Costs associated with insufficient physical activity in Germany: cross-sectional results from the baseline examination of the German national cohort (NAKO).

BACKGROUND: Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases posing a significant economic burden to healthcare systems and societies. The study aimed to examine the differences in healthcare and indirect costs between sufficient and insufficient PA and the cost differences between PA intensity groups. METHODS: The cross-sectional analysis was based on data from 157,648 participants in the baseline examination of the German National Cohort (NAKO) study. Healthcare and indirect costs were calculated based on self-reported information on health-related resource use and productivity losses. PA in the domains leisure, transport, and work was assessed by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and categorized into sufficient/insufficient and intensity levels (very low/low/medium/high) based on PA recommendations of the World Health Organization. Two-part models adjusted for relevant covariates were used to estimate mean costs for PA groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Insufficiently active people had higher average annual healthcare costs (Δ €188, 95% CI [64, 311]) and healthcare plus indirect costs (Δ €482, 95% CI [262, 702]) compared to sufficiently active people. The difference was especially evident in the population aged 60 + years and when considering only leisure PA. An inverse association was observed between leisure PA and costs, whereas a direct association was found between PA at work and costs. Adjusting for the number of comorbidities reduced the differences between activity groups, but the trend persisted. The association between PA and costs differed in direction between PA domains. Future research may provide further insight into the temporal relationship between PA and costs.

Multi-Trait Body Shape Phenotypes and Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women: A Causal Mediation Analysis in the UK Biobank Cohort.

Body shape phenotypes combining multiple anthropometric traits have been linked to postmenopausal breast cancer (BC). However, underlying biological pathways remain poorly understood. This study investigated to what extent the associations of body shapes with postmenopausal BC risk is mediated by biochemical markers. The study included 176,686 postmenopausal women from UK Biobank. Four body shape phenotypes were derived from principal component (PC) analysis of height, weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The four-way decomposition of the total effect was used to estimate mediation and interaction effects simultaneously as well as the mediated proportions. After 10.9 years median follow-up, 6,396 incident postmenopausal BC were diagnosed. There was strong evidence of positive associations between PC1 (general obesity) and PC2 (tall, low WHR), and BC risk. The association of PC1 with BC risk was positively mediated by testosterone and negatively by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), with the overall proportion mediated (sum of the mediated interaction and pure indirect effect (PIE)) accounting for 11.4% (95% confidence intervals: 5.1 to 17.8%) and -12.2% (-20.5% to -4.0%) of the total effect, respectively. Small proportions of the association between PC2 and BC were mediated by IGF-1 (PIE: 2.8% (0.6 to 4.9%)), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (PIE: -6.1% (-10.9% to -1.3%)). Our findings are consistent with differential pathways linking different body shapes with BC risk, with a suggestive mediation through testosterone and IGF-1 in the relationship of a generally obese body shape and BC risk, while IGF-1 and SHBG may mediate a tall/lean body shape-BC risk association.

Managing Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms During the Fentanyl Crisis: A Review.

Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is a significant contributor to the increasing rates of overdose-related deaths. Its high potency and lipophilicity can complicate opioid withdrawal syndromes (OWS) and the subsequent management of opioid use disorder (OUD). This scoping review aimed to collate the current OWS management of study populations seeking treatment for OWS and/or OUD directly from an unregulated opioid supply, such as IMF. Therefore, the focus was on therapeutic interventions published between January 2010 and November 2023, overlapping with the period of increasing IMF exposure. A health science librarian conducted a systematic search on November 13, 2023. A total of 426 studies were screened, and 173 studies were reviewed at the full-text level. Forty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Buprenorphine and naltrexone were included in most studies with the goal of transitioning to a long-acting injectable version. Various augmenting agents were tested (buspirone, memantine, suvorexant, gabapentin, and pregabalin); however, the liberal use of adjunctive medication and shortened timelines to initiation had the most consistently positive results. Outside of FDA-approved medications for OUD, lofexidine, gabapentin, and suvorexant have limited evidence for augmenting opioid agonist initiation. Trials often have low retention rates, particularly when opioid agonist washout is required. Neurostimulation strategies were promising; however, they were developed and studied early. Precipitated withdrawal is a concern; however, the rates were low and adequately mitigated or managed with low- or high-dose buprenorphine induction. Maintenance treatment continues to be superior to detoxification without continued management. Shorter induction protocols allow patients to initiate evidence-based treatment more quickly, reducing the use of illicit or non-prescribed substances.

Tissue-specific genetic variation suggests distinct molecular pathways between body shape phenotypes and colorectal cancer.

