Search

Optimizing 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity (PA), sleep and sedentary time (ST)) is crucial for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the association of 24-hour movement behaviors with NCD risk remains largely obscured in low-middle-income countries. The present study aimed to explore the association between 24-hour movement behaviors and the occurrence of NCDs. An online survey was administered among 310 community-dwelling adults (age 18–65 years) of coastal Karnataka, enquiring sociodemographic profiles, 24-hour movement behaviors and presence of NCD. While spending 33% of daily time in sleep, the respondents spent 30% in light-intensity PA (LIPA), 19% in sedentary and 18% in moderate–vigorous PA (MVPA). Multivariate regression revealed that higher sleep time was significantly associated with higher odds of NCDs (estimate, β = 0.20, odds ratio = 0.82, p < 0.05). However, no significant associations were found for other 24-hour movement behaviors with NCD risk [ST (β = 0.12, p = 0.122), LIPA (β = −0.01, p = 0.184) and MVPA (β = −0.01, p = 0.357)]. Subgroup analyses showed that age and body mass were positively associated with NCDs, while lower socio-economic status was associated with lower sitting time (β = −3.84, p = 0.009) and lower LIPA (−318.49, p = 0.018). Higher age, body mass index and long sleep hours were associated with higher risk of NCDs. These findings may necessitate the inclusion of optimal sleep hours and body mass in health promotion guidelines to prevent chronic diseases among the regional population of coastal Karnataka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Regular physical activity is widely acknowledged for health benefits however the uptake of PA is low due to lack of awareness. Objectives. The objectives of the present scoping review are: 1) to consolidate the evidence claiming the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on the chronic disease risk; 2) to explore the difference in clinical benefits and strategies to promote physical activity across various age groups. Methods. We searched for systematic reviews and meta-analytical studies on five databases (EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and Ovid Medline) and pertinent literature on mapping the association between physical activity and chronic disease risk was summarized. Results. From 41 systematic reviews included for review, physical activity interventions were found to be effective in combating chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer, cardiometabolic, kidney disease, neurovascular and musculoskeletal disorders. Putative physiological underpinnings for the potential therapeutic effects of physical activity are regulation of hormones, vascular integrity, neuromotor and immune regulation. Majority of the reviews (n = 12, 29%) explored the effects of supervised exercise training and cardiometabolic risk, however long-term compliance questioned. Strategies to promote physical activity should be based on socio-ecological models (individual, interpersonal, institutional and national policy level). School and workplace based physical activity may be crucial in prevention of chronic disease risk. Conclusions. Promoting physical activity is a key preventive measure and therapeutic intervention for combating chronic disease risk across different age groups and populations. However, potential culturally adaptable strategies to promote physical activity in the community are still lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-communicable diseases are rising rapidly in low- and middle-income countries, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Reducing sedentary behavior (SB) and increasing physical activity (PA) offer numerous health benefits. Workplaces provide an ideal setting for promoting SB/PA interventions; however, understanding the barriers and enablers is crucial for optimizing these interventions in workplace environments. Methods: Nested within a cluster randomised controlled trial (the SMART-STEP trial), the present study employed in-depth interviews with 16 office workers who have completed 24 weeks of two distinct (technology assisted and traditional) workplace SB/PA interventions. Using a deductive analysis, semi-structured interviews were administered to explore the barriers and enablers to the SB/PA interventions at individual, interpersonal and organisational level using the socio-ecological model. Results: Several individual (poor goal setting, perceived health benefits & workload, attitude, intervention engagement), interpersonal (lack of peer support) and organisational (task prioritisation, lack of organisational norm and material or social reward) barriers were identified. Indian women engaged in desk-based office jobs often find themselves burdened with intense home and childcare responsibilities, often without sufficient support from their spouses. A primary concern among Indian office workers is the poor awareness and absence of cultural norms regarding the health risks associated with SB. Conclusions: Raising awareness among workplace stakeholders—including office workers, peers, and the organization—is crucial before designing and implementing SB/PA interventions in Indian workspaces. Personalized interventions for Indian female office workers engaged in desk-bound work are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Smartphone is an impending solution to influence long-term behavior change, including physical activity; however, the evidence regarding personalized prescription remains mixed in obese. We aimed to explore the influence of smartphone-based physical activity promotion on weight loss and cognitive functions in obese young adults. Methods: In our pilot randomised controlled trial, 24 obese adults were randomized to two conditions: (1) EXI group receiving a smartphone-application based personalized physical activity prescription; (2) CONT group continuing their routine work for eight weeks. Executive functions and cardiometabolic risk variables [body and fat mass, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP)] and executive functions were measured before and after eight weeks. Results: Our study findings revealed a significant improvement in reaction times with overall (H = 7.71, p = 0.005), congruent stimuli (H = 4.43, p = 0.03) and incongruent stimuli (H = 5.35, p = 0.02) between groups. Though EXI participants reduced their fat mass by 5.07 kg more than CONT group users after eight weeks, the findings were statistically insignificant. Similarly, our study did not find significant differences in body mass, WC, BP or accuracy between EXI and CONT groups. There was a decreased user engagement (H = 5.80, p = 0.564) after the 3rd week of the study period. Conclusion: Short-term smartphone-based physical activity programs may offer favourable cognitive benefits to young adults; however, the weight loss benefits remain unconvincing. Trial Registration: The study was registered prospectively with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2022/02/040202). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wearables are intriguing way to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in populations with and without chronic diseases. However, the contemporary evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of wearables on physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be explored. Aim: The present review aims to provide the readers with a broader knowledge of the impact of wearables on physical health during the pandemic. Methods: Five electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Embase) were searched. The eligibility criteria of the studies to be included were based on PICOT criteria: population (adults, children and elderly), intervention (wearable, smartphones), comparison (any behavioral intervention), outcome (physical activity or sedentary behavior levels) and time frame (between December 1st, 2019 and November 19th, 2021). The present scoping review was framed as per the guidelines of the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Results: Of 469 citations initially screened, 17 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion and potential scoping was done. Smartphone-based applications with inbuilt accelerometers were commonly used, while a few studies employed smart bands, smartwatches for physical health monitoring. Most of the studies observed the increased use of wearables in healthy adults followed by elderly, children and pregnant women. Considerable reduction (almost—50%) in physical activity during the pandemic: daily step count (− 2812 steps/min), standing (− 32.7%) and walking (− 52.2%) time was found. Conclusion: Wearables appears to be impending means of improving physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Children are expected to adhere to the recommended physical activity (PA) dose of 60 minutes per day and minimize sedentary behaviors (SB) to stray away from the cardio‐metabolic disease risk. However, there is a lack of review of current evidence pointing to the negative physical health effects of the Covid‐19 lockdown, with its barriers and facilitators for effective PA implementation in children aged 3 to 13. METHODS: Two independent authors conducted an extensive search on five peer‐reviewed journal databases for the studies examining changes in PA or SB in children and the potential barriers during Covid‐19 lockdown. RESULTS: Of 1039 studies initially screened, only 14 studies were included. Ninety‐three percent of the studies were cross‐sectional surveys. A 34% reduction in PA was noted while SB, including screen time, increased by 82%. Our review identified potential barriers to the effective implementation of PA behaviors in children at four levels: individual, family, school, and government policies. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate reduction in PA and high SB in children during lockdown was linked with obstacles at the individual, family, school, and political levels. Stakeholders should consider the above barriers when designing and implementing interventions to address low PA and SB practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged (excessive) sitting is detrimentally associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health. Moreover, prolonged sitting has been associated with poor executive function, memory, attention and visuospatial skills, which are important cognitive aspects of work performance. Breaking up prolonged sitting with standing or light-intensity exercises at the workplace is recognized as a potential measure in improving cognition. However, preliminary evidence, primarily from acute laboratory experiments, has enabled formulating hypothesis on the possible mechanistic pathways. Hence, the aim of this mapping review is to gather preliminary evidence and substantiate possible physiological mechanisms underpinning the putative effects of breaking prolonged sitting on improving cognitive function among sedentary office workers.Mapping Method: We searched four databases to identify relevant studies that explored the effects of uninterrupted sitting on cognitive function. First, we introduce how prolonged sitting increases the risks of hyperglycemia, autonomic stability, inflammation, adverse hormonal changes and restrictions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and alters cognitive function. Second, we elucidate the direct and indirect effects of breaking up prolonged sitting time that may prevent a decline in cognitive performance by influencing glycaemic variability, autonomic stability, hormones (brain derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, serotonin), vascular functions, and CBF. We highlight the importance of breaking up prolonged sitting on metabolic, vascular and endocrine functions, which in turn may improve cognitive functions and eventually foster work productivity. Improved synaptic transmission or neuroplasticity due to increased brain glucose and mitochondrial metabolism, increased endothelial shear and CBF, increased brain neurotrophic factors (dopamine) and accelerated anti-inflammatory functions are some of the hypothetical mechanisms underpinning improved cognitive functions.Conclusion: We postulate that improving cognitive function by breaking up prolonged sitting periods is biologically plausible with the myriad of (suggested) physiological mechanisms. Future experimental studies to ascertain the aforementioned hypothetical mechanisms and clinical trials to break sedentary behavior and improve cognitive functions in sedentary office workers are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Six-min walk test (6MWT), a simple functional capacity evaluation tool used globally to determine the prognosis and effectiveness of any therapeutic/medical intervention. However, variability in reference equations derived from western population (due to racial and ethnicity variations) hinders from adequate use of 6MWT clinically. Further, there are no valid Indian studies that predict reference values for 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in healthy Indian normal. Objective: We aimed for framing individualized reference equations for 6MWT in healthy Indian population. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric variables (age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI)) and 6-min walk in a 30 m corridor were evaluated in 125 subjects (67 females) in a cross-sectional trial. Results: 6MWD significantly correlated with age (r = -0.29), height (r = 0.393), weight (r = 0.08), and BMI (r = -0.17). The gender specific reference equations for healthy Indian individuals were: (1) Males: 561.022 - (2.507 × age [years]) + (1.505 × weight [kg]) - (0.055 × height [cm]). R2 = 0.288. (2) Indian females: 30.325 - (0.809 × age [years]) - (2.074 × weight [kg]) + (4.235 × height [cm]). R2 = 0.272. Though the equations possess a small coefficient of determination and larger standard error estimate, the former applicability to Indian population is justified. Conclusion: These reference equations are probably most appropriate for evaluating the walked capacity of Indian patients with chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic limb movements unlike restless leg syndrome is under diagnosed and unrecognized in medical arena. While robust Western trials have elucidated the association between periodic limb movements and sleep disturbances, it is not well received and recognized in India even in well sophisticated tertiary care hospital. We report a chronic insomnia patient who had sleep disturbances for past 30 years due to periodic limb movements alone. This was diagnosed through polysomnography. This case emphasizes monitoring leg movements during sleep study. This report may open new horizons in improving monitoring in sleep study in clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of attending lectures in sitting and standing postures on executive function of young adults. In this randomized, counterbalanced, crossover trial on 15 adults (19.2 ± 2.4 years), selective attention and executive control (response inhibition) were measured through reaction times and event related potentials (ERPs using electroencephalography [EEG]) associated with congruent and incongruent stimuli presented during a modified Eriksen flanker task. The reaction times and latencies of ERPs for the modified Eriksen flanker task among the interventions (sitting/standing), conditions (congruent/incongruent) and EEG electrodes were analyzed using analyses of variance. Attending a lecture in a standing posture was found to improve executive function (response inhibition) measured with reaction times (for incongruent stimuli) and ERPs (P3 [cognitive potential] amplitude at Pz and Cz electrodes; irrespective of congruent/incongruent stimuli) compared to that of the sitting posture. Standing might improve executive function compared to sitting among young adults in a simulated lecture environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge, attitude and practices of employees and employers toward reducing sedentary behavior (SB) and improving physical activity (PA) at Indian workplaces remain unclear. A bespoke questionnaire assessing barriers and facilitators of occupational SB and PA practices as informed by the theoretical framework and behavioral change wheel model was adapted. Two hundred and three white-collar workers (both employees and managers) from eight corporate sectors were inquired about the SB, and PA practices at workplaces. The dichotomous variables of barriers and facilitators were analyzed by nonparametric tests. Excessive sitters had good knowledge (>75%), good attitude (>85%) but poor workplace SB and PA practice (>90%). Workplace SB, or PA practices differed between employers and employees. Low practice of workplace PA or SB interventions may be due to lack of workplace policies for SB interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND : Postcardiac valve replacement patients face difficulty in their day-to-day functional activities, especially during climbing stairs and walking uphill or on a ramp in society. Assessing the uphill walking capacity, there is a dearth of functional stress test over routinely used six-min walk test (6MWT). Therefore, a new three-min steep ramp walk test (3MRWT) was constructed to meet the demands similar to an uphill walk and may provide more functional stress than routinely used 6MWT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational crossover study was conducted with 30 stable postoperative either mitral or aortic or double valve replacement patients, who were as inpatients in the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Multispecialty Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore, India. The participants were assigned to walk 3MRWT and 6MWT simultaneously on the 5th postoperative day. RESULTS: The results revealed that the mean distance covered in 6MRWT was 273.4 ± 45.06 m, and in 3MWT, it was 149.7 ± 37.8 m. A highly positive correlation was observed between 3MRWT and 6MWT distance covered by the patients with valve replacement (r = 0.834). CONCLUSION: The study shows that 3MRWT is valid over routinely available 6MWT and may provide higher functional stress in a shorter duration than later in valvular replacement patients in assessing the maximal functional capacity during discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Current practices of mobilization, analgesia, relaxants and sedation in Indian ICUs: A survey conducted by the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine" by R. Chawla and colleagues that was published in the previous issue.

The present study aimed to explore the short term effects of a social media‐based intervention on the physical and mental health of the software professionals working remotely during the pandemic. Sixty software professionals with poor physical and mental health were randomised to Facebook‐based intervention (FIIT) and a control (CONT) group for 2 months. Forty‐six remote workers (26.25 ± 3.49 years) completed the study (FIIT = 22; CONT = 26). All the respondents had the median sitting time (7.07 ± 2.30 h/day) during office hours on workdays. We found a significant difference in the sitting time during office hours in workday within the subjects (F1,46 = 4.66; p <.004; ηp2 =.048) and between the subjects (F1,46 = 3.81; p <.004; ηp2 =.040). Post hoc analysis revealed participants in the FIIT group reduced their sitting time by 58 min during office hours during a typical workday compared with the control group. Nevertheless, we found a significant difference in the scores of stress, anxiety and depression within and between the groups. Short‐term social media‐based physical and mental health intervention may improve physical and mental health scores in the desk‐based office workers working remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]