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Objectives: To examine the independent, joint, and fully combined associations of sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with the odds of poor sleep quality (SQ)., Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis on 757 working adults (male = 345) in Singapore, with an average age of 35.2 years. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess SQ. Objectively measured MVPA and SB were each obtained using an accelerometer. A non-exercise prediction equation was used to estimate CRF. Logistic regression models were used to determine associations., Results: In total, 13.2% of the sample (n = 100) was identified as having poor SQ. After adjusting for study covariates, independent analyses revealed a clear inverse association for higher CRF and lower odds of poor SQ (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.28-0.91). SB and MVPA demonstrated no independent associations. Joint associations revealed that odds of having poor SQ for those with low CRF was higher regardless of SB level and was further deteriorated by lower MVPA in the fully combined model. The fully combined model also demonstrated that those with lower SB, higher MVPA, and higher CRF had the lowest odds of having poor SQ (OR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.10-0.78)., Conclusions: Physical activity/exercise training programs that aim to improve CRF may be useful in lowering the odds or poor SQ in working adults.

Background: There is limited data examining the association of combined fitness and central obesity with health related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults. We examined the association of combined cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in the form of a fit-fat index (FFI) with the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) HRQoL scores in United States Navy servicemen., Methods: As part of a health fitness assessment, a total of 709 healthy males aged 18-49 years completed a submaximal exercise test, WHtR measurement, and HRQoL survey (SF-12v2) between 2004 and 2006. FFI level was classified into thirds with the lowest FFI tertile serving as the referent group. PCS and MCS scores ≥50 were taken to indicate average or better. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI)., Results: The prevalence of average or better HRQoL scores was lowest in the referent FFI tertile, PCS 60.2% and MCS 57.6%. Compared with the lowest FFI group in multivariate analyses, the OR (95% CI) of having average or better PCS was 1.63 (1.09-2.42) and 3.12 (1.95-4.99) for moderate and high FFI groups respectively; MCS was 1.70 (1.13-2.55) and 4.89 (3.03-7.89) for moderate and high FFI groups respectively (all P < 0.001). Consistent and progressive independent associations were observed between age and MCS, and also between CRF and MCS., Conclusion: Among males in the United States Navy, higher levels of FFI were independently and more consistently associated with having average or better HRQoL (physical and mental) than other known predictors of HRQoL.

Introduction: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an independent predictor of voluminous health outcomes and can be measured using non-exercise fitness assessment (NEFA) equations. However, the accuracy of such equations in Asian populations is unknown. The objective of this study was to cross-validate the NEFA equation, developed by Jurca et al in 2005, in the adult Singaporean population., Methods: A total of 100 participants (57 men, 43 women; aged 18-65 years) were recruited, and their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) was measured in the laboratory by indirect calorimetry. The participants also completed the NEFA questionnaire, which helps to predict VO2 max with the NEFA equation. The relationship between NEFA-predicted and laboratory-measured VO2 max values was analysed., Results: Overall, our study demonstrated a high correlation between the NEFA-predicted and laboratory-measured VO2 max values (r = 0.83). The Pearson's correlation coefficient values for the men and women in the study were 0.61 and 0.77, respectively. To improve the accuracy of the predictive equation, we transformed the original equation developed by Jurca et al into new equations that would allow estimation of VO2 max with and without resting heart rate as a variable., Conclusion: The modified NEFA equations accurately estimated CRF and may be applied to the majority of adult Singaporeans. With this, health practitioners and researchers are now able to assess CRF levels at both the individual and population levels in either the primary care, fitness or research setting.

Background: There is limited data examining the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in healthy young adults. We examined the association between CRF and the HRQOL Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores in apparently healthy males in the United States Navy., Methods: A total of 709 males (18-49 yr) performed a submaximal exercise test and HRQOL assessment (SF-12v2) between 2004-2006. CRF level was classified into fourths depending on age distribution with the lowest fitness quartile serving as the referent group. PCS and MCS scores >or= 50 were defined as above the norm. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI)., Results: The age-standardized prevalence of above the norm scores was lowest in the referent CRF quartile, PCS 56.6% and MCS 45.1%. After adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking habit, alcohol habit and using the lowest CRF group as the reference, the OR (95% CI) for PCS scores above the norm across the fitness quartiles (P < 0.003 for trend) were 1.51(0.94-2.41), 2.24(1.29-3.90), and 2.44 (1.30-4.57); For MCS the OR (95% CI) were across the fitness quartiles (P trend < 0.001) 2.03(1.27-3.24), 4.53(2.60-7.90), 3.59(1.95-6.60)., Conclusion: Among males in the United States Navy relative higher levels of CRF are associated with higher levels of HRQOL.