Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2023

Metabolic syndrome severity score, physical activity and fitness in people with complex chronic disease (#238)

Riley C. C. Brown 1 2 , Jeff S. Coombes 1 2 , Marguerite M. Conley 3 , Lindsey Webb 3 , Hannah L. Mayr 3 4 5 , Nicole M. Isbel 4 6 , Dev K. Jegatheesan 4 6 , Graeme A. Macdonald 4 7 8 , Nicola W. Burton 9 10 11 , Jaimon T. Kelly 12 13 , Ingrid J. Hickman 3 4 , Shelley E. Keating 1 2
  1. Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity & Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
  3. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  4. Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  5. Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  6. Department of Nephrology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  7. Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  8. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  9. School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  10. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  11. Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  12. Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  13. Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Introduction: The metabolic syndrome severity score (MetSSS) is a composite score representing cardiometabolic risk, which is often elevated in people with obesity and chronic disease. We evaluated the relationships between physical activity, neuromuscular fitness, exercise capacity and the MetSSS in people with complex chronic disease. Understanding these relationships will inform future research evaluating MetSSS as a measure of effectiveness in exercise interventions for people with chronic disease.

Methods: Fifty-three people with kidney or liver disease (mean (SD) waist circumference =112cm (18.0), n=36 with BMI ≥30kg/m2), at least one feature of the metabolic syndrome and who completed baseline assessment for a lifestyle trial were included. Pearson correlations were conducted to determine which variables progressed to linear regression. Linear regressions were performed for categorical variables. Independent variables with an association with MetSSS (p≤0.2) were included in a multiple regression analysis (sex, hand grip strength, education, physical activity classification). Tertiles of MetSSS were compared for exercise capacity.

Results: 6MWT distance was inversely and independently associated with MetSSS (Standardised beta coefficient (β)=-0.31, p=0.04). This association was similar for participants with BMI ≥30kg/m2 (β=-0.42, p=0.03). No relationship was found between MetSSS and physical activity or neuromuscular fitness. Mean 6MWT in the highest tertile was 550m (range: 505 to 620m), and 346m (range: 233 to 408m) in the lowest. The analysis showed a medium-large between-group effect for difference in MetSSS for the lowest and highest tertile of 6MWT (eta squared (η2)=0.16, p=0.01).

Conclusions: Exercise capacity was inversely and independently associated with MetSSS in people with complex chronic disease. Participants with higher exercise capacity had significantly lower MetSSS than those with lower exercise capacity. Clinical trials are needed to further investigate if improvements in exercise capacity result in clinically significant changes in the MetSSS in people living with obesity-related and chronic disease.