Could Physical Activity Have any Role in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Prisoners? A Systematic Review

Abstract

More than 10.74 million people are currently held in penal institutions worldwide. Moreover, there is also evidence that the percentage of elder and female prisoners has been consistently growing. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Exercise training and physical activity help to prevent both primary and secondary cardiovascular events. Data on the influence of physical activity on the well-being in prison population is scarce. Here, we discussed, in a systematic review, the general health conditions and the cardiovascular risk profile in the prisoners compared to the general population and evaluated whether or not exercise could be a valuable tool in preventing these diseases in inmates. We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement: 769 were initially identified, and a total of 24 studies were finally included. Nine studies evaluated the health conditions in prisoners, five studies evaluated the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the prison population, and 10 studies evaluated the feasibility and the effectiveness of exercise programs in prisoners. Sports-educational programs can benefit prison inmates. It appears that supervised exercise training is an effective coping strategy to deal with incarceration. Moreover, it seems the sports programs might be a useful tool in improving physical and mental health of prisoners as well as in decreasing cardiovascular risk factors.

A Mixed-Method Evaluation of a Prison Anti-doping Intervention: The Hercules Prison Program

“…There was also an increase in strength training self-efficacy ( t = −8.33, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.36) from baseline ( M = 19.28, SD = 4.78) to posttest ( M = 24.67, SD = 2.96) in line with our prediction. These findings are in line with evidence from the previous Hercules program for adolescents (Sagoe et al, 2016 ) as well as from previous physical activity interventions in prisons (Mohan et al, 2018 ; Sanchez-Lastra et al, 2019 ; Papa et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In particular, self-ratings of physical strength are relative (“compared with my peers”) rather than absolute and are therefore probably affected by rank order fluctuation, especially considering the hierarchical structure of prison society (Ugelvik, 2014 ; Kreager et al, 2017 ) as noted previously. Also, although the sample size appears low, it is justified by power analysis and is equivalent to the preponderance of samples from similar interventions on this topic (Mohan et al, 2018 ; Legrand et al, 2020 ; Pralong et al, 2020 ; Psychou et al, 2020 ; Papa et al, 2021 ).…”

Emerging challenges to prisoners vaccination of covid-19: Historical, legal and humanitarian view

“…After a complete inspection and confidence in the vaccine, it will be recommended by the SAGE when and how it should be used. 18 …”

“…Moreover, there is a dire need to devise special measures at the international level for the old age prisoners, 18 as studies reported that due to long-term and chronic disease, the aging process of the prisoners is faster than their associates on the outside of the prison. 19 Thus, the current study highlighted the need for old-age prisons priority treatment based on multiple reasons.…”

Physical health programs and interventions with women during incarceration: a scoping review

“…substance use and mental health) and the public’s ideas about what prisoners deserve. It seems worth remarking that one frequent argument in the more robust body of interventional research that addresses the physical health of incarcerated men is that improving physical health is a foundation for (rather than an embellishment on or a supplement to) addressing both substance abuse and mental health conditions (Sanchez-Lastra et al , 2019; Papa et al , 2021; O’Toole et al , 2018). Increasing physical activity as a basis for improving the all-round health of persons who are incarcerated has been a focus of numerous international studies, many conducted in countries falling under mandates of international bodies requiring access to exercise (Brosens et al , 2017) Some of these include studies in Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Wales (Thompson et al , 2020; Cashin et al , 2008; Elwood Martin et al , 2013; Meek and Lewis, 2012; Mannocci et al , 2015; Pérez-Moreno et al , 2007).…”