de Lima, se desarrolló un estudio de corte transversal analítico en 1111 personas. Se utilizó el inventario de depresión mayor y el cuestionario internacional de actividad física, para medir RDM y AF, respectivamente. La prevalencia de RDM fue 4,2 %. En el modelo de regresión de múltiples variables - ajustado por edad, sexo, desempleo y horas de sueño- la AF baja se asocia con un incremento de la odds de RDM (OR 2,15; IC 95%:1,16û4,00). Se concluye que existe asociación entre la RDM y la AF en la población estudiada, la cual es independiente de factores sociodemográficos y académicos. Se sugieren mejorar estrategias de tamizaje y el desarrollo de estudios longitudinales para evaluar causalidad...

In order to assess if an association exists between the risk of major depression (RMD) and physical activity (PA), controlling for demographic and academic variables in workers enrolled in undergraduate studies at a private university in Lima, Peru, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 1,111 people. We used the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure RMD and PA, respectively. RMD prevalence was 4.2%. In the multiple regression model adjusted for age, gender, unemployment and hours of sleep, low levels of PA were associated with increased odds of RDM (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.16 to 4.00). We conclude that there is an association between RMD and PA in the study population, independent of demographic and academics factors. Strategies to improve screening and development of longitudinal studies to assess causality are suggested...