The interplay between inflammation, physical activity and metabolic syndrome in a remote male geriatric community in Southern Taiwan: the Tianliao Old People (TOP) study 03

Background:
Both physical activity and inflammation are important in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our study aim is to explore their associations in an elderly male (>= 65 years old) cohort.
Methods:
We enrolled 309 elderly male residents (mean age: 74.4 +/- 6.0 years) in a remote southern Taiwan community. The physical activity was recorded by a standard questionnaire. A high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level > 3.0 mg/L indicated a high inflammatory status.
Results:
The total prevalence rate of MetS was 27.8% in this male geriatric cohort. Median hsCRP levels were significantly higher in the MetS group (1.60 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.3 mg/L, p < 0.01), and the risk of elevated hsCRP increased with escalating MetS components (p for trend < 0.001). The non-MetS group had higher amount of median weekly physical activity (183.1 +/- 19.0 vs. 173.5 +/- 10.6 MET-hr/week, p = 0.029), which was also higher among those with lower hsCRP levels (186.1 +/- 14.1 vs. 167.8 +/- 38.5 MET-hr/week, p = 0.013). Multivariate analysis showed that higher body mass index (ORs: 1.527, 95% CI: 1.319-1.768, p < 0.01) insulin (OR: 1.128, 95% CI: 1.045-1.218, p < 0.01) and physical activity (ORs: 0.997, 95% IC: 0.994-0.999, p < 0.05) were independent predictors of MetS, but not hsCRP level (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Reduced physical activity was one major pathophysiological MetS factor in our Asian geriatric participants.

Source: http://www.dmsjournal.com/content/5/1/60

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