It remains unknown whether adiposity subtypes are differentially associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). To move beyond single-trait anthropometric indicators, we derived four multi-trait body shape phenotypes reflecting adiposity subtypes from principal components analysis on body mass index, height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist and hip circumference. A generally obese (PC1) and a tall, centrally obese (PC3) body shape were both positively associated with CRC risk in observational analyses in 329,828 UK Biobank participants (3728 cases). In genome-wide association studies in 460,198 UK Biobank participants, we identified 3414 genetic variants across four body shapes and Mendelian randomization analyses confirmed positive associations of PC1 and PC3 with CRC risk (52,775 cases/45,940 controls from GECCO/CORECT/CCFR). Brain tissue-specific genetic instruments, mapped to PC1 through enrichment analysis, were responsible for the relationship between PC1 and CRC, while the relationship between PC3 and CRC was predominantly driven by adipose tissue-specific genetic instruments. This study suggests distinct putative causal pathways between adiposity subtypes and CRC.

Large-scale assessment of physical activity in a population using high-resolution hip-worn accelerometry: the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Large population-based cohort studies utilizing device-based measures of physical activity are crucial to close important research gaps regarding the potential protective effects of physical activity on chronic diseases. The present study details the quality control processes and the derivation of physical activity metrics from 100 Hz accelerometer data collected in the German National Cohort (NAKO). During the 2014 to 2019 baseline assessment, a subsample of NAKO participants wore a triaxial ActiGraph accelerometer on their right hip for seven consecutive days. Auto-calibration, signal feature calculations including Euclidean Norm Minus One (ENMO) and Mean Amplitude Deviation (MAD), identification of non-wear time, and imputation, were conducted using the R package GGIR version 2.10-3. A total of 73,334 participants contributed data for accelerometry analysis, of whom 63,236 provided valid data. The average ENMO was 11.7 ± 3.7 mg (milli gravitational acceleration) and the average MAD was 19.9 ± 6.1 mg. Notably, acceleration summary metrics were higher in men than women and diminished with increasing age. Work generated in the present study will facilitate harmonized analysis, reproducibility, and utilization of NAKO accelerometry data. The NAKO accelerometry dataset represents a valuable asset for physical activity research and will be accessible through a specified application process.

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the first COVID-19 pandemic- restrictions in Germany: a nationwide survey : Running head: physical activity during the COVID-19 restrictions.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions posed challenges to maintaining healthy lifestyles and physical well-being. During the first mobility restrictions from March to mid-July 2020, the German population was advised to stay home, except for work, exercise, and essential shopping. Our objective was to comprehensively assess the impact of these restrictions on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior to identify the most affected groups. METHODS: Between April 30, 2020, and May 12, 2020, we distributed a COVID-19-specific questionnaire to participants of the German National Cohort (NAKO). This questionnaire gathered information about participants' physical activity and sedentary behavior currently compared to the time before the restrictions. We integrated this new data with existing information on anxiety, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. The analyses focused on sociodemographic factors, social relationships, physical health, and working conditions. RESULTS: Out of 152,421 respondents, a significant proportion reported altered physical activity and sedentary behavioral patterns due to COVID-19 restrictions. Over a third of the participants initially meeting the WHO's physical activity recommendation could no longer meet the guidelines during the restrictions. Participants reported substantial declines in sports activities (mean change (M) = -0.38; 95% CI: -.390; -.378; range from -2 to + 2) and reduced active transportation (M = -0.12; 95% CI: -.126; -.117). However, they also increased recreational physical activities (M = 0.12; 95% CI: .117; .126) while engaging in more sedentary behavior (M = 0.24; 95% CI: .240; .247) compared to pre-restriction levels. Multivariable linear and log-binomial regression models indicated that younger adults were more affected by the restrictions than older adults. The shift to remote work, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms were the factors most strongly associated with changes in all physical activity domains, including sedentary behavior, and the likelihood to continue following the physical activity guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Mobility patterns shifted towards inactivity or low-intensity activities during the nationwide restrictions in the spring of 2020, potentially leading to considerable and lasting health risks.

