Miguel Ángel González Valeiro

The association between physical activity and chronic diseases in European adults

Abstract Chronic diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality and are considered to be at epidemic levels worldwide. This is a cross-sectional multi-country study based on data from the European Social Survey round 7, 2014, comprising 30,826 participants (14,813 men) with mean age 50.4 ± 18.0. Physical activity and chronic diseases were self-reported. Men and women who practiced physical activity more often had lower odds of having heart problems, breathing problems, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Engaged in physical activity 2–4 times/week and ≥5 times/week decrease the odds of having heart problems, high blood pressure, breathing problems, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, compared with men and women who engaged in physical activity 1 or less times per week. For the women, the practice of physical activity ≥5 times/week was significantly and negatively associated with having cancer, when compared with women who engaged in physical activity 1 or less times per week. Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases, in particular: heart problems, high blood pressure, breathing problems, allergies, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, even small amounts of weekly physical activity seem to decrease the risk of chronic diseases.

Regular physical activity eliminates the harmful association of television watching with multimorbidity. A cross-sectional study from the European Social Survey

The aims of the study were to analyse the association of television viewing, physical activity (PA), and multimorbidity; and to understand if PA attenuates or eliminates the detrimental associations between television viewing and multimorbidity. This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the European Social Survey round 7, 2014. Participants were 32,931 adults (15,784 men), aged 18-114 years old, from 18 European countries. Self-reported information regarding chronic diseases (CD), PA and time watching television were collected through interview. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyse the association between watching television and PA with the presence of multimorbidity (≥1 CD). Men and women who watched television had increased odds of having multimorbidity. When considering PA it was observed that, independently of television viewing, compared to engaging in PA for ≤1 day/week, engaging in 2-4 days/week and in ≥5 days/week was inversely associated with multimorbidity. Increased odds of multimorbidity were observed for men spending >3 h/day watching television in the 2-3 days/week and ≤1 day/week categories of PA. For women engaged in 30 min of physical activity 2-3 days/week, spending >3 h/day watching television was associated with higher odds for multimorbidity. For adults who practiced physical activity on ≥ 5 days/week watching television was not associated with multimorbidity. Time spent watching television is associated with multimorbidity. However, physical activity participation can attenuate or even eliminate this association.

Physical activity buffers the negative relationship between multimorbidity, self-rated health and life satisfaction

Background This study aimed to examine the relationship between multimorbidity, self-rated health and life satisfaction, and to test the moderating effect of physical activity on the relationship between multimorbidity, self-rated health and life satisfaction. Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the European Social Survey 2014. Participants were 25 713 adults (12 830 men), aged 18-64 years old, from 18 European countries and Israel. Self-reported information regarding chronic diseases, health perception, life satisfaction and physical activity was collected through interview. Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of ≥ 2 chronic diseases. Linear regression models were used to estimate the effects of multimorbidity, physical activity and the interaction effect of multimorbidity × physical activity on self-rated health and life satisfaction. Results Multimorbidity was negatively related to self-rated health (d = 0.03) and life satisfaction (d = 0.03). Physical activity was positively related to self-rated health and life satisfaction. There was a significant interaction effect between multimorbidity and physical activity with regard to self-rated health (β = 0.01, P < 0.001) and life satisfaction (β = 0.04, P < 0.001). Conclusions Physical activity buffered the negative relationship between multimorbidity, self-rated health and life satisfaction; contributing to better self-rated health and life satisfaction.

Cross-Sectional and Prospective Relationship Between Low-to-Moderate–Intensity Physical Activity and Chronic Diseases in Older Adults From 13 European Countries

AIM To assess the relationship between low-to-moderate-intensity physical activity (LMPA) in 2011 and chronic diseases in 2011 and 2013 among older European adults. METHODS Participants (16,157 men and 21,260 women) from 13 European countries were interviewed about the presence of chronic conditions and LMPA. The association between LMPA and number of chronic diseases was assessed using logistic regression models. RESULTS Most of the older adults participated in LMPA more than once a week (81.9%), 8.4% participated once a week, and 9.3% did not participate. The prevalence of chronic diseases was significantly lower among those who reported engaging in LMPA. The LMPA in 2011 was related with lower odds of having several chronic diseases in 2013. CONCLUSION Engaging in LMPA is associated with reduced risk for chronic diseases in older European men and women. Even the practice of LMPA once a week seems to be enough to diminish the risk of having chronic diseases.

Associations between vigorous physical activity and chronic diseases in older adults: a study in 13 European countries

Background This study aimed to assess cross-sectional and prospective relationships between vigorous physical activity (VPA) and the risk of major chronic diseases among European older adults. Methods Participants were 37 524 older adults who responded to the fourth (in 2011) and fifth (in 2013) wave of the SHARE project, from 13 European countries. Participants answered interview questions about the presence of chronic conditions and VPA. The cross-sectional and prospective association between PA and the number of chronic diseases was assessed using logistic regression models. Results Among men and women, the prevalence of chronic diseases was significantly lower among those who reported VPA once a week or more than once a week. For men, VPA once a week was prospectively related with lower odds of heart attack, chronic lung disease, Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease. VPA more than once a week was prospectively related with lower odds of having all chronic diseases. Women who engaged in VPA once a week presented lower odds of having chronic diseases, except for hypertension, high blood cholesterol and cancer. For VPA more than once a week, cancer was the only disease not associated with physical activity. Conclusion VPA is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases in men and women. Even the practice of VPA once a week seems to be sufficient to reduce risks of chronic diseases.