Obesity in Germany and Italy: prevalence, comorbidities, and associations with patient outcomes

Sex Differences in Albumin Quotient and Cerebrospinal Fluid Total Protein Content Do Not Depend on Anthropometric Factors

(1) Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin quotient (QAlb) and CSF total protein (TP) are more elevated in males than females, and this has been hypothesised to be due to anthropometric differences between the sexes. This study aimed to investigate QAlb and CSF TP as a function of body height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). (2) Methods: A total of 207 patients were included in the study and analysed blinded to clinical diagnosis. (3) Results: Multivariable linear regressions were run to predict log-transformed Qalb and log-transformed CSF TP value from age, sex, weight, and height (first model) or from age, sex, and BMI (second model). In both models, age (β = 0.004, 95% CI = 0.002 to 0.006) and sex (β = -0.095, 95% CI = -0.169 to -0.021, and β = -0.135, 95% CI = -0.191 to -0.079) were significant predictors for QAlb, but weight, height, and BMI were not. Similarly, age (β = 0.004, 95% CI = 0.003 to 0.006) and sex (β = -0.077, 95% CI = -0.142 to -0.013, and β = -0.109, 95% CI = -0.157 to -0.060) were significant predictors for CSF TP, while anthropometric characteristics were not. No differences in QAlb and CSF TP were found when grouping males and females by BMI status. (4) Conclusions: Our data suggest that anthropometric characteristics could not explain the sex-related differences in QAlb and CSF TP.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Nordic Walking and a Resistance Indoor Training Program: Anthropometric, Body Composition, and Functional Parameters in the Middle-Aged Population

Sedentary behaviors are increasing in the population, so strategies for the increment of physical activity levels are needed. The use of green space seems to be a valid support to be more active. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a period of outdoor training (Nordic walking (NW)) with indoor resistance training (GYM) in a nonclinical population based on anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and functional parameters. This study was conducted on 102 participants (77 middle-aged people performed NW and 25 performed indoor training). Participants were measured twice: at baseline and after three months. Anthropometric measurements (weight, BMI, skinfolds, perimeters), body composition, bioelectrical impedance, vectorial analysis (BIA and BIVA), and physical tests were carried out. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate the effect of the treatments, groups, and sexes. There were several intervention effects linked to a decrease in fat parameters (such as skinfolds, fat mass, and percentage of fat mass). Considering the type of intervention, NW showed a higher increase in muscle mass and a higher decrease in fat parameters than the GYM group. In conclusion, the two types of training could represent a good way to remain active and prevent sedentary behaviors.

Impact of obesity on the use of healthcare resources by young adults aged 18-45 years: Results of the 2017 National Health Survey

INTRODUCTION

Excess weight is a public health problem associated with a greater burden of chronic diseases and increased use of health resources.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A subsample of Spanish adults aged 18-45 from the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey (N=7081) was used. The odds ratios of service utilisation of the group with BMI≥30kg/m² were compared to the normal-weight group, using a model adjusted for sex, age, education, socioeconomic level, perceived health status and the presence of comorbidities.

RESULTS

In all, 12.4% of the sample had obesity. Of these, 24.8% visited their general physician, 37.1% attended emergency services and 6.1% were hospitalised during the last 12 months, which were significantly higher rates than in the normal-weight population (20.3%, 29.2%, 3.8%, respectively). However, 16.1% visited a physiotherapist and 3.1% used alternative therapies, compared to 20.8% and 6.4% in the healthy weight group. After adjusting for confounding factors, people with obesity were more likely to visit emergency services (OR: 1.225 [1.037-1.446]) and less likely to visit a physiotherapist (OR: 0.720 [0.583-0.889]) or use alternative therapies (OR: 0.481 [0.316-0.732]).

CONCLUSIONS

Spanish young adults suffering from obesity are more likely to use some health resources than those of normal weight, even after adjusting for socioeconomic variables and comorbidities, but they are less likely to attend physical therapy. The literature shows that these differences are less marked than in older ages, so this stage of life could be a window of opportunity for prevention to achieve better resource management.

