Physical Activity, Obesity, and Hypertension among Adults in a Rapidly Urbanised City

Self-care behavior among adult patients with hypertension in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia: A cross-sectional study

Background

Self-care behavior is crucial in preventing chronic diseases, such as hypertension, which has become highly prevalent in Indonesia. Hypertension, often referred to as the "silent killer" due to its asymptomatic nature, can easily go unnoticed. Neglecting its treatment can lead to severe complications, including heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Despite adults with hypertension feeling well, embracing self-care behavior, including making healthy lifestyle choices, disease management, and enhancing life quality, remains essential.

Objective

This study aimed to describe the self-care behavior of adult patients with hypertension in Indonesia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 270 participants selected through consecutive sampling. Data were collected between 15 March and 4 April 2023, using the Hypertension Blood Pressure Self Care Profile (HBP-SCP) questionnaire in six public healthcare centers in Padang City, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results

The self-care behavior among adult patients with hypertension was at a moderate level (Mean = 49.78, SD = 6.64), and it had significant differences according to ethnicity (p = 0.041), marital status (p = 0.017), and body mass index (p = 0.008).

Conclusion

The findings highlight the influence of diverse ethnic backgrounds, various marital statuses, and differing body mass index levels, which may lead to distinct approaches to managing hypertension. These results offer valuable insights for nurses and other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive strategies to enhance self-care among adult patients with hypertension.

Physical activity level and sedentary time determinants among Moroccan hypertensive patients

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is closely associated with an inactive lifestyle. Physical activity and/or exercise have been shown to delay the development of hypertension. This study aimed to assess the level of physical activity and sedentary time, and its determinants among Moroccan Hypertensive patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and July 2019 including 680 hypertensive patients. We administered international physical activity questionnaire in face-to-face interview to assess the level of physical activity and sedentary time.

RESULTS

The results showed that only 43.4% of participants met recommended physical activity levels (≥ 600 MET min/week). Adherence to physical activity recommendations was observed more in male participants (p = 0.035), in participants aged less than 40 years (p = 0.040) and those aged between 41 and 50 years (p = 0.047). The average sedentary time was 37.19 ± 18.92 hours per week. This time was significantly longer in people aged 51 and over, in married, divorced, and widowed people, and in those with low levels of physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of physical inactivity and the sedentary time was high. In addition, participants with a high-level sedentary lifestyle had a low level of physical activity. Educational actions should be undertaken among this group of participants to prevent the risks associated with inactivity and sedentary behavior.

Physiological response of endurance exercise as a growth hormone mediator in adolescent women's

OBJECTIVES

Overweight status decreases the growth hormone (GH) secretion, thus, increasing the risk factors for medical complications. However, proper exercise is reported to enhance GH and affect the energy balance. Therefore, exercise is proclaimed to be an accurate and engaging therapy to increase GH in preventing overweight. This study aims to investigate the physiological response of exercise in mediating the increase of GH secretion in female adolescents.

METHODS

22 overweight women aged 19-20 years old, with maximal oxygen consumption of 27-35 mL/kg/min, were selected as sample size. They were divided into three groups, namely (CONT, n=7) Control, (MIEE, n=7) Moderate-intensity interval endurance exercise, and (MCEE, n=8) Moderate-intensity continuous endurance exercise. The exercise was carried out by running for 30-35 min using treadmills with an intensity of 60-70% HR_max. The blood sampling for GH examination was carried out four times before exercise, 10 min, 6 h, and 24 h after exercise. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the GH and IGF-1 levels. The data analysis was carried out using a one-way ANOVA test, with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

The results of the one-Way ANOVA test suggested a significantly different average GH and IGF-1 before and after the exercise between the three groups (CON, MIEE, and MCEE) (p≤0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MCEE increases the GH and IGF-1 levels more considerably than MIEE. Therefore, exercise is a mediator to increase GH and IGF-1 secretion in overweight individuals. Exercise could be a viable therapy for overweight people.

Factors Associated with Self-Report of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults Seeking Dental Care in a Developing Country

The aims of the present study were to identify the prevalence and risk indicators of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in urban-based Mexican adults seeking care in a university-based triage/intake dental clinic, and to develop a predictive model. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3354 medical/dental records of adults who sought care at the triage/intake dental clinics of a public university. The dependent variable was self-report of a previous diagnosis of T2DM made by a physician. Several socio-demographic and socioeconomic covariates were included, as well as others related to oral and general health. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was generated. We subsequently calculated well-known statistical measures employed to evaluate discrimination (classification) using an (adjusted) multivariate logistic regression model (goodness-of-fit test). The average age of patients was 42.5 ± 16.1 years old and the majority were female (64.1%). The prevalence of T2DM was 10.7% (95%CI = 9.7−11.8). In the final multivariate model, the variables associated (p < 0.05) with the presence of T2DM were older age (40 to 59 years old, OR = 2.00; 60 to 95 years old, OR = 2.78), having any type of health insurance (OR = 2.33), having high blood pressure (OR = 1.70), being obese (OR = 1.41), and having a functional dentition (OR = 0.68). Although the global fit of the model and the calibration tests were adequate, the sensitivity (0.0%) and positive predictive (0.0%) values were not. The specificity (100%) and negative predictive (89.3%) values, as well as the correctly classified (89.3%) value, were adequate. The area under the ROC curve, close to 0.70, was modest. In conclusion, a prevalence of T2DM of 10.7% in this sample of Mexican adults seeking dental care was similar to national figures. Clinical (blood pressure, BMI and functional dentition), demographic (age), and socioeconomic (health insurance) variables were found to be associated with T2DM. The dental setting could be appropriate for implementing preventive actions focused on identifying and helping to reduce the burden of T2DM in the population.