Jhonatan Betancourt-Peña

Sit‐to‐stand (STS) power is a practical field‐based indicator of lower‐limb muscle power and functional performance across adulthood, yet reference values have been derived mainly from European cohorts, and allometric STS power remains scarcely described in Latin America. This multicenter cross‐sectional study developed sex‐ and age‐specific descriptive reference benchmarks for relative and allometric STS power in adults from Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, and examined age‐ and country‐related variation. A total of 1254 healthy adults aged 18–80 years performed a standardized five‐repetition STS test. Relative STS power was estimated using established biomechanical equations, and allometric STS power was calculated by normalizing absolute power to height squared. Sex‐specific empirical percentiles were generated across 10‐year age bands, and generalized additive models were used to characterize cross‐sectional age‐related patterns and assess country‐specific heterogeneity. Relative STS power was lower in older age groups in both sexes, with median values ranging from 4.50 to 2.40 W·kg ⁻¹ in women and from 5.20 to 2.80 W·kg ⁻¹ in men between the 18–29 and 70–80 year groups. Allometric STS power showed a similar cross‐sectional pattern, with median values ranging from 114.35 to 61.30 W·m ⁻² in women and from 126.70 to 74.10 W·m ⁻² in men. Ecuador showed higher distributions of relative STS power than Chile and Colombia, and cross‐sectional age‐related patterns differed across countries. Exploratory physical activity gradients were attenuated after adjustment. These pooled, equation‐derived percentiles are regional summary benchmarks rather than country‐specific reference values and should be interpreted cautiously in younger adults and smaller strata.

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation stands out as the main recommendation for patients with heart failure. Lack of adherence, attributed to a lack of self-care, education, and follow-up, negatively impacts the disease. Telerehabilitation is presented as a valuable tool to achieve improvements similar to those of cardiac rehabilitation in functional aerobic capacity, depression/anxiety and quality of life. The primary objective is to determine the effects of a physical exercise program and Telephone educational follow-up mediated by Cardiac Telerehabilitation (TCTR) in patients with heart failure on functional aerobic capacity compared with Cardiac Telerehabilitation (CTR) and Conventional outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation (CCR). Method: Three-arm randomized controlled clinical trial (TCTR, CTR, CCR) following the CONSORT recommendations for clinical trials. Evaluating functional aerobic capacity, clinical variables, anxiety/depression and health-related quality of life. Results: The functional aerobic capacity in all groups presented a statistically significant improvement in the distance traveled in the 6MWT p-value <0.05 at the beginning and end of the intervention, presenting a mean difference of 73.36±2.56, being greater than in the CTR and CCR groups. Conclusions: More favorable improvements are evident with the implementation of cardiac telerehabilitation, education and telephone follow-up in functional aerobic capacity. Clinical trial: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05761639).

Introducción: El consumo de un desayuno equilibrado ofrece beneficios para el control del peso, la saciedad y el rendimiento diario. En el ámbito universitario predominan conductas alimentarias poco saludables. Objetivo: Describir la percepción del hábito del desayuno en estudiantes de una institución universitaria en Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con muestreo aleatorizado por conglomerados. Se aplicó una encuesta estructurada en dos fases: caracterización sociodemográfica y académica, y percepciones sobre el desayuno. Resultados: Participaron 577 universitarios; 50,4 % tenía entre 16 y 20 años, 52,7 % pertenecía a un estrato socioeconómico bajo. De los participantes, 57 % desayuna siempre y 42,8 % solo algunas veces. Se identificaron asociaciones significativas entre la frecuencia del desayuno y el género (p = 0,04) y el estado civil (p = 0,026). El 45,8 % considera que desayunar mejora el rendimiento intelectual, la memoria y la concentración, mientras que 47,7 % es indiferente frente al hábito del desayuno y el control de la obesidad. Conclusión: Los hábitos de desayuno están determinados por factores socioeconómicos y percepciones subjetivas, situación que evidencia la necesidad urgente de fortalecer la educación alimentaria en la población universitaria.

