Physical activity disparities by socioeconomic status among metabolic syndrome patients: The Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Physical activity plays an important role in preventing further progression of metabolic syndrome conditions to cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. This study investigated physical activity disparities by socioeconomic status among metabolic syndrome patients. The fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012) data were analyzed (n=19,831). A revised definition of the US National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III was used for screening metabolic syndrome patients. Using International Physical Activity Questionnaire, physical activity adherence was defined as participating in 150+ minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, 75+ minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Socioeconomic status was measured by level of education and house-hold income. Among metabolic syndrome patients, physical activity adherence rate of first (lowest), second, third, and fourth quartile house-hold income group were 28.31% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.14–30.28%), 34.68% (95% CI, 32.71–36.70), 37.44% (95% CI, 35.66–39.25), and 43.79% (95% CI, 41.85–45.75). Physical activity adherence rate of groups with elementary or lower, middle-school, high-school, and college or higher education degree were 25.17% (95% CI, 22.95–27.54), 38.2% (95% CI, 35.13–41.00), 39.60% (95% CI, 38.24–41.77), and 36.89% (95% CI, 35.77–38.03), respectively. This study found that physical activity adherence rate was lower in socioeconomically disadvantaged metabolic syndrome patients, which may aggravate health inequity status of Korean society.

Correlates, facilitators and barriers of physical activity among primary care patients with prediabetes in Singapore – a mixed methods approach

“…Interestingly, housing status showed a dose-response relationship with meeting the recommendation. This was similar to another study in South Korea where Lee et al reported that among metabolic syndrome patients at risk of diabetes, physical activity adherence was lowest in the first (28.3%) quartile of socioeconomic status and highest in the fourth quartile (43.8%) [40]. It was not clear from our IDIs how housing status contributed to this difference.…”

Age moderates the effect of socioeconomic status on physical activity level among south Korean adults: cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative sample

“…Moreover, the IPAQ is a well-validated, reliable prognostic indicator of clinical health outcomes that can effectively discriminate between populations [44–46]. Finally, while prior studies examined the association between SES and physical activity among adolescents [26], the elderly [27], and metabolic syndrome patients [28] in South Korea [26], this is the first study to examine the association among adults in South Korea and is an important step toward understanding population patterns associated with physical activity in this national context.…”

“…Given emerging evidence of health disparities in South Korea, as well as the unequal distribution of meeting physical activity guidelines by socioeconomic status (SES) observed in other high-income countries, low SES Korean adults may be at risk for engaging in lower physical activity levels. While a few studies to date reported that low SES is associated with lower participation in physical activity among adolescents [26], the elderly [27], and metabolic syndrome patients [28] in South Korea, to our knowledge, no studies have examined this relationship among healthy South Korean adults (age ≥ 19). To address this gap, the specific objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between two SES indicators, annual household income and education, and physical activity in a nationally representative sample of South Korean adults.…”

Effects of exercise using a mobile device on cardiopulmonary function, metabolic risk factors, and self-efficacy in obese women

“…Lack of exercise is reported as the biggest reason for the development of metabolic syndrome, which negatively correlates with physical activity ( Farrell et al, 2004 ; Roberts et al, 2013 ). In addition, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases with age and is more prevalent in men than in women ( Lee and Kim, 2016 ). Thus, as obesity and metabolic syndrome lead to increase in the prevalence of various chronic diseases, the need for regular exercise is greatly emphasized.…”