Persistent leisure-time physical activity in adulthood and use of antidepressants: A follow-up study among twins

Cardiorespiratory fitness and incident use of anxiolytics and antidepressants in adults. A linkage study between HUNT and the Norwegian Prescription Database

BACKGROUND

We investigated the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and incident use of antidepressants or anxiolytics in the general adult population.

METHODS

A non-exercise prediction model was used to estimate CRF in 32,603 participants in the third wave of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3; 2006-08). Data on first purchase of antidepressants and anxiolytics were obtained from the Norwegian Prescription Database. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

Each 1- metabolic equivalent of task (MET) increase in CRF was associated with 4 % reduced risk of purchasing antidepressant or anxiolytic medication during follow-up (HR 0.96, 95 % Confidence interval [CI] 0.94-0.98). Compared to the low CRF tertile, participants in intermediate (HR 0.93, 95 % CI 0.87-0.98) and high (HR 0.92, 95 % CI 0.86-0.98) CRF tertiles had reduced risk of medication purchase. Men in intermediate and high CRF tertile had lower risk of medication purchase (intermediate HR 0.87, 95 % CI 0.79-0.96; high HR 0.87, 95 % CI 0.78-0.96). Intermediate and high CRF tertiles were associated with reduced risk of medication use for younger adults (20 to <30 years old; intermediate HR 0.74, 95 % CI 0.61-0.91, high HR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.64-0.95) and middle-aged adults (30 to <65 years old; intermediate HR 0.90, 95 % CI 0.83-0.97, high HR 0.90, 95 % CI 0.84-0.98), but not in older adults (≥65 years old).

LIMITATIONS

Only information about medication purchase and not actual use was available.

CONCLUSION

Increased CRF is associated with reduced risk of anxiolytics and antidepressants purchase, with stronger effects for men and younger adults.

Physical activity across life stages and sleep quality in adulthood - an epidemiological study

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between the continuous physical activity (PA) at different life stages with sleep quality in adults.

METHODS

This is an observational study with a cross-sectional design. A sample of 843 adults (61.7% female) with a mean age of 56.6 (±18.3) years was randomly selected. The PA at different life stages was assessed retrospectively in childhood and adolescence, and the current PA was assessed by Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using the Mini-Sleep Questionnaire. Variables of sex, age group, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and current physical activity were covariates. The association between continuous PA at different life stages with sleep quality was analyzed by binary logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Overweight adults who practiced PA in adolescence were 46% less likely to have poor sleep quality when compared to those who did not practice physical activity in this life stage (Odds ratio = 0.54, p = 0.031). Adults who continued to practice PA at youth and adulthood were 49% less likely to have poor sleep quality when compared to those without continuous PA (Odds ratio = 0.51, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor sleep quality was negatively associated with continuous PA between youth and adulthood in overall sample and negatively associated with PA in adolescence among overweight adults.

The Older Finnish Twin Cohort - 45 Years of Follow-up

The older Finnish Twin Cohort (FTC) was established in 1974. The baseline survey was in 1975, with two follow-up health surveys in 1981 and 1990. The fourth wave of assessments was done in three parts, with a questionnaire study of twins born during 1945-1957 in 2011-2012, while older twins were interviewed and screened for dementia in two time periods, between 1999 and 2007 for twins born before 1938 and between 2013 and 2017 for twins born in 1938-1944. The content of these wave 4 assessments is described and some initial results are described. In addition, we have invited twin-pairs, based on response to the cohortwide surveys, to participate in detailed in-person studies; these are described briefly together with key results. We also review other projects based on the older FTC and provide information on the biobanking of biosamples and related phenotypes.

Leisure time physical activity and incident use of prescription tranquilizers: A longitudinal population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem associated with an increased risk of several psychiatric and physical conditions. This study investigated the association between leisure time physical activity (PA) and incident use of prescription tranquilizers in a regionally representative and prospective cohort.

METHODS

A total of 4043 men and women (mean age: 61.3 years; 57% women) from the Tromsø Study were followed for six years. Leisure time PA was captured at baseline. Psychiatric morbidity was measured by use of prescription tranquilizers, captured at both baseline and follow-up. Leisure time PA at baseline was used as a predictor of subsequent (incident) use of prescription tranquilizers. We used multinomial regression models and Poisson regression models to estimate relative risk-ratios (RRRs), and relative risks (RRs), respectively, and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In the fully-adjusted model, accounting for socio-demographic factors, parental history of psychopathology, years of education, smoking, respondent's psychopathology at baseline, and occupational PA, a lower leisure time PA conferred a 41% increased risk of incident use of prescription tranquilizers at follow-up (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.83; p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that physical inactivity increases the risk of psychiatric morbidity (albeit, measured via use of prescription tranquilizers). Future regionally representative and longitudinal research is required to confirm/refute our findings and explore underlying mechanisms.