Temporal encephaloceles and coexisting epileptogenic lesions

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to identify coexisting structural lesions in patients with epilepsy and known temporal encephaloceles (TEs).

METHODS

Forty-seven structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of patients with epilepsy and radiologically diagnosed TEs were retrospectively reviewed visually and using an automated postprocessing software, the Morphometric Analysis Program v2018 (MAP18), to depict additional subtle, potentially epileptogenic lesions in the 3D T1-weighted MRI data. All imaging findings were evaluated in the context of clinical and electroencephalographical findings.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 47 epilepsy patients (38.3% female, n = 18). The median age at the time of the scan was 40 years (range 12-81 years). Twenty-one out of 47 MRI scans (44.7%) showed coexisting lesions in the initial MRI evaluation; in 38.3% (n = 18) of patients, those lesions were considered probably epileptogenic. After postprocessing, probable epileptogenic lesions were identified in 53.2% (n = 25) of patients. Malformations of cortical development had initially been reported in 17.0% (n = 8) of patients with TEs, which increased to 38.3% (n = 18) after postprocessing. TEs and other epileptogenic lesions were considered equally epileptogenic in 21.3% (n = 10) of the cases in the initial MR reports and 25.5% (n = 12) of the cases after postprocessing.

SIGNIFICANCE

Temporal encephaloceles are a potential cause of MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy. According to our data, TEs can occur with other lesions, suggesting that increased awareness is also required in patients with lesional epilepsy. TEs may not always be epileptogenic; hence, their occurrence with other structural pathologies may influence the presurgical evaluation and surgical approach. Finally, TEs can be associated with malformations of cortical development, which may indicate a common developmental etiology of those lesions.

Real-world demographic patterns of users of a digital primary prevention service for diabetes

Rapid urbanization has led to an exponential increase in lifestyle-associated metabolic disorders presenting a huge socioeconomic burden. Waya is a digital prevention program that guides overweight and obese individuals to maintain a healthy lifestyle through exercise, diet, and educational videos.

Objectives and aims

We aimed to study the demographic patterns of the Waya cohort and examine the prevalence of diabetes (the most common lifestyle-associated metabolic disorder) and its risk factors in comparison to the GEDA 2014/2015-European Health Interview Survey population.

Methods

Waya participants who registered by 1 October 2020 and who answered at least one health survey question were included in this study. Factors such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes between the two populations were compared using Chi-square test.

Results

Of the 837 participants, 86.1% were women. The proportion of obese participants was higher in Waya than in the German Health Update (GEDA) cohort (women: 39.4% vs. 18%, P < 0.05; men: 37.1% vs. 18.3%, P < 0.05), whereas the proportion of participants with hypertension (women: 12.1% vs. 30.9% in GEDA, P < 0.05; men: 22.4% vs. 32.8% in GEDA, P < 0.05) was lower. The proportion of women with diabetes was low in our cohort (3.9% vs. 7% in GEDA, P < 0.05); however, the proportion of men with diabetes remained the same between the two groups. We observed significant differences between the GEDA and Waya cohorts due to changes in the prevalence pattern over time or target bias of the digital program.

Conclusion

These findings showcase the usability of Waya in collecting real-world insights, which will be beneficial in monitoring the prevalence of chronic metabolic disorders and associated risk factors over time.

Economic impacts of overweight and obesity: current and future estimates for 161 countries

INTRODUCTION

The scope of the challenge of overweight and obesity (OAO) has not been fully realised globally, in part because much of what is known about the economic impacts of OAO come from high-income countries (HICs) and are not readily comparable due to methodological differences. Our objective is to estimate the current and future national economic impacts of OAO globally.

METHODS

We estimated economic impacts of OAO for 161 countries using a cost-of-illness approach. Direct and indirect costs of OAO between 2019 and 2060 were estimated from a societal perspective. We assessed the effect of two hypothetical scenarios of OAO prevalence projections. Country-specific data were sourced from published studies and global databases.

