Factors related to changes in the quality of life among Polish adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis over a 1-year period

Relationship Between Subjectively Assessed Physical Activity (GPAQ) and Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) of Aging Employees in JIPMER, Puducherry: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Background

Physical activity appears to be one of the most important strategies for preventing physical and mental disorders. Regular physical activity (PA) may prolong life and appears to be a preventative measure against genetic and molecular aging.

Aim

To find the relationship between aging adults' quality of life (QOL) and PA.

Settings and Design

This cross-sectional analytical study included administrative staff members of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry.

Materials and Methods

QOL and PA were monitored and assessed using questionnaires (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire [GPAQ] and World Health Organization QOL Brief Version [WHOQOL-BREF]). Statistical analysis was performed with STATA version 14. For continuous variables, descriptive statistics were presented as means and standard deviations (SDs), while categorical variables were given as percentages. The analysis of multivariate linear regression was performed. P < 0.05 was used as the significance level.

Results

A total of 66 subjects were examined, and their mean age was 54.93 (SD 3.26) years. The findings indicated that there were no less-active participants, and that people over the age of 50 were more likely to engage in moderate or vigorous PA. The WHOQOL-BREF findings revealed that people had higher QOL. There was no significant link between WHOQOL-BREF dimensions and GPAQ when the effect of PA patterns on QOL was examined using multivariate linear regression analysis, which was adjusted for covariates such as body mass index and waist circumference.

Conclusion

The amount of physical activity among aging population may differ in different dimensions of QOL.

Risk of Injury in Physically Active Students: Associated Factors and Quality of Life Aspects

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the potential factors of hypermobility and pain threshold on the risk of injury in physically active students and to verify which domains of quality of life are rated lower by young people with a history of injuries. Methods: The study included 278 students (138 women and 140 men) who regularly undertake physical activity. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, pain threshold, incidence of hypermobility syndrome, information on the history of injuries to the locomotor system, and the quality of life of the study participants were collected. Results: In the group studied, hypermobility and pain threshold had a statistically significant related on the risk of injury. Participants with a history of injuries had lower scores for an individual’s overall perception of their own health and the physical domain. There were also significant differences in the psychological domain of the quality of life between males and females with a history of injuries. Conclusion: In the studied group, the risk of injuries was related to diagnosed hypermobility and pain threshold measured on the lower limbs. The study also showed that people with a history of injuries had statistically significantly lower scores in the individual general perception of their own health and in the physical domain. Gender had a significant impact on the quality of life of people with injuries.

Physical Activity as a Determinant of Quality of Life in Working-Age People in Wrocław, Poland

Regular physical activity can greatly contribute to the improvement of physical fitness and performance, reduction of the incidence risk of some occupational diseases, and as a consequence, to a general improvement of quality of life in terms of health status. The aim of the article was to assess relationships between the quality of life and physical activity of a working-age population. The study material comprised 4460 residents of the city of Wrocław, Poland (2129 men, 2331 women) aged 18-64 years. The study was a questionnaire survey using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. The highest levels of overall quality of life and its four particular domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental), as well as perceived health conditions were found among the most physically active respondents. Furthermore, the odds of high assessment of perceived overall quality of life were shown to increase with the increasing levels of physical activity. Activities aimed at the improvement of the quality of life of working-age people should involve programs enhancing the development of physical activity.

Quality of life and physical activity in an older working-age population

Objective

Physical activity can be an effective means of prevention and therapy of many psychosomatic disorders. It can also have a significant impact on the quality of life of older working-age people. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationships between quality of life and physical activity in older working-age people from Wrocław, Poland.

Materials and methods

The study group comprised 1,013 people, including 565 women and 448 men, aged 55–64 years (59.1±2.9 years). The study took form of a questionnaire survey. The participants assessed their physical activity and quality of life using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Version (IPAQ-SF) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively.

Results

The highest mean indices of general quality of life, perceived health status, and quality of life in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains were shown by respondents whose intensity of physical activity was the highest. Moreover, the odds of high assessment of overall quality of life increased with respondents’ higher levels of physical activity.

Conclusion

Quality of life improvement programs should also involve increased physical activity components.

Predictors of deterioration of lung function in Polish children with cystic fibrosis

INTRODUCTION

Severity of lung disease varies in patients with the same CFTR genotype. It suggests that other factors affect the severity of cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of the study was to identify risk factors that determine lung function decline in Polish cystic fibrosis children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The follow-up time was no less than 5 years of respiratory status observation based on the forced expiratory volume in 1 s value (FEV1). The socio-economic data, perinatal interview, presence of meconium ileus (MI), time of CF diagnosis, initiation of tobramycin inhalation solution (TIS), pancreatic function, sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus, presence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes mellitus, chronic bacterial colonization and number of exacerbations and hospitalizations were assessed.

RESULTS

The mean age of 61 included children was 13.3 ±7.6 years. Delta F508 homozygosity was detected in 45.9%, 44.3% were delta F508 heterozygous, and 9.8% had other genotypes. FEV1 decline was observed among 20% of patients; the rest of the patients presented stable values of FEV1 during at least 5 years of observation. The most significant predictors related to the decline of FEV1 were presentation of MI (p = 0.0344), IGT (p = 0.0227), number of exacerbations (p = 0.0288), and early Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) chronic colonization (p = 0.0165) followed by late TIS initiation after the first detection of PA (p=0.0071). Neither time of diagnosis nor type of CFTR mutation was statistically significant as a predictor of lung deterioration.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of MI, IGT, chronic PA colonization, and number of exacerbations are risk factors for lung function deterioration.