title: Physical activity patterns and metabolic syndrome in Costa Rica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether total physical activity or activity patterns are associated with metabolic syndrome and its components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants include 1994 controls from a case-control study of non-fatal myocardial infarction in Costa Rica (1994-2004). Physical activity was assessed via self-administered questionnaire and patterns were identified using principal components analysis. Metabolic syndrome was assessed via blood samples and anthropometry measurements from in-home study visits. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using log binomial regression. Adjusted least squares means of metabolic syndrome components were calculated by quintile of total activity and pattern scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four activity patterns were identified: rest/sleep, agricultural, light indoor activity, and manual labor. Total activity was not associated with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 20% lower in participants with the highest scores on the agricultural job pattern compared to those with the lowest (PR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68-0.94). Higher total activity was associated with lower triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol. Higher scores on each pattern were inversely associated with metabolic syndrome components, particularly waist circumference and fasting blood glucose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patterns or types of physical activity may be more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and its components than total activity levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. Electronic address: hastertt@karmanos.org.
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hastert
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Centro Centroamericano de Población, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Hannia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baylin
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003364:Costa Rica / Q000453:epidemiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal; D015995:Prevalence; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Glucose; HDL cholesterol; Hypertension; Metabolic syndrome; Physical activity; Triglycerides; Waist circumference