Mortality in Treatment-seeking Older Adults Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Older adults (OAs; age 55+ years) are increasingly seeking specialty treatment of opioid use disorder. Previous analyses of the Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharges (TEDS-D) database have reported higher rates of in-treatment mortality for those receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). We evaluate current trends in mortality for treatment-seeking OAs. METHODS: Using the 2020 TEDS-D, logistic regression predicted in-treatment mortality for OAs from planned MOUD, service level, and interaction terms. RESULTS: Of the 26,993 OA treatment discharges, 679 people were discharged due to death (2.52%). OAs with MOUD (3.65%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.37%-3.95%) were significantly more likely to discharge due to death than those without MOUD (0.82%; 95% CI, 0.66%-1.01%). Most records were for nonintensive outpatient (83.7%; n = 22,588), which had the highest mortality (2.89%; 95% CI, 2.68%-3.11%); intensive services (n = 4405) had a mortality rate of 0.61% (95% CI, 0.42%-0.89%). Among OAs, planned MOUD with nonintensive outpatient services had a mortality rate of 4.17% (95% CI, 3.56%-4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This TEDS-D analysis extends previous literature highlighting a significant interaction between planned MOUD and service intensity on in-treatment mortality for OAs. Additional research is needed to address the causal mechanisms behind these interactions and inform the delivery of safe effective care in the growing OA population.

Integrated care models for co-occurring alcohol use disorders and alcohol-associated liver disease in rural communities: Telehealth considerations and opportunities.

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) have growing impacts on public health, yet many do not receive evidence-based care. People with co-occurring AUD and ALD, especially those in rural communities with less access to specialty care, are most in need of novel integrated care models. The use of telehealth to facilitate co-location within an integrated care model may help to improve access to AUD and ALD care while reducing barriers and improving recovery outcomes for both the substance use disorder and liver disease.

Evidence of telescoping in females across two decades of US treatment admissions for injection drug use: 2000-2020.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) have an increased risk of soft tissue infection, drug overdose and death. Females may be particularly vulnerable due to barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment entry, stigma, and telescoping, or the greater severity in substance use-related comorbidity and consequences despite a shorter history of use. We set out to identify sex differences in United States injection drug use (IDU). Methods: The Treatment Episode Dataset-Admission (2000-2020) provided data to identify PWID undergoing their initial SUD treatment admission. Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square, and Spearman correlations were used for ordinal variables, categorical variables, and to assess similarity of male/female trends over the 21 years, respectively. The probabilistic index (PI) and Cramer's V provided effect sizes for Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square tests, respectively. Results: A total of 13,612,978 records existed for cases entering their initial treatment. Mapping to a history of IDU left 1,458,695 (561,793 females). Females had a higher prevalence among PWID across all 21 years; IDU trends were essentially identical between males and females (r = 0.97). Females endorsed beginning their primary substance later in life (PI = 0.47, p < 0.0001) and entered treatment after a shorter period of substance use (PI = 0.57, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: We saw evidence of telescoping among PWID with a SUD entering their initial episode of treatment. Interventions should be implemented prior to the transition to IDU, and this window of opportunity is shortened in females. Utilizing gender-responsive treatment options may be a way to increase treatment-seeking earlier in the disease course.

Climate-specific health literacy in health professionals: an exploratory study.

Background: Health professionals such as physicians and nurses may play an important role in the transformation process towards a healthy, sustainable and climate-sensitive society. However, little is known about their climate-specific health literacy. This study aimed to assess knowledge regarding climate change and its impacts on health and climate-specific health literacy in health professionals. Methods: In July/August 2022, a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was carried out at the University Hospital Regensburg, Germany, to assess climate-specific health literacy in nurses and physicians from various clinical specialties. Descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses were performed. Results: The study population consisted of 142 participants (57.7% women; response rate: 24,7%). Most participants (93%) considered climate change to be highly relevant. However, only 12% of respondents stated to be very well informed regarding the general consequences of climate change. Although 57% of all participants had never mentioned climate change in relation to health to their patients, participants with higher levels of knowledge regarding the effects of climate change were more likely to mention it compared to those with lower levels of knowledge. The most frequently stated obstacle to integrate the topic of climate change in clinical work was lack of time during work (79%), not enough information (42%) and lacking materials (39%). Differences between health professions were apparent. Conclusion: The results of our survey suggest that the current state of climate-specific health literacy differs between different groups of health professionals. There is a need to improve health professionals' levels of climate-specific health literacy and to increase the potential in interprofessional cooperation regarding planetary health.

Recovery Capital Correlates With Less Methamphetamine Use and Crime in the Community.

OBJECTIVES: Reentry postcorrectional involvement is a high-risk time for patients with a history of addiction. We investigated whether participation in an addiction medicine clinic with active case management led to improvements in patients' recovery capital and whether there were associated changes in criminal activity and co-occurring methamphetamine or alcohol use. METHODS: Participants (n = 136) were patients with an opioid or stimulant use disorder who had Department of Corrections involvement in the preceding year, who completed the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) and reported criminal activity and days of methamphetamine or alcohol use twice over a 6-month study. Three logistic regression models were used to assess changes in total ARC with criminal activity, alcohol use, and methamphetamine use over the previous 30 days. RESULTS: Baseline mean (SD) ARC scores were 34.1 (11.1) and increased to a mean (SD) score of 40.3 (9.4) at study end. A 1-SD shift in ARC was significantly protective across outcomes, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.32, 0.18, and 0.34 for any past 30-day criminal activity, alcohol use, or methamphetamine use. There was no significant difference in baseline ARC, crimes committed, days of alcohol use, or days of methamphetamine use for study completers versus noncompleters; however, unmeasured confounders may have had a differential impact on retention. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery capital provides an additional framework to help address patients' substance use and criminal activity in a multifaceted way, which is especially important in the postincarceration community. Recovery capital is dynamic and has multiple areas to target psychosocial interventions.

Recovery Capital Gains May Precede Craving Reduction in Opioid Use Disorder.

Purpose: Cravings for drugs and alcohol have been significantly associated with worse treatment outcomes. We investigated if improvements in recovery capital (RC) (eg, a measure of social capital/network, financial resources, education, and cultural factors) over time were associated with decreased reported cravings. Patients and Methods: The original cohort consisted of 133 participants (63 females) with opioid use disorder seeking outpatient treatment, who completed the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) (range 0 to 50) and the Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM) thrice over the 6-month study. Intervention was medication and case management. Analysis included one-way mixed models testing change over time for ARC total scores and single question craving rating (5-point Likert scale). Cross-lagged panel estimates used structural equation models with variables z-scored, allowing for path coefficient evaluation as standard deviations (sd). Results: Total ARC significantly increased over the study (χ2 = 33.77, df = 2, p < 0.0001), with baseline of 36.6 (n = 114, sd = 11.1) and 6-month of 41.2 (n = 107, sd = 9.5). Craving also changed significantly (χ2 = 8.51, df = 2, p < 0.015), with baseline of 1.1 (n = 101, sd = 1.2) and 6-month of 0.9 (n = 107, sd = 1.1). The cross-lag from baseline RC to 3-month craving was significant (ß = -0.28, SE = 0.11, z = -2.53, p < 0.011). The converse was not true; baseline craving did not affect later RC. Results were similarly significant when comparing 3-month to 6-month. The majority of sample was on buprenorphine. Conclusion: As RC improves, the reported cravings at both 3- and 6-month study time points are significantly reduced. When evaluated inversely, there was not a significant association with baseline cravings and follow-up RC. Significant path coefficients provide an estimation of a directional effect from increased RC towards craving reduction.

Sex Differences in Recovery Capital Gains Post-Incarceration.

BACKGROUND: People with substance use disorders are highly prevalent in the carceral system. Recovery capital (RC) is the resources available to an individual to initiate or maintain substance use cessation. Sex differences have been identified in RC during both active substance use and recovery in the general population, however, less is known about these sex differences in the post-incarceration population. METHODS: Participants (n = 136) were those with an opioid or stimulant use disorder with past year involvement with the Iowa criminal justice system (USA), who completed the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) twice over a six-month cohort study. Participants were involved in an addiction clinic that utilized active case management. Analysis of covariance evaluated changes in ARC during the study. Separate models compared total ARC and individual ARC domains, with sex as the independent variable of interest. Model means were generated for interpretation based on sex, comparing baseline and study endpoint ARC scores. RESULTS: There were no baseline sex differences in total ARC. ARC increased significantly for the group, however, males showed disproportionate growth. Females ended the study with a mean ARC of 37.8 (SD= 9.3) and males finished at 41.6 (SD= 9.3), which was a significant difference (p = 0.044); this significant difference was driven by ARC subdomains of 'Psychological Health' and 'Physical Health.' CONCLUSIONS: People post-incarceration are at high risk for return to substance use. Treatment that is informed by sex-based differences may have the potential to decrease the differing rates of growth in RC between sexes.

Association between circadian physical activity patterns and mortality in the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of physical activity (PA) for increasing longevity is well-established, however, the impact of diurnal timing of PA on mortality remains poorly understood. We aimed to derive circadian PA patterns and investigate their associations with all-cause mortality. METHODS: We used 24 h PA time series from 96,351 UK Biobank participants aged between 42 and 79 years at accelerometry in 2013-2015. Functional principal component analysis (fPCA) was applied to obtain circadian PA patterns. Using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, we related the loading scores of these fPCs to estimate risk of mortality. RESULTS: During 6.9 years of follow-up, 2,850 deaths occurred. Four distinct fPCs accounted for 96% of the variation of the accelerometry data. Using a loading score of zero (i.e., average overall PA during the day) as the reference, a fPC1 score of + 2 (high overall PA) was inversely associated with mortality (Hazard ratio, HR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84-0.99), whereas a score of -2 (low overall PA) was associated with higher mortality (1.69; 95% CI: 1.57-1.81; p for non-linearity < 0.001). Significant inverse linear associations with mortality were observed for engaging in midday PA instead of early and late PA (fPC3) (HR for a 1-unit increase 0.88; 95% CI: 0.83-0.93). In contrast, midday and nocturnal PA instead of early and evening PA (fPC4) were positively associated with mortality (HR for a 1-unit increase 1.16; 95% CI: 1.08-1.25). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that it is less important during which daytime hours one is active but rather, to engage in some level of elevated PA for longevity.

Improvements in recovery capital are associated with decreased alcohol use in a primary opioid use disorder treatment-seeking cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Comorbid substance use can negatively impact multiple aspects of treatment for patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD). We investigated if treatment for OUD led to improvements in patients' recovery capital (RC) overtime, and whether there were associated changes in co-occurring alcohol use. METHODS: Participants (n = 133) were patients with OUD seeking outpatient treatment, who completed the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) and reported drinking days per 30-day period thrice over the 6-month study. No specific treatments targeting alcohol were used. Two different models were employed to assess changes in total ARC score and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for past 30-day abstinence. RESULTS: Baseline mean ARC scores were 36.6 and significantly increased to mean score of 41.2 at study end. Ninety-one participants (68.4%) reported no alcohol use at baseline, and 97 (78.9%) reported no use in the previous 30 days at study endpoint. For each increase in ARC, there was an aOR 1.07 (confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.13) for past 30-day abstinence. Considering ARC standard deviation of 10.33 over all measurements, this equates to an aOR of 2.10 (CI: 1.22-3.62) for past 30-day abstinence. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We saw significantly increased aOR for past 30-day abstinence as RC improved in an OUD treatment-seeking population. This difference was not caused by differences in ARC between study completers and noncompleters. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Showcases how RC growth may be protective of past 30-day alcohol use in an OUD cohort and adds specific aOR for abstinence per ARC increase.

Health-Promoting and Sustainable Behavior in University Students in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Health-promoting and sustainable behaviors, such as active transportation and sustainable diets, are associated with positive effects on human health and the environment. In order to unlock the potential of university students as key actors and multipliers, it is of interest to investigate their level of knowledge about the health effects of climate change and their willingness toward and implementation of health-promoting and sustainable behaviors. In November 2021, an online survey was conducted among students at the University of Regensburg, Germany. A total of 3756 participants (response rate 18%; mean age 23 years; 69% women) provided valid data. A large proportion of medical students (48%) considered themselves well-informed about the health-related effects of climate change, while only a small proportion (22%) of students within economic/computer/data sciences and law felt informed. Most participants knew about the impact of climate change on malnutrition (78%), but considerably fewer were aware of its impact on cardiovascular diseases (52%). Participants who considered themselves informed were consistently more willing to engage in climate-friendly behavior, and this willingness was also reflected in their actions, as they simultaneously promoted a healthy lifestyle. Across all academic disciplines, there is a strong need for knowledge transfer regarding topics that combine health and sustainable development.

Perceived risk of LSD varies with age and race: evidence from 2019 United States cross-sectional data.

PURPOSE: Psychedelics are being explored for their potential therapeutic benefits across a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses and may usher in a new age in psychiatric treatment. There is stigma associated with these currently illegal substances, and use varies by race and age. We hypothesized that minoritized racial and ethnic populations, relative to White respondents, would perceive psychedelic use as riskier. METHODS: Using 2019 cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we conducted a secondary analysis of 41,679 respondents. Perceived risk of heroin was used as a surrogate for overall risk of illegal substance use; heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide were the only substances queried this way in the sample. RESULTS: A majority regarded lysergic acid diethylamide (66.7%) and heroin (87.3%) as a great risk if used once or twice. There were clear differences by race, with White respondents and those indicating more than one race having significantly lower perceived risk of lysergic acid diethylamide than respondents from other groups. Perceived risk of use also significantly increased with age. CONCLUSION: Perceived risk of lysergic acid diethylamide is unevenly distributed across the population. Stigma and racial disparities in drug-related crimes likely contribute to this. As research into potential therapeutic indications for psychedelics continues, perceived risk of use may change.

