Associations between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with vascular health phenotypes in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: We investigated the associations between physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with vascular health phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 82 participants (66.8 ± 5.2 years; 81% females). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed using accelerometers, and CRF was measured using the distance covered in the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The vascular health markers were as follows: i) arterial function measured as aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) estimated using an automatic blood pressure device; and ii) arterial structure measured as the common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Using a combination of normal cIMT and aPWV values, four groups of vascular health phenotypes were created: normal aPWV and cIMT, abnormal aPWV only, abnormal cIMT only, and abnormal aPWV and cIMT. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the beta coefficients (ß) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) adjusting for BMI, and medication for diabetes, lipid, and hypertension, sex, age, and blood pressure. Results: Participants with abnormal aPWV and normal cIMT (ß = -53.76; 95% CI = -97.73--9.78 m; p = 0.017), and participants with both abnormal aPWV and cIMT (ß = -71.89; 95% CI = -125.46--18.31 m; p = 0.009) covered less distance in the 6MWT, although adjusting for age, sex and blood pressure decreased the strength of the association with only groups of abnormal aPWV and cIMT covering a lower 6MWT distance compared to participants with both normal aPWV and cIMT (ß = -55.68 95% CI = -111.95-0.59; p = 0.052). No associations were observed between MVPA and the vascular health phenotypes. Conslusion: In summary, poor CRF, but not MVPA, is associated with the unhealthiest vascular health phenotype (abnormal aPWV/cIMT) in older adults.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Performance in Multiple Domains of Executive Functions in School-Aged Adolescents.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and performance in multiple domains of executive functions in school-aged adolescents. A sample of 132 adolescents (43% girls) aged 11-16 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Each participant completed a progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance running (PACER) test, computerized cognitive tasks (Attentional Network, Berg's Card Sorting, Go/No-Go oddball, Sternberg's Working Memory, and Tower of London) and questionnaire for daytime sleepiness, as well as other factors that might influence cognitive performance (age, sex, school year, pubertal stage, and body mass index - BMI). Generalized linear model was used to calculate the coefficient estimates (ß) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for the cognitive tasks using PACER laps as a predictor, controlling for potential confounding variables. There was a negatively association of PACER laps with planning (ß = -17.1, 95% CI -31.9, -2.3) and solution (ß = -44.6, 95% CI -75.1, -14.2) time in performing the Tower of London task, as well as with perseverative errors in performing Berg's task (ß = -0.073, 95% CI -0.133, -0.013). Moderating effect of sex was found for the association of PACER laps with completed categories and perseverative errors in Berg's task (p < 0.05). Mediating effect of BMI was found for the association between PACER laps and NoGo task, revealing a full mediator accounted for 81% of the total effect mediated (standardized indirect effect, -0.069, 95% CI -0.140, -0.020; standardized direct effect, 0.011, 95% CI -0.149, 0.165). No association was found for Attentional or Sternberg's tasks. The findings suggest that school-aged adolescents with higher CRF level showed better planning and problem-solving abilities and cognitive flexibility. Additionally, the positive association of CRF with cognitive flexibility was sex-moderated and with inhibitory control was BMI-mediated.

Independent and combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength with metabolic syndrome in older adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and low muscle strength are independently associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older adults. This study investigated the isolated and combined associations of low CRF and muscle strength with MetS in older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 184 older adults (71% women; aged 65.6 ±â€¯4.3 years) without a prior history of cardiovascular disease. CRF and muscle strength were assessed by the six-minute walking test and 30-s chair stand test, respectively. Results below the 25th percentile of the cohort were used to define low CRF and low muscle strength. MetS was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. Poisson's regression with robust variance was used to determine the prevalence ratio (PR) for MetS. Reference group was composed by older adults with both CRF and muscle strength above 25th percentile. RESULTS: Prevalence of low CRF, low muscle strength, and combined low CRF and muscle strength was 22.8%, 17.9%, and 10.9%, respectively. The prevalence of MetS was 56.5% in the full cohort. Isolated low CRF (PR 1.05, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.52; p = 0.793) and muscle strength (PR 1.09, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.61; p = 0.651) were not associated with MetS in the adjusted analysis. Combined low CRF and muscle strength was associated with MetS (PR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.93; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with combined, but not isolated, low CRF and muscle strength showed an increased risk for MetS.

Efeito do tempo sentado prolongado sobre marcadores cardiometabólicos em adultos fisicamente ativos e inativos: um estudo piloto / Effect of prolonged sitting time on cardiometabolic markers in physically active and inactive adults: a pilot study

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do tempo sentado prolongado sobre marcadores cardio-metabólicos em adultos fisicamente ativos e inativos. Participaram do estudo 10 adultos fisicamente ativos (27,30 ± 4,90 anos de idade) e 11 fisicamente inativos (26,27 ± 3,17 anos de idade). Todos realizaram uma sessão de tempo sentado prolongado de 10 horas, com quatro refeições padroniza-das. Os níveis de glicose e pressão arterial foram mensurados no jejum, antes e 1 hora após cada refeição e também 2 horas após o almoço. Os níveis de triglicerídeos foram medidos no jejum, 2 e 3,5 horas após o almoço. O modelo linear generalizado foi utilizado para comparar a área sob a curva incremental (ASCi) dos níveis de glicose e triglicerídeos e a área sob a curva (ASC) dos níveis de pressão arterial entre os grupos, com ajuste pelos valores de linha de base. O grupo fisicamente ativo apresentou menor ASCi para os níveis de glicose no período de 10 horas (ß = -5,55 mg/dL/10h; IC95%: -9,75; -1,33; p = 0,010) e no período da manhã (ß = -7,05 mg/dL/5h; IC95%: -12,11; -1,99; p = 0,006) comparado ao grupo fisicamente inativo. Não houve diferença da ASCi dos triglicerídeos (p = 0,517) e na ASC da pressão arterial (p = 0,145) entre os grupos. Em conclusão, adultos fisicamente ativos apresentaram melhor controle glicêmico comparados àqueles fisicamente inativos durante a exposição a tempo sentado prolongado

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of prolonged sitting time on cardiometabolic markers in physically active and inactive adults.Ten physically active adults (27.30 ± 4.90 years old) and 11 physically inactive (26.27 ± 3.17 years old) participated in the study. All performed a 10-hour long sitting session, with a total of four standardized meals. Glucose and blood pressure levels were measured at fasting, before and 1 hour after each meal, and 2 hours after lunch. Triglycerides levels were measured on fasting at 2 and 3.5 hours after lunch. The generalized linear model was used to compare the area under the incremental curve (AUCi) of the glucose and triglycerides lev-els, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the blood pressure levels between the groups, adjusted for baseline values. The physically active group showed lower blood glucose AUCi of 10 hours (ß = -5.55 mg/dL/10h; 95%CI: -9.75; -1.33, p = 0.010), and morning (ß = -7.05 mg/dL/5h; 95%CI: -12.11; -1.99, p = 0.006) compared to the physically inactive group. There was no difference in triglycerides AUCi (p = 0.517) and blood pressure AUC (p = 0.145) between groups. In conclusion, physically active adults have better glycemic control than physically inactive adults during exposure to prolonged sitting time