Association between Educational Level and Physical Activity in Chronic Disease Patients of Eastern Slovakia.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate selected chronic diseases patients with different educational attainment regarding their awareness of and compliance with recommended physical activity. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to February 2019 in cooperation with chronic diseases clinics in eastern Slovakia. The study involved 893 patients. RESULTS: People with higher education apparently recognise to a greater extent the importance of nutrition, diet, and the role of physical activity in treating their disease. Moreover, they have knowledge of physical exercises appropriate for their disease. Conversely, a noticeably higher number of less educated patients reported receiving general, respectively detailed information about the importance of physical activity in treating their disease. Differences in awareness of appropriate exercises and their implementation were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results fail to prove educational attainment being a key determinant of chronic diseases. However, it can be reasonably argued that lower educational attainment may be a reliable risk signal of chronic diseases in later life.

The Relationship between Overweight and Overactive Bladder Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Several authors have investigated the relationship between obesity - assessed only by body mass index (BMI) - and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and the severity of OAB symptoms with an impact on quality of life. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 206 overweight women; they were university students (BMI = 25.8 ± 3.0) with an average age of 30.6 ± 2.4 years. Body composition analysis was used, including assessment of BFP, visceral fat area (cm2/level), and other parameters. OAB symptoms were evaluated with an OAB questionnaire (OAB-q), voiding diary, and quality of life scale (I-QoL). RESULTS: Ninety women had a BFP >32% and 116 had a BFP <32%. The voiding diary and OAB-q confirmed significant differences in 24-h daytime and nighttime frequency of voiding and average urine volume during the day. The OAB-q symptom score was lower in the group with BFP <32%. I-QoL recorded significantly worse parameters in the group with BFP >32% (p < 0.01). The Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale significantly correlated with BFP (r = 0.466, p < 0.001). Women with a BFP above 32% had a 1.95 times greater chance of developing OAB (odds ratio = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.09-3.52, p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Young women with a BFP >32% were 95% more likely to have OAB than other young women with a BPF <32%.

Effect of an exercise programme for reducing abdominal fat on overactive bladder symptoms in young overweight women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The effect of exercise in relation to overweight and overactive bladder (OAB) in young women has not been sufficiently supported by studies. The objective of our study was to reduce symptoms of OAB through a 3-month exercise programme in young overweight women with OAB. The sample consisted of 70 women (mean age 26.7 ± 4.8 years), 36 being treated and 34 in the control group. METHODS: We used a body composition analyser with the assessment of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (kg), body fat mass (BFM) (kg), body fat percentage (BFP) (%), visceral fat area (VFA) (cm²/level) and the waist/hip circumference index (WHR). OAB symptoms were evaluated using a voiding diary, the overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q) and the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS). The intervention was a programme for the reduction of abdominal fat (PRAF), with elements of aerobic training, strengthening of the abdominal muscles and stretching. RESULTS: In the OAB symptoms assessed through the voiding diary (number of voidings per 24 h, nocturia, mean voided volume) as well as in the OAB-q and PPIUS scales after training, significant differences were reported in favour of the treatment group [number of voidings per 24 h: treatment vs. control group, baseline 9.1 ± 0.3 vs. 8.6 ± 0.3, final 6.9 ± 0.2 vs. 8.1 ± 0.2, p < 0.0001; mean voided volume per 24 h (ml): treatment vs. control group, baseline 154.2 ± 9.1 vs. 162.2 ± 9.3, final 201.3 ± 9.3 vs. 164.1 ± 9.6, p < 0.0001] with a large effect size (ES). In the body composition analysis after training, significant differences were also reported in favour of the treatment group in the reduction of body mass index (BMI), BFP and VFA (p < 0.0001), with a large ES. CONCLUSIONS: Body composition analysis confirmed a reduction of BMI, body weight, body fat percentage, visceral abdominal fat, the WHR index and waist circumference in favour of the treatment group after the 12-week PRAF exercise programme. A reduction in OAB symptoms was also objectively confirmed following the PRAF exercise programme.

The impact of different intensities of exercise on body weight reduction and overactive bladder symptoms- randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate the effect of a 3-month exercise programme with two different intensities on the reduction of body weight and body fat percentage in overweight women with overactive bladder symptoms (OAB). STUDY DESIGN: randomised controlled study. The sample consisted of 77 overweight women with OAB symptoms, with an average age of 26.2 years. Body mass index (BMI) measurements confirmed if women were overweight. Participants were split into two groups, as follows: Group 1 (programme with high intensity) (n = 39) and group 2 (programme with low intensity) (n = 38). For evaluation of body composition, we used Bioelectric impedance analysis with assessment of body fat percentage (BFP) and visceral fat area (VFA). OAB symptoms were evaluated using a voiding diary, an overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q) and the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS). The intervention was a Programme for Reduction of Abdominal Fat, aimed at reducing abdominal fat with elements of aerobic training, strengthening of the surface and deep abdominal muscles and stretching. RESULTS: Group 1 lost body weight and showed a reduction in Body Fat Percentage (BFP) of more than 5%, whereas group 2 did not. Significant differences in OAB symptoms (p < 0.01) were recorded after training in favour of group 1 (number of voiding per 24 h changed from 8.92 ± 1.7 to 6.87 ± 0.40, OAB-q SS from 11.36 ± 8.57 to 1.46 ± 3.4). In the body composition assessment, significant differences (p < 0.001) were recorded after training in favour of group 1, in terms of BMI, BFP, WFA and body weight reduction. CONCLUSION: The high intensity exercise programme for reducing abdominal fat (PRAF) significantly reduces overweight and mild symptoms of OAB after 12 weeks.