RESULTS

The economic impact of OAO in 2019 is estimated at 2.19% of global gross domestic product (GDP) ranging on average from US$20 per capita in Africa to US$872 per capita in the Americas and from US$6 in low-income countries to US$1110 in HICs.If current trends continue, by 2060, the economic impacts from OAO are projected to rise to 3.29% of GDP globally. The biggest increase will be concentrated in lower resource countries with total economic costs increasing by fourfold between 2019 and 2060 in HICs, whereas they increase 12-25 times in low and middle-income countries. Reducing projected OAO prevalence by 5% annually from current trends or keeping it at 2019 levels will translate into average annual reductions of US$429 billion or US$2201 billion in costs, respectively, between 2020 and 2060 globally.

CONCLUSION

This study provides novel evidence on the economic impact of OAO across different economic and geographic contexts. Our findings highlight the need for concerted and holistic action to address the global rise in OAO prevalence, to avert the significant risks of inaction and achieve the promise of whole-of-society gains in population well-being.

The Effects of Park Based Interventions on Health: The Italian Project "Moving Parks"

Obesity and physical inactivity are global health problems responsible for the risk increment of noncommunicable diseases. To overcome these problems, interventions aimed at increasing physical activity (PA) are necessary. Green space can have a positive influence on promoting PA, so, the aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the project “The moving parks project”, which provides for the administration of PA to citizens within Bologna’s parks (Italy). An ad hoc questionnaire was administered before and after three months of outdoor PA. A total of 329 adult subjects participated in the survey. At follow-up, all psychosocial parameters showed an improvement, with a reduction in the state of tension, sadness and fatigue, and an improvement in the state of energy, serenity, and vitality. The impact of the interventions carried out in the “Moving Parks project” was positive and appears to be a good strategy for improving health outcomes.

Intra-Articular Hybrid Hyaluronic Acid Injection Treatment in Overweight Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Single-Center, Open-Label, Prospective Study

Background: A BMI > 25 is the most decisive, albeit modifiable, risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of intra-articular injections of hybrid hyaluronic acid (HA) complexes (Sinovial® H-L) for the treatment of KOA in overweight patients in terms of disease severity, cardiocirculatory capacity, and quality of life. Materials: In this single-site, open-label, prospective trial, 37 patients with symptomatic knee OA were assessed at baseline and 3 months after ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of hybrid HA complexes (Sinovial® H-L). Results: Primary variables displaying a statistically significant improvement after treatment were pain (VAS), disease severity (WOMAC), and cardiopulmonary capacity (6 min walk test). Among secondary variables, quality of life (SF-12) improved significantly, as did analgesic intake for pain control. No statistically significant difference was observed in body fat and muscle mass percentage measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Conclusions: Intra-articular hybrid HA injections are significantly effective in improving OA-related disease severity, cardiopulmonary function, and analgesic intake. This supports the role of hybrid HA viscosupplementation as a nonpharmacological treatment to relieve pain, reduce disability, improve quality of life, and limit the risk of polypharmacy in overweight patients with knee OA.

Cancer mortality in Italian populations: differences between Italy and the USA

BACKGROUND

The comparison of cancer mortality rates and risk factors among foreign-born populations in a host country with those in the country of origin provides insights into differences in access to care, timely diagnosis, and disease management between the two countries.

METHODS

Using 2008-2018 cancer mortality data for the Italian population and for Italy-born Americans, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs).

RESULTS

ASMRs were lower in Italy-born Americans (201.5 per 100 000) compared to Italians (255.1 per 100 000). For all neoplasms combined, SMRs for Italy-born American men and women were 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73-0.77] and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.76-0.80), respectively. Among men, the SMRs were significantly below 1 for oral cavity, stomach, colorectal, liver, lung, prostate, bladder and kidney cancer. Among women, the SMRs were 0.69 for oral, 0.40 for stomach, 0.61 for colorectal, 0.72 for liver, 0.73 for breast and 0.53 for kidney cancers. Mortality was not reduced for lung (1.02, 95% CI, 0.94-1.10) cancer in women.

