METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 244 Medical and Health Sciences undergraduate students at CUCMS from January to April 2017 using self-administered short-form version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) and the third version of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). Multiple regression models were fitted using SPSS version 20 to examine the relationships between study variables.
RESULTS: Half of the male students (51.7%) were in the health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) group, as compared to only 24.7% of females. The odds of having a good grade point average was twice as high among HEPA active students (odds ratio [OR] = 1.89, 95% CI [1.09, 3.27], P = 0.023) than among non-HEPA active students. Further, the odds of being HEPA active was higher for males (OR = 3.16, 95% CI [1.61, 6.14], P < 0.01) than for females and higher for overweight students than for normal weight students (OR = 2.58, 95% CI [1.24, 5.57], P = 0.017). The odds of being HEPA active was 1.79 times higher for each unit increase in the integrated regulation score (OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.14, 2.91], P = 0.020).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of physical inactivity was higher among females than males. This study also confirmed a significant association between physical activity level and academic achievement. HEPA active students performed better academically than those who were non-HEPA active.
METHODS: Data covering South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan were obtained from the GBD 2021 portal. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) for prostate cancer metrics, including incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR), and DALYs (ASDR), were analyzed via joinpoint and ARIMA modeling techniques. Geographic variations in ASRs were mapped via QGIS software.
RESULTS: The prostate cancer ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR significantly increased from 1990 to 2021, particularly among individuals aged 60-65 years. The highest incidence and mortality rates were observed in Pakistan. The total percentage change in incidence in India was the highest at 61%. Projections indicate a continued rise in prostate cancer incidence, with South Asia's ASIR expected to reach 9.34 per 100 000 by 2031.
CONCLUSIONS: The growing burden of prostate cancer in South Asia highlights the need for enhanced screening programs, public awareness, and healthcare infrastructure improvements. Without intervention, the increasing incidence and mortality rates could strain healthcare resources, emphasizing the urgency of region-specific public health strategies.