Association of self-reported physical activity with obstructive sleep apnea: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

We examined associations of mild and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; apnea-hypopnea index ≥5 and ≥15, respectively) with recommended amounts of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) and by type of activity (i.e., recreational, transportation, and work activity). The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a multicenter population-based study, enrolled individuals from 2008 to 2011 from four U.S. metropolitan areas (Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; San Diego, California). Participants in this study included 14,206 self-identified Hispanic/Latino ages 18 to 74 years from theHCHS/SOL. Survey logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI], adjusting for sociodemographics, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI). Relative to being inactive, performing some MVPA (>0 to <150 minutes/week) or meeting the recommended MVPA (≥150 minutes/week) were associated with lower odds of mild OSA (ORs and 95% CIs 0.70 [0.61-0.82] and 0.76 [0.63-0.91], respectively), as well as moderate to severe OSA (ORs and 95% CIs 0.76 [0.62-0.93] and 0.76 [0.59-0.98], respectively). Associations of VPA with OSA were not significant. Engaging in medium or high levels of transportation activity was associated with lower odds of mild OSA (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.96; OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.95, respectively). Performing some recreational MVPA was associated with lower likelihood of mild and moderate to severe OSA (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71-0.93; OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.97, respectively). Health promotion and OSA prevention efforts should encourage individuals to engage in at least some MVPA

Mental Health and Exposure to the United States: Key Correlates from the Hispanic Community Health Study of Latinos

We examined the association between exposure to the U.S. and symptoms of poor mental health among adult Hispanic/Latinos (N=15,004) overall and by Hispanic/Latino background. Using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), we estimated logistic regressions to model the risk of moderate to severe symptoms of psychological distress, depression, and anxiety as a function of years in the U.S. and 6 key psychosocial risk and protective factors. In unadjusted models, increased time in the U.S. was associated with higher risk of poor mental health. After adjustment for just 3 key factors – perceived discrimination, perceived U.S. social standing, and the size of close social networks, differences in the odds of poor mental health by years in the U.S became insignificant for Hispanics/Latinos overall. However, analyses by Hispanic/Latino background revealed different patterns of association with exposure to the U.S. that could not be fully explained

Compositional and Temporal Changes in the Gut Microbiome of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Patients Are Linked to Disease Course

Evaluating progression risk and determining optimal therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC) is challenging as many patients exhibit incomplete responses to treatment. As part of the PROTECT (Predicting Response to Standardized Colitis Therapy) Study, we evaluated the role of the gut microbiome in disease course for 405 pediatric, new-onset, treatment-naive UC patients. Patients were monitored for 1 year upon treatment initiation, and microbial taxonomic composition was analyzed from fecal samples and rectal biopsies. Depletion of core gut microbes and expansion of bacteria typical of the oral cavity were associated with baseline disease severity. Remission and refractory disease were linked to species-specific temporal changes that may be implicative of therapy efficacy, and a pronounced increase in microbiome variability was observed prior to colectomy. Finally, microbial associations with disease-associated serological markers suggest host-microbial interactions in UC. These insights will help improve existing treatments and develop therapeutic approaches guiding optimal medical car

Association of glucose homeostasis measures with heart rate variability among Hispanic/Latino adults without diabetes: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract Background Reduced heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic function, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Glucose homeostasis measures are associated with reduced cardiac autonomic function among those with diabetes, but inconsistent associations have been reported among those without diabetes. This study aimed to examine the association of glucose homeostasis measures with cardiac autonomic function among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults without diabetes. Methods The Hispanic community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL; 2008–2011) used two-stage area probability sampling of households to enroll 16,415 self-identified Hispanics/Latinos aged 18–74 years from four USA communities. Resting, standard 12-lead electrocardiogram recordings were used to estimate the following ultrashort-term measures of HRV: RR interval (RR), standard deviation of all normal to normal RR (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences in RR intervals (RMSSD). Multivariable regression analysis was used to estimate associations between glucose homeostasis measures with HRV using data from 11,994 adults without diabetes (mean age 39 years; 52 % women). Results Higher fasting glucose was associated with lower RR, SDNN, and RMSSD. Fasting insulin and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was negatively associated with RR, SDNN, and RMSSD, and the association was stronger among men compared with women. RMSSD was, on average, 26 % lower in men with higher fasting insulin and 29 % lower in men with lower insulin resistance; for women, the corresponding estimates were smaller at 4 and 9 %, respectively. Higher glycated hemoglobin was associated with lower RR, SDNN, and RMSSD in those with abdominal adiposity, defined by sex-specific cut-points for waist circumference, after adjusting for demographics and medication use. There were no associations between glycated hemoglobin and HRV measures among those without abdominal adiposity. Conclusions Impairment in glucose homeostasis was associated with lower HRV in Hispanic/Latino adults without diabetes, most prominently in men and individuals with abdominal adiposity. These results suggest that reduced cardiac autonomic function is associated with metabolic impairments before onset of overt diabetes in certain subgroups, offering clues for the pathophysiologic processes involved as well as opportunity for identification of those at high risk before autonomic control is manifestly impaired

Occupational Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>To examine the associations between overweight/obesity and occupation among Hispanics/Latinos, the largest minority population in the U.S.</p><p>Methods</p><p>This study included 7,409 employed individuals in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a prospective study of Hispanic/Latino individuals aged 18–74 in four communities in the U.S. We independently examined the relationships between BMI, Occupational Activity (OA), and Total Hours Worked, quantified via self-reported hours worked per week and occupation-assigned Metabolic Equivalents (METs).</p><p>Results</p><p>More than three quarters of the participants were either overweight (39.3%) or obese (37.8%). Individuals with a primary occupation and those employed in a secondary occupation worked an average of 36.8 and 14.6 hrs/wk, respectively. The overall adjusted odds for being obese compared to normal weight were 3.2% (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01, 1.05) and 14.4% (AOR = 1.14 95% Cl 1.07, 1.23) greater for each 10 MET•hrs/wk unit of increased OA, and each 10-hrs/wk unit of Total Hours Worked, respectively.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study presents the first findings on the association between OA with overweight/obesity among Hispanic/Latino individuals in the U.S. Increasing OA and Total Hours Worked per week were independently associated with increasing odds of overweight/obesity suggesting that the workplace is only one part of the overall energy expenditure dynamic. Our findings point to the need to emphasize engaging employed individuals in greater levels of PA outside of the work environment to impact overweight/obesity.</p></div

Demographic characteristics of employed individuals participating in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), United States 2008–2011 (n = 7,409). Unadjusted column percent (95% CL), Mean (SE).

<p>Demographic characteristics of employed individuals participating in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), United States 2008–2011 (n = 7,409). Unadjusted column percent (95% CL), Mean (SE).</p

Categorical polytomous BMI outcomes regressed upon Occupational Activity^§ among employed individuals participating in the HCHS/SOL study, stratified by gender (N = 7,354^a).

<p>Categorical polytomous BMI outcomes regressed upon Occupational Activity<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152339#t005fn001" target="_blank">^§</a> among employed individuals participating in the HCHS/SOL study, stratified by gender (N = 7,354<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152339#t005fn006" target="_blank">^a</a>).</p

Categorical polytomous BMI outcomes regressed upon Self-Reported Occupational Activity^§ among employed individuals participating in the HCHS / SOL study, stratified by gender (N = 3,951^a).

<p>Categorical polytomous BMI outcomes regressed upon Self-Reported Occupational Activity<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152339#t004fn001" target="_blank">^§</a> among employed individuals participating in the HCHS / SOL study, stratified by gender (N = 3,951<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152339#t004fn004" target="_blank">^a</a>).</p