CONCLUSION

Generational differences in smoking prevalence patterns between the US and Italy may explain the advantages for Italy-born Americans for lung and other tobacco-related cancers compared to their Italian men counterparts. Lower prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, alcohol consumption, hepatitis B and C virus in the USA may justify the lower mortality for stomach and liver cancer, among Italy-born Americans. Earlier and more widespread adoption of cancer screening and effective treatments in the USA is likely to be influential in breast, colorectal and prostate cancer mortality.

The impact of obesity on immune response to infection: Plausible mechanisms and outcomes

Emerging data suggest an association between obesity and infectious diseases. Although the mechanisms underlying this link are not well established, a number of potential factors may be involved. Indeed, the obesity-related vulnerability to infectious diseases could be due to chronic low-grade inflammation, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia, which lead to a weakening of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, obesity results in anatomical-functional changes by the mechanical obstacle of excessive adipose tissue that blunt the respiratory mechanisms and predisposing to respiratory infections. Subjects with obesity are also at risk of skin folds and sweat more profusely due to the thick layers of subcutaneous fat, favoring the proliferation of microorganisms and slowing the repair of wounds down. All these factors make subjects with obesity more prone to develop nosocomial infections, surgical site, skin and soft tissue infections, bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and mycosis. Furthermore, infections in subjects with obesity have a worse prognosis, frequently prolonging hospitalization time as demonstrated for several flu viruses and recently for COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the current clinical evidence on the associations between obesity and infectious diseases highlighting physio pathological insights involved in this link.

Multicomponent intervention provided by GPs to reduce cardiovascular risk factors: evaluation in an Italian large sample

BACKGROUND

The cardiovascular risk increases in a multiplicative way when patients present more risk factors simultaneously. Moreover, the General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in risk factors prevention and reduction. This work aimed to evaluate a multicomponent intervention in the Primary Care Department in an Italian Local Health Unit.

METHODS

A pre-post study was conducted in Northern Italy (2018). Patients were eligible if: aged between 30 and 60 years, not chronic patients, not affected by hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia. The GPs assessed body mass index, hypertension, abdominal obesity, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values, glycaemic values, smoking and exercise habit (T0). A counselling by GPs to at-risk patients and a multicomponent health education intervention were performed. Reassessment occurred after at least 3 months (T1). Main analyses were chi-squared tests for gender differences, McNemar or marginal homogeneity tests for changes in paired data (P < 0.05 as significant).

RESULTS

Participants were 5828 at T0 (54.0% females) and 4953 at T1 (53.4% females). At T0, 99.1% presented at least one risk factor. Significant changes in paired data were reported for each risk factor. The greatest improvement frequencies occurred in glycaemia values (51.0%) and hypertension (45.6%), the lowest in abdominal obesity (3.7%). Some differences were recorded between genders, e.g. females reported higher improvement frequencies in hypertension (P = 0.001) and abdominal obesity (P < 0.001), whereas males in physical activity (P = 0.011) and LDL values (P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

The results showed significant changes for each risk factor, both for men and women. GPs and multicomponent educational interventions could play a key role in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

Is Switching from Oral Antidiabetic Therapy to Insulin Associated with an Increased Fracture Risk?

BACKGROUND

Observational studies showed that exposure to exogenous insulin increases fracture risk. However, it remains unclear whether the observed association is a function of the severity of underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus, complications, therapies, comorbidities, or all these factors combined. That being so, and because of the relative infrequency of these events, it is important to study this further in a large-database setting. QUESTION/PURPOSES: (1) Is switching from oral antidiabetic agents to insulin associated with an increased fracture risk? (2) How soon after switching does the increased risk appear, and for how long does this increased risk persist?

