Physical activity in an air-polluted environment: behavioral, psychological and neuroimaging protocol for a prospective cohort study (Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study – Program 4)

Abstract

Background Air pollution has been linked to increased mortality and morbidity. The Program 4 of the Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study investigates whether the health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity (PA) can be fully realized in individuals living in highly polluted environments. Herein, we introduce the behavioral, psychological and neuroimaging protocol of the study. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of N = 1500 individuals aged 18–65 years comparing: (1) individuals living in the highly polluted, industrial region surrounding the city of Ostrava (n = 750), and (2) controls from the comparison region with relative low pollution levels in Southern Bohemia (n = 750). Quota sampling is used to obtain samples balanced on age, gender, PA status (60% active runners vs. 40% insufficiently active). Participants are screened and complete baseline assessments through online questionnaires and in-person lab-based assessments of physiological, biomechanical, neuroimaging and cognitive function parameters. Prospective 12-month intensive monitoring of air pollution and behavioral parameters (PA, inactivity, and sleep) follows, with a focus on PA-related injuries and psychological factors through fitness trackers, smartphones, and mobile apps. Subsequently, there will be a 5-year follow-up of the study cohort. Discussion The design of the study will allow for (1) the assessment of both short-term variation and long-term change in behavioral parameters, (2) evaluation of the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and psychological factors impacting behavior and injury recovery, and (3) the impact that air pollution status (and change) has on behavior, psychological resilience, and injury recovery. Furthermore, the integration of MRI techniques and cognitive assessment in combination with data on behavioral, biological and environmental variables will provide an opportunity to examine brain structure and cognitive function in relation to health behavior and air pollution, as well as other factors affecting resilience against and vulnerability to adverse changes in brain structure and cognitive aging. This study will help inform individuals about personal risk factors and decision-makers about the impact of environmental factors on negative health outcomes and potential underlying biological, behavioral and psychological mechanisms. Challenges and opportunities stemming from the timing of the study that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed.

Adverse health and environmental outcomes of cycling in heavily polluted urban environments

“…There is a well-established worldwide trend of investing in the development of infrastructure for cyclists, which brings many obvious and positive outcomes for cities’ residents in terms of increasing their quality of life or simply by delivering tangible benefits to the environment. The link between physical activity in urban environments (such as cycling or jogging) and enhanced exposure to air pollutants was previously confirmed by multiple authors 1 , 2 . It was found that while physical activity brings many health benefits, when performed outdoors in polluted environments, it can increase exposure to air pollutants 3 – 5 , causing multiple possible health outcomes.…”

Physical activity and menopausal symptoms: evaluating the contribution of obesity, fitness, and ambient air pollution status

“…The details of the 4HAIE study protocol have been published elsewhere. [67][68][69] Briefly, the 4HAIE study included baseline laboratory assessments, 12 months of prospective monitoring of PA and four intensive 2-week measurement bursts with ecological momentary assessment methodology assessing contextual and psychosocial correlates of PA. In this investigation, data from the first 2-week intensive measurement burst are used to examine prospectively the day-to-day associations between PA and menopausal symptoms.…”

Regular Running Is Related to the Knee Joint Cartilage Structure in Healthy Adults

“…This study is part of a cohort study (Healthy Ageing in Industrial Environment (4HAIE); www.4haie.cz) of runners and inactive population aged 18-65 yr. The 4HAIE study investigated the relationship of air pollution to the incidence of sports injuries, physical activity-related injuries, physical (in) activity, health, and quality of life across the life span (18)(19)(20).…”

“…In Table 1, we provide a characterization of the percentage of participants in each group, stratified by running volume, who met the threshold of 10,000 steps per day (36). Mean step count per day during the waking hours was calculated by summing raw step counts directly measured from the Fitbit monitors for each valid day (i.e., day when data for at least 10 waking hours were available), then calculating the mean across 14 d (20).…”