ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH13
INTRODUCTION: Usually, Cardiovascular fitness is tested with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET). This validated method is time consuming and cost intensive. In daily practice and for identification of high cardiovascular (CV) risk groups on a large scale, e.g. at school or university, cost efficient and easy to use tests are needed. Handgrip-strength (HGS) and the self-reported physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) could serve to identify the CV fitness. Both are known predictors of CV health and mortality. This study examines the association of HGS and IPAC to the objective CPET measurement of VO2peak in a healthy student cohort at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. The project is part of TUM4Health, a university-based health promotion program (Ethical Board number 379/19 S-SR). METHODS: From 2017 to 2023, a sub cohort of 389 Students participating in the TUM4Health program, which offers a medical check-up and motor performance test, this includes the evaluation of anthropometric data, the IPAQ, a CPET on a treadmill and a digital HGS Test. The students were aged 25 +/- 4 years, and 63% were female; students with health issues were excluded from this study. HGS was digital measured with the MLT004/ST (ADInstruments) with an average value of 36 kg +/- 11kg. The IPAQ results were MET per week calculated according to the algorithm of the IPAQ Research Committee (Average 4505 MET +/-. 3504 MET). VO2peak is measured with a CPET device (Metalyzer3b, Cortex) on a treadmill (Lode), average value was 2.9 ml/min +/- 0.8 ml/min. RESULTS: HGS (r = .747, p < .001, n = 389), and IPAQ (r = .309, p < .001, n = 303) showed a positive association with VO2peak. Weight, size, and sex of the participants were strongly associated VO2peak and HGS; therefore, a linear regression model including these covariates was applied: the positive association with VO2peak was still significant for HGS (T=8.912, p=0.023) and IPAQ (T=2.430, p=0.016). In the linear regression model the R² value of HGS to VO2peak was 56% and R²=10% in the case of the IPAQ. CONCLUSION: Both HGS and IPAQ were significantly associated with VO2peak, but HGS seems to be the more predictive surrogate marker for CV fitness. Thus, HGS is a cost-efficient way to estimate the cardiorespiratory fitness when CPET measurements are not available or too expensive. For future applications HGS could be used as predictor variable in the emerging field of machine learning (AI) for maximal oxygen uptake calculations. The predictive performance of the AI model depends on the basic variables, thus a high associated surrogate marker like HGS could optimize the performance.
Read CV Klaus HaggenmüllerECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH13
INTRODUCTION: Exercise snacks (ES) were proven to be effective in improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and aerobic time trial performance in inactive healthy adults compared to a no-training control/pre-training. Compared to being sedentary, cycling ES at all-out effort multiple times a day improves fat oxidation in healthy inactive adults. The aims of this study were (1) to determine how stair-climbing-based exercise snacks (ES) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and (2) to explore whether ES could improve maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) in inactive adults. METHODS: Healthy, young, inactive adults (n = 42, Age: 21.6 ± 2.3 years, BMI: 22.5 ± 3.6 kg/m2, peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak]: 33.6 ± 6.3 ml·kg−1·min−1) were randomly assigned to ES, MICT or Control. ES and MICT groups performed 3 sessions per week over 6 weeks, while the control group kept their lifestyle normal. In the training groups, ES involved 3 × 30 s ‘all-out’ stair-climbing (6 flight, 126 steps, 18.9 m total height) bouts separated by >1-h rest, and MICT involved 40 min × 60-70% HRmax stationary cycling. VO2peak and MFO were determined in a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) baseline and post-assessments. Mixed linear effects models were used to explore within and between-group differences, and efficacy was determined using mean difference (MD) and Cohens d effect size. RESULTS: A compliance rate of 100% (CON, 15/15), 93.3% (ES, 14/15), and MICT (13/14, 92.8%) was achieved from baseline to post-assessments, ES and MICT participants completed 97.1% (733/756) and 92.7% (217/234). Relative VO2peak was significantly different among groups after training (groups × times interaction, p < 0.05), ES significantly increased by 8.1% compared to baseline (MD = 2.6 ml·kg−1·min−1, Cohen’s d = 0.44), while MICT has no significant effects (MD = 1.1 ml·kg−1·min−1, Cohen’s d = 0.17), and a marked decreased in Control (MD = -1.7 ml·kg−1·min−1, Cohen’s d = 0.26). MFO and body compositions were not significantly changed among the three groups (groups × times interaction, p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Stair climbing-based ES are a time-efficient alternative to MICT for improving CRF among inactive adults, but the tested ES intervention appears to have limited potential to increase MFO. This study revealed the time-efficiency of a stair-climbing-based ES in improving CRF compared to MICT and found that lower training loads were insufficient to improve MFO in healthy inactive adults. These results may help to provide a time-efficient, practical choice of aerobic fitness for inactive adults who perceive a "lack of time, environment, and equipment" as a barrier to participating in exercise.
Read CV Mingyue YinECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH13
INTRODUCTION: The daily physical activity of university students in Iceland notably decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before, and over 70% reported increased sedentary behavior. Additionally, more than half of the students indicated a decline in their physical and mental health [1, 2]. The aim of the study was to assess physical activity and physical and mental health status among university students following the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In early 2023, a cohort of 151 (23% male) university students in their third year, responded to questionnaire regarding their mental and physical health. The students were asked to assess their current levels of physical activity, participation in sports, sedentary behavior and happiness, as well as their physical and mental health post the COVID-19 pandemic compared to during the pandemic. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 28.9 ± 7.6 years. About 18% engaged in organized sports while 74% participated in general exercise, averaging 3.98 ± 1.6 weekly sessions. Following the pandemic, half of the participants perceived their physical activity as insufficient, and 54% considered their sedentary behavior excessive. Additionally, 41% reported increased physical activity, 34% reported decreased sedentary behavior, and 36% and 37% reported improvements in physical and mental health compared to during the pandemic. There was an association between reporting more exercise sessions per week and happiness, as well as better post-pandemic physical health. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a notable proportion of university students engaging in general exercise rather than specific sports activities. Despite this, a significant portion of the participants perceived their physical activity levels as inadequate, and a majority acknowledged excessive sedentary behavior. Encouragingly, post-pandemic, there was a positive shift with a considerable percentage reporting increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior, alongside notable improvements in both physical and mental health among a substantial portion of the participants. These findings underscore the importance of addressing physical activity and sedentary behavior in promoting overall health and well-being, particularly in the context of global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research and interventions are warranted to sustain and enhance these positive changes over the long term. References 1. Gestsdottir, S., et al., Health and well-being of university students before and during COVID-19 pandemic: A gender comparison. PLoS One, 2021. 16(12): p. e0261346. 2. Jakobsdottir, G., et al., Changes in health-related lifestyle choices of university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations between food choices, physical activity and health. PLoS One, 2023. 18(6): p. e0286345.
Read CV Vaka RögnvaldsdóttirECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH13