Purpose: This study aimed to determine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) in Chilean adults. Methods: A cross-sectional validation study was carried out on 161 adults aged between 35 and 65, selected from a population-based study in Temuco, Chile. IPAQ-SF was completed twice, seven days apart, to analyze the test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Objective PA was assessed by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+) for seven consecutive days. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to determine the reliability. Spearman correlation coefficients (rho) and Bland-Altman plots were calculated to assess validity. Results: 144 subjects (52.5 ± 8.8 years, 53.9% men) answered the IPAQ-SF on both occasions and had valid accelerometry data. The IPAQ-SF showed moderate reliability for sitting time (ICC = 0.62), while it was poor for walking (ICC = 0.40), moderate PA (ICC = 0.41), vigorous PA (ICC = 0.48), and total PA (ICC = 0.33). There were weak correlations between IPAQ-SF and accelerometry for sedentary behavior (rho = 0.28, p = 0.0005), walking (rho = 0.11, p = 0.17), moderate PA (rho = 0.13, p = 0.128), vigorous PA (rho = 0.18, p = 0.03), and total PA (rho = 0.26, p = 0.002). Conclusions: The results suggest that the IPAQ-SF test and retest would provide an acceptable measure of total SB and MVPA, and a weak correlation between IPAQ-SF and accelerometer.

To determine the association between screen time and physical activity with quality of life among Chilean university students.Cross-sectional and analytical study conducted on 726 first-year univer...

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, produced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread rapidly throughout the world. Latin American and the Caribbean countries have been harshly affected by the pandemic mainly due to less prepared healthcare systems and fragmented social safety nets. In the region, health status population-based indicators are worse than compared to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Recent evidence suggests that the progression and severity of COVID-19 are associated with the prior health status of individuals, and studies have shown that the case fatality rate is highly stratified among different populations. This narrative review aims to describe factors associated with adverse outcomes of COVID-19 in the context of social determinants of health in Latin American and Caribbean countries. In this review, we state that genetic and biological factors interact in a sophisticated way with social determinants of health, impacting the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Behavioral factors, such as physical inactivity, smoking, and unhealthy diets, are related to chronic systemic inflammation. Also, air pollution can prolong inflammation and the hyper-activation of the immune system. Air pollutants could facilitate the spread of the virus. Finally, frailty and comorbidities can be associated with COVID-19 severity through increasing vulnerability to stressors and leading to more severe symptoms of COVID-19 disease, including a higher mortality risk. All these factors contribute to increasing the impact of COVID-19 in Latin American and Caribbean countries. We highlight the relevance of considering social determinants of health in Latin American and the Caribbean countries, not only in controlling the likelihood of getting the disease but also its progression and severity. All these social determinants can guide the design and implementation of tailored interventions promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors, which should lower the spread of the disease, its severity, and lethality.

To describe and compare the acute heart rate changes during an incremental exercise test and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in subjects of different glucose control. Seventy-five adults were allocated into three groups: Normoglycaemic (NG, n=32), Pre- (PreT2D, n=30) and Type 2 diabetic (T2D, n=13) subjects. Subjects performed an incremental cycling test to determine cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max), maximum heart rate (HRmax) and HR recovery post maximal effort, as well as a HIIT cycling session. HR variations are reported as HR pre (HR-pre_INT), and post interval (HR-post_INT), percentage of maximum HR (%HRmax), delta of HR increased (∆HR_INT), and delta HR recovery after each interval (∆HRR). By groups, there was a significant difference for the %HRmax in 1^st and 2^nd, but not in intervals 3^rd to 10^th between Pre-T2D and T2D groups. There were significant differences for the %HRmax in 1^st to 2^nd intervals between Pre-T2D and T2D groups. Significant (P<0.05) differences at some intervals were found for ΔHR_INT, and ΔHRR. These findings suggest that the HR during an incremental exercise test, and from a typical 10-intervals based HIIT protocol could be used as an intensity marker for individuals independent of their glycaemic control.

Existe información limitada respecto a la respuesta de la frecuencia cardiaca (FC) a partir de fórmulas predictivas y prueba de ejercicio real entre adultos con hipertensión arterial (HTA) y normotensos, así como sobre las similitudes o diferencias vasculares entre muestras de diferente control de la presión arterial. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir y comparar la frecuencia cardiaca durante el ejercicio entre adultos con HTN y normotensos, así como describir parámetros de función endotelial y vasculares. Se realizó un estudio clínico descriptivo con 64 adultos (hombres y mujeres) que fueron divididos en tres grupos: hipertensión arterial (HTN n=26), presión arterial elevada (Ele n=16), o normotensos control (CG n=22). Los participantes se sometieron a una prueba de ejercicio, en la que se midió la FC (variable principal) y parámetros vasculares secundarios (clasificación percentil de la velocidad de la onda del pulso (%ILEPWVba), grosor máximo de la íntima-media carotídea (cIMTmax) y edad arterial entre otras. En la etapa 2 del test (50-100 vatios), el grupo HTN mostró una FC significativamente mayor vs. el grupo GC (+14 latidos/min), y vs. el grupo Ele (+15 latidos/min), ambos p<0,05; y en la etapa 5 (125-250 vatios) vs. el grupo GC (+22 latidos/min; p<0,05). El grupo HTN mostró una clasificación mayor de rigidez arterial %ILEPWVba, y de edad arterial que el grupo NT. En conclusión, los sujetos con HTA presentan una mayor respuesta de la FC durante el ejercicio que los normotensos. Sin embargo, todos los grupos mostraron una mayor HRpredicted en relación con la HRpeak real. Estos resultados se muestran con una clasificación en percentiles superiores de rigidez arterial y una mayor estimación de la edad arterial con relación a adultos normotensos. Palabras claves: Hipertensión arterial; Disfunción endotelial; Sobrepeso; Obesidad; Vasculatura There is limited information regarding heart rate (HR) response from predictive formulae and actual exercise tests between arterial hypertension (HTN) and normotensive adults, as well as about vascular similarities or differences between samples of different blood pressure control. This study aimed 1) to describe and compare the HR during exercise between HTN and normotensive adults and 2) to describe the endothelial function and related vascular parameters in both groups. A descriptive clinical study was conducted with 64 adults (men and women) who were divided into three groups: arterial hypertension (HTN n=26), elevated blood pressure (Ele n=16), or normotensive control (CG n=22). The participants underwent a incremental cycling exercise test of 5 stages, where HR (primary outcome) was measured, and secondary vascular outcomes (percentile classification of the pulse wave velocity (%ILEPWVba), maximum carotid intima-media thickness (cIMTmax), and arterial age among others were measured. In stage 2 of the test (50-100 watts), the HTN group showed significantly higher HR vs. CG (+14 beats/min; p<0.05) and vs. Ele group (+15 beats/min; p<0.05), and in stage 5 (125-250 watts), HTN group showed vs. CG (+22 beats/min; p<0.05). HTN group showed a higher arterial stiffness by %ILEPWVba classification and arterial age estimation than the CG group. In conclusion, HTN patients reported a higher HR response only in two out of five stages of the Astrand cycling exercise test than normotensive peers. Moreover, all groups showed a higher HRpredicted than real HRpeak obtained from the exercise test. These results are displayed with more altered vascular parameters in the HTN group. Keywords: Arterial hypertension; Endothelial dysfunction; Overweight; Obesity; Vasculature.

Existe limitada información respecto a la reducción de la rigidez arterial entre sujetos con hipertensión y factores de riesgo para enfermedades vascular-metabólicas (i.e., de los vasos sanguíneos), donde el ejercicio induce un rol fisioterapéutico y preventivo. El objetivo del estudio fue 1) testear los efectos de 6 semanas de ejercicio concurrente de tipo alta intensidad interválico y de fuerza (CTHIIT+RT) en la la rigidez arterial de sujetos con diferente control de presión arterial y 2) comparar la magnitud de estas adaptaciones al ejercicio en diferentes variables secundarias de presión arterial y vasculares. Estudio clínico experimental aleatorizado desarrollado en seis categorías (3 controles y 3 experimentales) de adultos; controles hipertensos (CG-HTN, n=10), control presión elevada (CG-ELE, n=10), controles normotensos (CG-NT, n=10), o experimental hipertensos (ExG-HTN, n=10), presión elevada (ExG-ELE, n=10), o normotensos (ExG-NT, n=10). Los sujetos desarrollaron 6 semanas de CTHIIT+RT, donde la velocidad de onda de pulso de la arteria braquial (PWVba) (resultado primario) y variables de presión arterial, composición corporal y vasculares (resultados secundarios), fueron medidas antes y después de 6 semanas de intervención. Posterior a 6 semanas de CTHIIT+RT se observaron diferencias significativas en la magnitud de reducción de ΔPWVba en el grupo ExG-HTN versus grupo ExG-NT (diff. 0.86 m/s-1) y entre el grupo ExG-ELE vs. ExG-NT (diff. 0.76 m/s-1). En conclusión, 6 semanas de CTHIIT+RT reducen la rigidez arterial en adultos con diferente control de presión arterial, con una magnitud superior en pacientes hipertensos. Beneficios adicionales se encontraron en cese de la presión arterial elevada en los pacientes hipertensos. Palabras claves: Hipertensión arterial; Disfunción endotelial; Velocidad de onda de pulso; Índice de aumentación; índice tobillo-braquial. There is limited information regarding the arterial stiffness decrease in subjects with hypertension and risk factors to vascular-metabolic (i.e., of blood vessels) where the exercise induces a therapeutic and preventive role. This study aimed 1) to test the effects of 6 weeks of concurrent exercise including high-intensity interval plus resistance training (CTHIIT+RT) on the arterial stiffness condition of individuals with different blood pressure controls, and 2) to compare the magnitude of exercise adaptations among different blood pressures and vascular characteristics. An experimental clinical randomized study was conducted in six categories (three controls and three experimental groups) of adults who were divided into six groups: control hypertensive (CG-HTN, n=10), control elevated blood pressure (CG-ELE, n=10), control normotensive (CG-NT, n=10), experimental hypertensive (ExG-HTN, n=10), elevated blood pressure (ExG-ELE, n=10), or normotensive (ExG-NT, n=10). The participants underwent 6 weeks of concurrent training with 5 min of high-intensity interval plus 5 min of resistance training (CTHIIT+RT), where systolic pulse wave velocity of the brachial artery (PWVba) (primary outcome) and additional secondary blood pressure, body composition, and vascular outcomes were measured before and after 6 weeks of intervention. After 6 weeks of CTHIIT+RT, significant reductions in ΔPWVba were reported in ExG-HTN vs. ExG-NT (diff. 0.86 m/s-1) and between ExG-ELE and ExG-NT (diff. 0.76 m/s-1). In conclusion, 6 weeks of CTHIIT+RT reduced arterial stiffness in adults with different blood pressure controls, but with a superior magnitude in HTN patients. Additional benefits include remission of high blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Keywords: Arterial hypertension; Endothelial dysfunction; Pulse wave velocity; Augmentation index; Ankle brachial index.