METHODS

Data from healthcare utilization databases of the Italian region of Lombardy were used. These healthcare utilization databases report accurate, complete, and interconnectable information of inpatient and outpatient diagnoses, therapies, and services provided to the almost 10 million residents in the region. The 216,624 patients on treatment with oral antidiabetic therapy from 2005 to 2009 were followed until 2010 to identify those who modified their antidiabetic therapy (step 1 cohort). Among the 63% (136,307 patients) who experienced a therapy modification, 21% (28,420 patients) switched to insulin (active exposure), and the remaining 79% (107,887 patients) changed to another oral medication (referent exposure). A 1:1 high-dimension propensity score matching design was adopted for balancing patients on active and referent exposure. Matching failed for 3% of patients (926 patients), so the cohort of interest was formed by 27,494 insulin-referent couples. The latter were followed until 2012 to identify those who experienced hospital admission for fracture (outcome). A Cox proportional hazard model was fitted to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for the outcome risk associated with active-exposure (first research question). Between-exposure comparison of daily fracture hazard rates from switching until the 24 successive months was explored through the Kernel-smoothed estimator (second research question).

RESULTS

Compared with patients on referent exposure, those who switched to insulin had an increased risk of experiencing any fracture (HR = 1.5 [95% CI 1.3 to 1.6]; p < 0.001). The same risk was observed for hip and vertebral fractures, with HRs of 1.6 (95% CI 1.4 to 1.8; p < 0.001) and 1.8 (95% 1.5 to 2.3; p < 0.001), respectively. Differences in the daily pattern of outcome rates mainly appeared the first 2 months after switching, when the hazard rate of patients on active exposure (9 cases for every 100,000 person-days) was higher than that of patients on referent exposure (4 cases for every 100,000 person-days). These differences persisted during the remaining follow-up, though with reduced intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

We found quantitative evidence that switching from oral antidiabetic therapy to insulin is associated with an increased fracture risk, mainly in the period immediately after the start of insulin therapy. The observed association may result from higher hypoglycemia risk among patients on insulin, which leads to a greater number of falls and resulting fractures. However, although our study was based on a large sample size and highly accurate data, its observational design and the lack of clinical data suggest that future research will need to replicate or refute our findings and address the issue of causality, if any. Until then, though, prescribers and patients should be aware of this risk. Careful control of insulin dosage should be maintained and measures taken to reduce fall risk in these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Association Between Metabolic and Hormonal Derangements and Professional Exposure to Urban Pollution in a High Intensity Traffic Area

Rationale: Studies suggest a relation between exposure to air particulate matter (PM)_2.5 pollution and greater cardiovascular morbidity, as well as increased risk for obesity and diabetes. We aimed to identify association(s) between nutritional and metabolic status and exposure to environmental pollution in a cohort of policemen exposed to high levels of air pollution. Methods: We considered adult municipal policemen, working in an urban area at high-traffic density with documented high levels of air PM_2.5 (exposed group) compared to non-exposed policemen. Clinical characteristics, including the presence/absence of metabolic syndrome, were recorded, and serum biomarkers, including adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin, were assessed. Results: One hundred ninety-nine participants were enrolled, 100 in the exposed group and 99 in the non-exposed group. Metabolic syndrome was documented in 32% of exposed group and in 52.5% of non-exposed group (P = 0.008). In the exposed group, we found a positive correlation between body mass index and serum leptin as well as in the non-exposed group (P < 0.0001). Within the exposed group, subjects with metabolic syndrome showed lower serum adiponectin (P < 0.0001) and higher leptin (P = 0.002) levels with respect to those without metabolic syndrome, whereas in the non-exposed group, subjects with metabolic syndrome showed only higher leptin levels when compared to those without metabolic syndrome (P = 0.01). Among the participants with metabolic syndrome, we found lower adiponectin levels in those of the exposed group with respect to the non-exposed ones (P = 0.007). When comparing the exposed and non-exposed groups, after stratifying participants for Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance >2.5, we found lower adiponectin levels in those of the exposed group with respect to the non-exposed ones (P = 0.038). Conclusions: Exposure to air PM pollution was associated with lower levels of adiponectin in adult males with metabolic syndrome.