[Work-related sedentary behavior]. / Arbeitsbezogenes sedentäres Verhalten: Eine explorative Studie an Verwaltungsangestellten einer Universitätsklinik.

Background: Sedentary behavior is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and all-cause mortality. Occupational sitting time contributes to large amounts of daily sedentary behavior, especially in office workers. Objective: This study investigated the amount of time spent in sedentary behavior during different tasks at work and while commuting of administrative personnel of a university hospital in Germany. Material and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of administrative employees at the University Hospital Regensburg, Germany was carried out to assess work-related sedentary behavior. Descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses were performed. Results: The study population consisted of 159 participants (54.1% women, 51.6% older than 40 years), which corresponds to a response rate of 26%. The median daily sitting time in the office was 7.0 h (interquartile range, IQR 6.0-7.5 h) and mostly occurred during computer work (57.3%), telephone calls (13.2%) and meetings (11.7%). Median standing time at work was 0.8 h (IQR 0.3-1.4 h). Administrative staff spent a median of 0.7 h (IQR 0.3-1.0 h) per day sedentary while commuting, with 67.3% of respondents commuting by car, motorbike or scooter. The participants were of the opinion that sitting for long uninterrupted periods had negative (69.6%) or relatively negative (29.7%) effects on health. Conclusion: Administrative staff in hospitals spend large amounts of the daily working time with sedentary behavior. Interventions that enable working both in sitting and standing positions can lead to reduced work-related sitting time and thereby could improve occupational and, in a broader sense, public health.

Association of epidemiological and clinical features with PCR cycle threshold values of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional study.

The cycle threshold (Ct) in quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is inversely correlated to the amount of viral nucleic acid or viral load and can be regarded as an indicator of infectivity. We examined the association of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive cases with PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values at the time of diagnosis. SARS-CoV-2 cases reported between 12 October 2020 and 24 January 2021 in Regensburg were analyzed employing bivariate and multivariable methods. We included 3,029 SARS-CoV-2 cases (31% asymptomatic at diagnosis) and analyzed the association of case characteristics with Ct values in 2,606 cases. Among symptomatic patients, cough (38.0%), rhinitis (32.4%), headache (32.0), and fever/chills (29.9%) were the most frequent complaints. Ct values ≤20 were more frequent in symptomatic cases (20.9% vs. 11.3%), whereas Ct values >30 were more common in asymptomatic cases (32.6% vs. 18.0%). Ct values >20 and ≤30 were most common in symptomatic and asymptomatic cases (48.0% vs 40.7%). We observed lower median Ct values of E and N gene in symptomatic cases. In a random forest model, the total number of symptoms, respiratory symptoms, and age were most strongly associated with low Ct values. In conclusion, certain symptoms and age were associated with lower Ct values. Ct values can be used as a pragmatic approach in estimating infectivity at the first notification of a case and, thus, in guiding containment measures.

Body shape phenotypes of multiple anthropometric traits and cancer risk: a multi-national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Classical anthropometric traits may fail to fully represent the relationship of weight, adiposity, and height with cancer risk. We investigated the associations of body shape phenotypes with the risk of overall and site-specific cancers. METHODS: We derived four distinct body shape phenotypes from principal component (PC) analysis on height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist (WC) and hip circumferences (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The study included 340,152 men and women from 9 European countries, aged mostly 35-65 years at recruitment (1990-2000) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 15.3 years, 47,110 incident cancer cases were recorded. PC1 (overall adiposity) was positively associated with the risk of overall cancer, with a HR per 1 standard deviation (SD) increment equal to 1.07 (95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.08). Positive associations were observed with 10 cancer types, with HRs (per 1 SD) ranging from 1.36 (1.30-1.42) for endometrial cancer to 1.08 (1.03-1.13) for rectal cancer. PC2 (tall stature with low WHR) was positively associated with the risk of overall cancer (1.03; 1.02-1.04) and five cancer types which were not associated with PC1. PC3 (tall stature with high WHR) was positively associated with the risk of overall cancer (1.04; 1.03-1.05) and 12 cancer types. PC4 (high BMI and weight with low WC and HC) was not associated with overall risk of cancer (1.00; 0.99-1.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-national study, distinct body shape phenotypes were positively associated with the incidence of 17 different cancers and overall cancer.