Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with sickness absence and work ability

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may sustain the physical aspect of work ability despite health problems such as musculoskeletal disorders and anxiety, which are the most prevalent work-related health problem in Europe. AIMS: To evaluate the association of Finnish municipal workers' accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness with their sickness absence levels, perceived work ability and health-related quality of life. METHODS: In connection with a randomized controlled trial recruiting 185 municipal workers, the authors performed baseline data analysis utilizing quantile regression to examine relationships between the outcome variables (all-cause sickness absence for 6 months, perceived work ability and health-related quality of life) and cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. All results were adjusted for age, sex and education level. RESULTS: The median duration of all-cause sickness absence over the preceding 6 months was lowest among participants with high cardiorespiratory fitness relative to the lowest tertile (2.0 versus 6.0 days; P < 0.05), and the highest perceived work ability was found among those with high or moderate cardiorespiratory fitness as compared to the lowest tertile (8.0 versus 7.0; P < 0.001). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity correlated positively with the physical component of health-related quality of life (P < 0.01) and with a high cardiorespiratory-fitness level (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with decreased all-cause sickness absence days and improved work ability among municipal workers.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Cost-effectiveness of an exercise program during pregnancy to prevent gestational diabetes: Results of an economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide. GDM and the risks associated with GDM lead to increased health care costs and losses in productivity. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the FitFor2 exercise program during pregnancy is cost-effective from a societal perspective as compared to standard care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A randomised controlled trial (RCT) and simultaneous economic evaluation of the FitFor2 program were conducted. Pregnant women at risk for GDM were randomised to an exercise program to prevent high maternal blood glucose (n = 62) or to standard care (n = 59). The exercise program consisted of two sessions of aerobic and strengthening exercises per week. Clinical outcome measures were maternal fasting blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity and infant birth weight. Quality of life was measured using the EuroQol 5-D and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were calculated. Resource utilization and sick leave data were collected by questionnaires. Data were analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputations. Bootstrapping techniques estimated the uncertainty surrounding the cost differences and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no statistically significant differences in any outcome measure. During pregnancy, total health care costs and costs of productivity losses were statistically non-significant (mean difference €1308; 95%CI €-229 - €3204). The cost-effectiveness analyses showed that the exercise program was not cost-effective in comparison to the control group for blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, infant birth weight or QALYs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The twice-weekly exercise program for pregnant women at risk for GDM evaluated in the present study was not cost-effective compared to standard care. Based on these results, implementation of this exercise program for the prevention of GDM cannot be recommended.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NTR1139</p

Potentials of ripe Carica papaya seed meal using different processing methods as alternative feed ingredients in monogastric animal nutrition

Phytomedicinal plants include various types of plants used in place of antibiotics or other synthetic drugs in order to reduce the residual effects of drugs on man hence the clamour for organic livestock. Carica papaya is one of such plants that are underutilized as the seeds of the fruits waste on a yearly basis especially in Africa as the focus of many consumers are on ripe fruits of Carica papaya. Ripe fruits of Carica papaya were obtained from Ilishan-Remo environs in Ogun State, Nigeria and the seeds were carefully removed and processed by sun-drying and oven drying. The data were subjected to t-test. The phytochemical analyses, proximate composition, vitamin and mineral concentrations were determined using standard procedures. The proximate composition of sun-dried and oven-dried seeds of ripe Carica papaya were significantly different (p&lt;0.05) while the oven-dried samples had significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) crude fat, ash and crude fibre. The phytochemicals were significantly&nbsp; different (p&lt;0.05) from each other such that the values are saponin (8.14mg/100g and 5.54mg/100g),&nbsp; alkaloid (7.18mg/100g and 5.00mg/100g), hydrogen cyanide&nbsp; (0.64mg/100g and 0.26mg/100g), tannin (52.92mg/100g and 66.50mg/100g) for the sun-dried and oven-dried seed samples of Carica papaya. The sun dried and oven-dried seeds of Carica papaya fruits contained essential minerals which are significantly different (p&lt;0.05) from each other. The sun-dried samples however had significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) vitamins A, B1 and B6. The nutrient composition of Carica papaya seed meal revealed that it contains some bioactive components which can serve as feed supplements in animal production and improve human health