Background: Cardiac autonomic function can be assessed non-invasively using heart rate variability (HRV), whichreflects the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic influences on the heart. Altered HRV is associated withincreased cardiovascular risk. Body mass index (BMI), an indicator of body composition, has been shown to influenceautonomic function. However, data focusing specifically on young adult females remain limited.Aim: To assess cardiac autonomic function across different BMI levels in young adult females.Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 100 apparently healthy female participants aged 18–25 years.Anthropometric measurements were recorded and BMI was calculated. Cardiac autonomic function was assessed usingHRV derived from a 5-minute resting ECG recording. Time-domain and frequency-domain parameters were analyzed.Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA),and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post-hoc test.Results: Analysis demonstrated an association between BMI and HRV parameters. Higher BMI showed a trend towardreduced parasympathetic activity, reflected by lower vagal indices such as RMSSD and HF power, along with a relativeincrease in LF/HF ratio, suggesting sympathetic predominance. These findings are consistent with the observation thatincreased adiposity is associated with altered autonomic balance.Conclusion: Higher BMI is found to be associated with altered cardiac autonomic function in young adult females,indicating early autonomic imbalance. HRV assessment in relation to BMI may help in early identification of individuals atrisk for future cardiovascular dysfunction.
Background: Both resistance training (RT) and endurance training (ET) improve cardiovascular health. This review compares that which exercise is more effective in reducing RHR. Methods: Sixteen studies (508 participants) met eligibility criteria: 5 RT-only studies (8 arms, n=115), 4 ET-only studies (5 arms, n=79), and 5 direct RT-vs-ET comparisons (n=174); 2 additional crossover studies (Cornelissen 2009, n=72; Thomas et al. 2021, n=68) were used only in sensitivity analyses and are not counted in the primary pools. Random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) meta-analysis pooled mean RHR change for single-arm models and mean difference in RHR change for the direct comparison. Results: RT produced no significant change in RHR (pooled Δ = -0.09 bpm, 95% CI [-2.03, 1.85]). ET produced a significant reduction (pooled Δ = -5.08 bpm, 95% CI [-8.23, -1.92]; I²=95.6%). The direct comparison showed no significant difference between modalities (pooled MD = 0.02 bpm, 95% CI [-0.54, 0.57]). Conclusion: ET significantly reduced RHR relative to baseline while RT did not. But in direct comparison no modality is superior. Direct-comparison evidence is of very low certainty (GRADE), dominated by one high-risk-of-bias study. ET reliably lowers RHR relative to inactivity while in direct comparison evidence is limited to establish superiority of either modality.
Background: Obesity is showed as increase body fat which poses risk of insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidaemia, cell organelles stress, vascular inflammation & metabolic dysregulation. Altogether an altered lipid metabolism and oxidative stress associated with obesity and affect the nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Motor and Sensory nerve conduction velocity (MNCV & SNCV) is a routine electrodiagnostic technique for detecting any changes in nerve conduction parameters (Distal Motor Latency, Compound Muscle Action potential, Sensory Nerve Action Potential, Conduction Velocity). Few studies reported delayed or prolongation of distal latency and other parameters like CMAP& CV observed reduced accordance to some investigator while other studied observed either decrease or no changes in conduction velocity with changes in BMI.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between NCV and Body Mass Index (BMI)Materials and Methods: This Cross-Sectional study was conducted among one hundred twenty-five (125) students of Gauhati medical college, categorized according to their Body mass index (BMI)as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Median nerve conduction studies were performed in the Neurophysiology Laboratory of the Department of Physiology with the help of Neuroperfect machine. Correlation analysis was applied to assess the relationship between BMI and Nerve conduction velocity parameters.Results: We observed significant positive correlation between BMI categories and latency of right(r-value=0.642) & left(r-value=0.582) Median NCV. Negative correlation between BMI category with CMAP, CV and SNAP parameters of median NCV. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that nerve function in healthy individuals may vary with increasing BMI. Higher BMI appears to be associated with changes in nerve conduction parameters, indicating that excess body weight can influence peripheral nerve performance. Hence, further studies required larger sample sizes and more comprehensive investigative methods.
Introduction: Measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) is one method of assessing cardiovascular risk. Several normal ranges have been reported, particularly among Caucasians. However, few studies have been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of our study was to determine intima-media thickness values in Black Togolese subjects without cardiovascular risk factors and, specifically, to analyze these values in relation to anthropometric parameters Background and Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted from August 1 to November 30, 2024, in the Kara region. Included in the study were patients or their companions without cardiovascular risk factors, based on a preliminary screening for the presence or absence of major cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, and abdominal obesity. Results: We included 104 subjects, aged between 19 and 73 years, with a mean age of 32.70 ± 13.56 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.36, with a predominance of males. Within our sample, the mean intima-media thickness (IMT) was 0.56 ± 0.10 mm when measured on the right and 0.58 ± 0.09 mm on the left. The mean IMT measured on the left was higher than that measured on the right. There was no significant difference between IMT measurements in women and men (p=0.87). With regard to age, we found a significant association between age and an increase in IMT values. Specifically, as age increases by one year, intima-media thickness increases on average by 0.0037 mm on the left (p=0.002) and by 0.0035 mm on the right (p=0.001). In our study, we found a correlation between variations in intima-media thickness values and body weight and body surface area. We did not find any significant variation between blood pressure levels, heart rate, and IMT values. Conclusion: This is the first study to determine IMT values in Black Togolese subjects without cardiovascular risk factors. While timely, multicenter studies are needed to determine normal IMT values in Black African subjects.
Context: Sleep is essential for the recovery and performance of athletes. In sub-Saharan Africa, data on athletes' sleep are almost nonexistent, limiting the possibilities for appropriate screening and management. Objective: To assess the prevalence of sleep disorders and identify risk factors among Senegalese university athletes. Method: Cross-sectional study conducted among 300 athletes and coaches of Gaston Berger University (Saint-Louis, Senegal) between January and March 2025, using 2 validated questionnaires: Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire (ASBQ). The Sleep Difficulty Score (SDS) was used to grade sleep disorders into four levels (none, mild, moderate, severe). Results: The sample included 82% student-athletes and 18% supervisors, mostly male (68%), aged 18 to 35 years. The average sleep duration was 6.2 ± 1.1 hours per night. The prevalence of sleep disorders reached 63%: mild disorders (38.67%), moderate (15.67%), severe (8.67%). Subjective dissatisfaction concerned 40% of participants. The main identified risk factors were screen use before bedtime (72%), caffeine consumption (64.7%), late training (53%), and competitive stress. Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of sleep disorders among university athletes. Systematic screening during the fitness medical examination and education on sleep hygiene are necessary. These results highlight the urgency of developing prevention and management strategies adapted to the African context.