Comparison of body composition and overactive bladder symptoms in overweight female university students.

OBJECTIVES: To compare body composition in young overweight women with OAB compared to women without OAB, and to determine the severity of the symptoms of OAB, as well as to investigate the impact of OAB on quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 1932 enrolled women classed as overweight (BMI:25-29.9).From this sample, 276 women were recruited. Of these, 206 women with an average age of 30.6 ± 20.4 years and an average BMI of 25.8 ± 3.0 were confirmed to be overweight. We used the Voiding Diary, the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire(OAB-q),and the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL) scale. Body composition was measured using direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, with assessment of: skeletal muscle mass(kg)(SMM), body fat mass (kg)(BFM), body fat percentage (%)(BFP), visceral fat area (cm2/level)(VFA), and waist to hip ratio(WHR). RESULTS: The voiding diary and OAB-q results confirmed OAB in 102 women. There was no significant difference in BMI between groups. The body composition analysis showed significant differences in BFP, VFA, and WHR, with higher values in the OAB group(p < 0.01). SMM, however, was higher in the group without OAB(p < 0.01). Recorded I-QoL scores showed worse parameters in the OAB group(p < 0.001). Women with a body fat percentage above 32% have a 1.95 times greater chance of developing OAB. Odds ratio [OR] = 1.95,(95%CI:1.09-3.52,p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Body fat percentage, visceral fat area, and waist to hip ratio were significantly higher in overweight women with OAB, compared with women without OAB and a comparable BMI.

The impact of physical activity measured by the International Physical Activity questionnaire on the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence in young women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SUI symptoms in sportswomen (with a high intensity of physical activity) and non-sportswomen (with a low intensity of physical activity), according to the estimated intensity of physical activity in metabolic equivalents using the IPAQ questionnaire. Another goal was to identify relationships between SUI symptoms, intensity of physical activity, and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 1005 participants were enrolled into the study. We used the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI SF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life scale (I-QoL) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Out of the 1005 participants, the final sample of 557 women is the result of the adoption of exclusion criteria. The sample consisted of 557 women (270 sportswomen and 287 non-sportswomen) with an average age of 20.9 ± 2.8 years. The ICIQ-UI SF confirmed slight urinary leakage in 33 (6.14%) sportswomen and 11 (2.04%) non-sportswomen. The risk of reporting SUI was higher in the sportswomen group (odds ratio: 3.49; 95% CI: 1.727-7.064, p < 0.001). Significant positive correlation was observed between SUI (assessed by ICIQ-UI SF) and high intensity physical activity (in metabolic equivalents (r = 0.242, p < 0.01). Significant negative correlation was observed between SUI and quality of life (I-QoL) (r = -0.648, p < 0.001). OAB symptoms were not present in the monitored groups. (OAB - q - SS in sportwomen were 4.3 ± 5.4, in non-sportwomen 4.5 ± 4.9, p = 0.265). CONCLUSIONS: Sportswomen with high-intensity physical activities in metabolic equivalents measured by the IPAQ have a greater chance of reporting SUI than non-sportswomen, resulting in a negative impact on quality of life.

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Females Performing High-Impact Exercises.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to monitor the prevalence of symptoms of stress (SUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) in sportswomen performing high-impact exercises. A further objective was to compare the symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) and quality of life in sportswomen. We used the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-SF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version. The group consisted of 503 sportswomen with a mean age of 21.1±3.6. The response rate was 71.15%. ICIQ-SF results confirmed mild difficulties with urine leakage in 72 (14.3%) sportswomen. Urinary leakage was not noted in 431 (85.7%) sportswomen. The OAB-q and I-QOL showed a significant difference, with pronounced symptoms of UUI and worse QOL in the group of sportswomen with urine leakage (p<0.000). The I-QOL recorded significantly worse parameters in the group of sportswomen with urine leakage (p<0.000). Prevalence of SUI was found in 68 (13.52%), and MUI was found in 4 (0.80%) sportswomen. Every seventh sportswoman (14.3%) in the study group had reported problems with UI when practising high-impact sporting activities, with a negative impact on QOL.