Long-term leisure-time physical activity and other health habits as predictors of objectively monitored late-life physical activity - A 40-year twin study

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in old age is an important indicator of good health and functional capacity enabling independent living. In our prospective twin cohort study with 616 individuals we investigated whether long-term physical activity assessed three times, in 1975, 1982 and 1990 (mean age 48 years in 1990), and other self-reported health habits predict objectively measured MVPA measured with a hip-worn triaxial accelerometer (at least 10 hours per day for at least 4 days) 25 years later (mean age of 73 years). Low leisure-time physical activity at younger age, higher relative weight, smoking, low socioeconomic status, and health problems predicted low MVPA in old age in individual-based analyses (altogether explaining 20.3% of the variation in MVPA). However, quantitative trait modeling indicated that shared genetic factors explained 82% of the correlation between baseline and follow-up physical activity. Pairwise analyses within monozygotic twin pairs showed that only baseline smoking was a statistically significant predictor of later-life MVPA. The results imply that younger-age physical activity is associated with later-life MVPA, but shared genetic factors underlies this association. Of the other predictors mid-life smoking predicted less physical activity at older age independent of genetic factors.

Objectively Measured Baseline Physical Activity Patterns in Women in the mPED Trial: Cluster Analysis

BACKGROUND

Determining patterns of physical activity throughout the day could assist in developing more personalized interventions or physical activity guidelines in general and, in particular, for women who are less likely to be physically active than men.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this report are to identify clusters of women based on accelerometer-measured baseline raw metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values and a normalized version of the METs ≥3 data, and to compare sociodemographic and cardiometabolic risks among these identified clusters.

METHODS

A total of 215 women who were enrolled in the Mobile Phone Based Physical Activity Education (mPED) trial and wore an accelerometer for at least 8 hours per day for the 7 days prior to the randomization visit were analyzed. The k-means clustering method and the Lloyd algorithm were used on the data. We used the elbow method to choose the number of clusters, looking at the percentage of variance explained as a function of the number of clusters.

RESULTS

The results of the k-means cluster analyses of raw METs revealed three different clusters. The unengaged group (n=102) had the highest depressive symptoms score compared with the afternoon engaged (n=65) and morning engaged (n=48) groups (overall P<.001). Based on a normalized version of the METs ≥3 data, the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) evening peak group (n=108) had a higher body mass index (P=.03), waist circumference (P=.02), and hip circumference (P=.03) than the MVPA noon peak group (n=61).

CONCLUSIONS

Categorizing physically inactive individuals into more specific activity patterns could aid in creating timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of physical activity interventions for women. Further research is needed to confirm these cluster groups using a large national dataset.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01280812; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01280812 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6vVyLzwft).

Relationships Between Youth Sports Participation and Mental Health in Young Adulthood Among Finnish Males

Purpose:

To examine whether retrospectively assessed sports participation (SP) and competitive sports (CS) at the age of 12 years is associated with mental health and health behavior in young adulthood among males.

Design:

A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires.

Setting:

Conducted prior to compulsory military refresher training course in Finland allowing geographically representative sample of Finnish young men.

Participants:

Six hundred eighty males aged between 20 and 35 years.

Measures:

Mental well-being was measured with the short version of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and mental distress with 5 items of The Short Form Helalth Survey (SF-36) scale.

Analysis:

Binary logistic regression models.

Results:

Sports participation at the age of 12 was associated with better mental health in young adulthood, with both mental well-being (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86, 95% confidence interval 1.11-3.11) and mental distress (OR = 0.61, 0.41-0.90). Age, years of education, and current physical activity were controlled. Higher level of intensity of SP and the level of CS in childhood were associated with lower level of mental distress in adulthood. No association was found between the level of CS in childhood and mental well-being in adulthood. Further, youth SP seemed to be a risk factor for increased alcohol consumption and use of snuff in adulthood.

Conclusions:

Despite negative outcomes related to health behavior, the findings provide support for the association between youth SP and positive mental health outcomes in adulthood among males.

Active Interest Mentorship for Soon-to-Retire People: A Self-Sustaining Retirement Preparation Program

Retirement is a major life transition that often leads to maladjustments and mental health hazards. In this study, we developed an innovative retirement preparation program, the Active Interest Mentorship Scheme (AIMS), which utilized active interest development as a positive entry point through which to engage soon-to-retire people. Each retiree received a 1-year mentorship 6 months before retirement. Adopting a quasi-experimental design, the study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the AIMS in protecting retirees' well-being. The well-being status of 161 retirees was assessed at 4-month intervals. Measures included self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive affect, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Serial trend analysis revealed a general improvement in well-being at 4 months after mentorship, followed by a mark reversion in some variables at 2 months after retirement. Upon completion of the program, participants generally returned to a level of well-being that was comparable with or better than preretirement levels. The first 2 months after retirement appeared to be the most distressing. The findings support the efficacy, as well as feasibility of the innovative retirement preparation program.