Risk factors of non-communicable diseases, functional performance and physical fitness among female adults in a low-resourced community: B-Healthy study

Abstract

Lifestyle behaviours that people adopt throughout their lives lead to metabolic changes that result in the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in later life. NCDs are in particular on, the rise in persons from low-middle income countries. The prevalence is increasing significantly in low-resourced communities. Regular physical activity is associated with improved cardiovascular health and improved physical functionality. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to determine the relationship between the risk factors of NCDs and functional performance among females from a low-resourced community; and also, to determine the relationship between functional performance and cardiorespiratory fitness among females from a low-resourced community. This cross-sectional observational study analysed the data collected during baseline measurements of an overarching B-healthy study. Data from 180 participants, 81 adult females (AF) (48.15 ± 8.30 years) and 98 senior females (SF) (68.58 ± 7.02 years), were analysed from the 200 participants that signed informed consent. The risk factors for NCDs that were determined included body mass index (BMI), hypertension, biochemical analysis for hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and objective physical activity. Functional performance assessments included sit to-stand (STS), handgrip strength (HGS), timed-up-and-go (TUG), and static balance tests as well as cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) for maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max). Descriptive statistics were performed to present participants’ characteristics as means with standard deviations. Independent t-tests were used to determine the differences between adults (< 60 years) and seniors (≥ 60 years). Partial correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between risk factors for NCDs and FP as well as the relationship between CRF and FP. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM SPSS Statistics v.23, Chicago, IL, USA) with the level of statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A significant difference between the AF and the SF for height (p < 0.003), SBP (p = 0.027), MVPA (p = 0.023), left- and right HG, as well as left- and right single leg stance (SLS) (p <0.001) was observed. The results around risk factors for NCDs and FP showed a significant relationship between BMI and TUG in both groups (AF: p = .019; SF: p = .031). In AF the waist circumference (WC) correlated significantly with TUG (r =.348; p = .006). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) correlated significantly and negatively with right HG (r = -.301; p = .019). In SF, WC correlated significantly and positively with right HG (r = .259; p = .039) and negatively with left SLS (r = -.254; p = .042). Moreover, the adults’ STS tests correlated positively with VO2max (r = 208; p ≤ .001). A significant inverse relationship was found in both groups between TUG (r = -.471; p < 0.001) and VO2max (r = -.355; p = .003). The left- (r = .274; p= .028 and r = .354; p = .004) and right SLS (r = .261; p = .037 and r = .265; p = .032) correlated significantly and positively with VO2max in AF and SF in this population. In conclusion, the main finding of the study was the significant relationship in this population between obesity and abdominal obesity as risk factors on the one hand and, on the other, functional ability variables including balance and mobility in conjunction with high levels of physical inactivity. Moreover, physical inactivity was related to a decline in CRF, thus also a reduced functional ability. However, our findings demonstrated that physical function was not confined to CRF but was also related to ageing. Considering the health implications, our results show the importance of engaging community-dwelling adults in activities aimed at improving their overall health, such as their physical fitness and -function.