Cardiovascular health metrics, muscle mass and function among Italian community-dwellers: the Lookup 7+ project (original) (raw)
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Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2004
Background and Aim: The number of people who are overweight, obese and~or lead a sedentary lifestyle is increasing, and numerous studies have shown that physical activity has beneficial cardiovascular effects. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and the anthropometric, cardiovascular and metabolic variables involved in coronary risk. The study population consisted ofi075 adult men aged 25-75 years, all of whom were workers in Olivetti factories. Physical activity was assessed by means of a questionnaire and the sample was divided into two groups: those practising sport and those who said they were sedentary. Results: Age-adjusted BMI was higher in the participants practising sport, whereas the values of all of the remaining variables O.e. abdominal circumference, skinfolds, heart rate, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin and HOMA) were lower; however, the only statistically significant differences were in heart rate and blood pressure. After the subjects were classified as being normal weight, overweight or obese on the basis of BMI, the active participants tended to have lower values for all of the parameters than their
Nutrients
The present study was undertaken to provide a better insight into the relationship between different levels of body mass index (BMI) and changing risk for hypertension, using an unselected sample of participants assessed during the Longevity Check-up 7+ (Lookup7+) project. Lookup7+ is an ongoing cross-sectional survey started in June 2015 and conducted in unconventional settings (i.e., exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns) across Italy. Candidate participants are eligible for enrolment if they are at least 18 years of age and provide written informed consent. Specific health metrics are assessed through a brief questionnaire and direct measurement of standing height, body weight, blood glucose, total blood cholesterol, and blood pressure. The present analyses were conducted in 7907 community-living adults. According to the BMI cutoffs recommended by the World Health Organization, overweight status was observed among 2896 (38%) participants; the obesity status was ident...
Scientific Reports
Cardiovascular health metrics (CHMs) may predict disability independent of vascular events. Though, the link between CHMs and physical performance is unclear. This relationship was explored using data from the Longevity checkup (Lookup) 7+ project. Lookup 7+ is an ongoing cross-sectional survey conducted in unconventional settings across Italy. People who are at least 18-year-old and provide written informed consent are eligible. CHMs [i.e., smoking status, healthy diet, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and diabetes status] are assessed through closed questions and objective measurements. Physical performance is measured via the 5-repetition chair-stand test. Analyses included 7446 participants (55.5 ± 14.9 years; 56% women). Physical performance positively correlated with CHMs scores, such that participants who scored higher (6-7 points) completed the chair-stand test about 2 s faster than those scoring lower (1-2 points). In fully adjusted analysis, better physical performance was more frequently observed in younger, non-smoking, physically active men, with ideal BMI, and no diabetes. Our findings indicate a gradient of better physical function with increasing CHMs scores. Future investigations should establish the longitudinal effect of unhealthy behaviours and cardiovascular risk factors on physical performance and verify whether implementation of large-scale primordial cardiovascular prevention may positively impact physical fitness.
2001
We investigated the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their relationships with the main cardiovascular risk factors in the population of Ventimiglia di Sicilia, a rural village in Southern Italy characterized by low cholesterol levels and by a low incidence of early coronary heart disease mortality. We related all deaths to body weight and fat distribution during an 8 y follow-up. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective observational study. SUBJECTS: A total of 835 free-living individuals, 363 males and 472 females, of age between 20 and 69 y. MEASUREMENTS: In all participants body weight, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), cardiovascular risk factors and plasma lipids were measured. During the follow-up, total and cardiovascular deaths were registered. RESULTS: We found a high overall prevalence of subjects with overweight or obesity (respectively 45.0% and 27.7%), with great differences among classes of age. As expected, body weight and fat distribution were associated with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and with a worsening of lipid pro®le. During the follow-up we registered 37 total and 11 cardiovascular deaths. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality risks were, respectively, 1.64 (95% CI 0.65 ± 4.15) and 2.71 (95% CI 0.29 ± 25.26) in subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 ± 29.99 kgam 2 and 2.45 (95% CI 1.03 ± 5.87) and 5.36 (95% CI 1.41 ± 62.01) in subjects with a BMI of ! 30 kgam 2 in comparison with participants with a BMI of`27 kgam 2 , and 3.48 (95% CI 1.46 ± 8.30) and 4.55 (95% CI 1.12 ± 18.40) in subjects with a WHR higher than the median in comparison with individuals with a WHR lower than the median. CONCLUSION: The Ventimiglia di Sicilia Study highlights the great importance of overweight and obesity as a public health issue in a rural population and indicates that it is necessary to consider the impact of body weight and fat distribution on both total and CHD mortality.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000
Objective: To evaluate the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in a sample of the Italian population. Methods: CHECK (Cholesterol and Health: Education, Control and Knowledge) is a cross-sectional observational study in a randomised sample of the Italian adult population aged 40-79 years, in the setting of general practice. Results: 5846 subjects (50.3% male) were included in the analysis. The mean age [±SD] of the observed cohort was 57.8 (±10.3) years. One out of five subjects smoked cigarettes and almost 80% didn't engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. The mean blood pressure was 132.0 [±14.7]/81.2 [±7.9] mmHg. The total and LDL-cholesterol levels were respectively 205.3 [±35.9] mg/dL and 124.9 [±29.9] mg/dL. The mean glucose concentration was 98.3 [±28.2] mg/dL. The prevalence rate of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and type 2 diabetes were respectively 51.8%, 55.6%, and 13.0%. 8.9% of the observed subjects had a history of cardiovascular events, while in the primary prevention group the 10-yearrisk of coronary heart disease (Framingham algorithm) was 10.1% [±8.3%] and of cardiovascular disease (CUORE algorithm) was 5.2% [±5.9%]. Conclusion: The CHECK study provides a detailed description of a randomised sample of the Italian population, contributing to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the main cardiovascular disease in Italy and to provide a baseline to set priorities and objectives for future intervention of health policy.
Open Journal of Epidemiology, 2012
Objective: To evaluate the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in a sample of the Italian population. Methods: CHECK (Cholesterol and Health: Education, Control and Knowledge) is a cross-sectional observational study in a randomised sample of the Italian adult population aged 40 -79 years, in the setting of general practice. Results: 5846 subjects (50.3% male) were included in the analysis. The mean age [±SD] of the observed cohort was 57.8 (±10.3) years. One out of five subjects smoked cigarettes and almost 80% didn't engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. The mean blood pressure was 132.0 [±14.7]/81.2 [±7.9] mmHg. The total and LDL-cholesterol levels were respectively 205.3 [±35.9] mg/dL and 124.9 [±29.9] mg/dL. The mean glucose concentration was 98.3 [±28.
Cardiovascular health of nonagenarians in southern Italy
Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, 2019
Background The Cilento region of southern Italy has a high prevalence of nonagenarians and centenarians. Few studies of the oldest old have included echocardiographic and/or electrocardiographic data, in a home-based setting. Objectives The objective of this pilot study was to delineate the key lifestyle, medical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic features of a sample of nonagenarians and centenarians and their younger cohabitants from Cilento, via a comprehensive, home-based cardiovascular assessment. The ultimate aim is to identify the cardiovascular profile and lifestyle factors associated with longevity.
Body fat distribution and cardiovascular risk in middle-aged people in Southern Italy
Atherosclerosis, 1986
Skinfold thickness, % body fat content, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, serum cholesterol and triglycerides have been measured in 132 middle-aged men (mean age 39.8 f 9.9, range 20-59 yr) and in 114 middle-aged women (mean age 39.1 k 9.3, range 20-59 yr). Anthropometric data were related to blood pressure and biochemical parameters by using a straight-line regression analysis. Body mass index, % body fat content, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness, consideral as indicative of splanchnic fat distribution, were positively correlated to blood pressure, plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides.
International journal of obesity (2005), 2014
To examine the independent and combined associations of obesity and muscle strength with mortality in adult men and women. Follow-up study with 33 years of mortality follow-up. A total of 3594 men and women aged 50-91 years at baseline with 3043 deaths during the follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) and handgrip strength were measured at baseline. Based on Cox models adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity and chronic conditions, baseline obesity (BMI ≥30 kg m(-2)) was associated with mortality among participants aged 50-69 years (hazard ratio (HR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.28). Among participants aged 70 years and older, overweight and obesity were protective (HR 0.77, 95% CI, 0.66-0.89 and HR 0.76, 95% CI, 0.62-0.92). High handgrip strength was inversely associated with mortality among participants aged 50-69 (HR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.80-1.00) and 70 years and older (HR 0.78, 95% CI, 0.66-0.93). Compared to normal-weight participants with h...
Evidence on the prevalence and geographic distribution of major cardiovascular risk factors in Italy
Public Health Nutrition, 2013
ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and geographic distribution of major cardiovascular risk factors in a large community-wide sample of the Italian population.DesignA cross-sectional survey. Standardized methods were used to collect and measure cardiovascular risk factors. Data were adjusted for survey weightings. Qualitative and quantitative variables were compared with parametric and non-parametric tests, as appropriate.SettingTowns (n 193) across different Italian regions.SubjectsUnselected adults (n 24 213; 12 626 men; 11 587 women) aged 18–98 years (mean age 56·9 (sd 15·3) years), who volunteered to participate in a community-wide screening programme over a 2 d period in 2007.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors was: obesity, 22·7 % (women 18·9 %, men 26·1 %); overweight, 44·7 % (women 31·6 %, men 56·7 %); hypertension, 59·6 % (women 48·3 %, men 70·0 %); dyslipidaemia, 59·1 % (women 57·7 %, men 60·3 %); diabetes, 15·3 % (women 11·2 %, men 19·0 %) a...