Physical activity patterns among obese adults attending rural primary health care units, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt: A case-control study

Obesity is an ignored health problem in all countries; there are a lot of health problems related directly or indirectly to overweight and obesity. The incidence of COVID-19 with social isolation and technological development in recent years strongly contributed to a progressive increase in obesity. . Assess the pattern of the 3 divisions of physical activity and sedentary behaviors in obese patients. Physical inactivity is a significant concern, especially among individuals with obesity and certain demographic characteristics. Addressing these factors and promoting physical activity interventions tailored to specific populations is essential in combating sedentary behavior and its associated health implications.This case-control study included 350 adult obese patients (BMI ≥ 30) and 75 people with normal BMI (18.5-24.9). Their sociodemographic data were analyzed and their pattern of physical activity related to work, movement to and from places for 10 minutes, and pattern of recreational activity were assessed, in addition to the assessment of the sedentary behaviors. The mean age of the study group was 34 years, the majority were females, educated, and working. Forty five percent of the total sample were physically inactive; the pattern of activity during travel to and from places (10 min) was lower in obese patients. Recreational activities were low in the studied population, in the present study the time spent sitting or reclining (except sleeping) was significantly higher among obese participants than controls (P ≤ .001). Obesity, urban residence, unemployment and illiteracy were independent risk factors for physical inactivity.

Strong prediction of virological response to combination therapy by IL28B gene variants rs12979860 and rs8099917 in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4

BACKGROUND

A strong association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL28B and treatment outcomes of pegylated interferon-α (PEG IFNα) and ribavirin (RBV) has been shown in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with genotype 1.

AIM

This study aimed to assess two SNPs of IL28B, rs12979860 and rs8099917, in predicting sustained virological responses (SVR) to treatment of CHC patients with genotype 4 (HCV-4). The value of rs8099917 was investigated in carriers of unfavourable genotypes of rs12979860.

METHODS

This study included 119 CHC patients with HCV-4 receiving combination therapy. Both SNPs of IL28B were determined by real-time detection polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Genotypes CC/CT/TT of rs12979860 were found in 42 (35.3%), 56 (47.1%) and 21 (17.6%) and rs8099917 TT/TG/GG were found in 74 (62.2%), 40 (33.6%) and 5 (4.2%). In carriers of rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT, the rate of SVR was 87.5 and 65.7% respectively. In 54 patients heterozygous for the C allele of rs12979860, testing of rs8099917 revealed SVR in 42.3% of carriers of the TT genotype but no such responses in carriers of TG or GG (P < 0.0001, OR = 47.3, 95% CI: 2.33-767.2). By multivariate analysis, predictors of SVR were baseline ALT (P = 0.014, OR = 6.3, 95% CI: 1.45-27.33), rs12979860 CC (P = 0.001, OR = 13.48, 95% CI: 2.95-61.69) and rs8099917 TT (P = 0.027, OR = 7.5, 95% CI: 1.25-44.88).

CONCLUSION

In CHC genotype 4 patients, favourable genotypes of both SNPs of IL28B are valuable for predicting SVR. Additional genotyping of rs8099917 in carriers of the heterozygous C allele of rs12979860 can improve the prediction of SVR.