Introducción: El Sit to Stand de 1 Minuto (STS1) ha ganado relevancia como prueba funcional sencilla, segura y aplicable en pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares, especialmente en escenarios donde el Test de Caminata de 6 Minutos (TC6M) no es viable. Su utilidad para valorar la fuerza de miembros inferiores lo convierte en una herramienta complementaria de interés creciente, que puede fortalecer las baterías de evaluación funcional en esta población. Objetivo: Correlacionar los resultados del TC6M con el STS1 como herramientas complementarias en la evaluación funcional de pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, correlacional y de corte transversal realizado en 45 pacientes que ingresaron a un programa de rehabilitación cardiaca en una clínica de cuarto nivel en Cali, Colombia. Se aplicaron el TC6M y el STS1, evaluando variables fisiológicas y de rendimiento físico. Se utilizó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson para el análisis bivariado. Resultados: Edad promedio de 62,97 ± 12,58 años; el 64,4 % fueron mujeres. La enfermedad coronaria fue el diagnóstico más común (73,3 %). Se encontró una correlación positiva moderada entre la distancia recorrida en el TC6M y el número de repeticiones en el STS1 (r=0,610; p<0,001). El TC6M generó un mayor incremento en la frecuencia cardiaca (final: 112,7 ± 18,1), mientras que el STS1 impactó más sobre la presión arterial sistólica (PAS final: 146,8 ± 27,9; p<0,001). Discusión: Los resultados coinciden con estudios en otras poblaciones y respaldan el uso del STS1 como opción funcional válida. Conclusión: El STS1 complementa al TC6M en la evaluación funcional de pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares.

La salud digital ha transformado la atención en salud al integrar aplicaciones móviles, inteligencia artificial y dispositivos electrónicos, mejorando el acceso a los servicios de salud y a la monitorización remota, y optimizando los diagnósticos y los tratamientos. Sin embargo, estos avances plantean desafíos significativos, como la brecha digital, el acceso equitativo, la privacidad de los datos y la ética en la toma de decisiones basada en algoritmos. Este artículo busca analizar la importancia de integrar la bioética con los derechos humanos en los procesos formativos de la Terapia Ocupacional, abordando los desafíos emergentes de la salud digital. Examina los marcos regulatorios nacionales e internacionales y los principios éticos aplicables a la práctica profesional mediada por tecnología. Se identifican ocho ejes formativos articulados con los principios de la transformación digital, entre ellos: la gestión ética de datos sensibles, la promoción de la justicia ocupacional digital, la alfabetización tecnológica y la participación en el diseño ético de tecnologías. La incorporación de contenidos bioéticos en los programas de formación en Terapia Ocupacional fortalece el rol del profesional como garante de los derechos humanos, promotor de prácticas inclusivas y agente activo en el desarrollo de entornos digitales éticos y centrados en la ocupación.

BackgroundSubmaximal tests such as the Sit-to-Stand Test (STS) in its three modalities are used to evaluate strength and aerobic capacity in people with respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. However, international reference values do not account for the genetic and environmental particularities of the Colombian population, underscoring the need to establish local references. AimTo establish sex and age-specific reference values for the 5-repetition, 30-second, and 1-minute sit-to-stand tests in community-dwelling Colombian adults.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2023 and 2024 in Colombia, with the participation of healthy adults aged 18 to 80 years. Anthropometric characteristics and physical activity were assessed using the IPAQ questionnaire and the Sit-to-Stand Test (STS) at 1 minute, 30 seconds, and 5 repetitions. Normative percentiles were calculated by sex and age with a sample of 393 people.Results The study included 393 participants (208 women and 185 men), with an average age of 44 years and a BMI of 25.9 ± 4.1. Age was negatively correlated with repetitions (R= 0.493; 60 sec and R= -0.497; 30 sec), height showed a positive correlation (R= 0.262; 60 sec). High BMI was associated with worse performance (R= -0.119; 60 sec, R= -0.153; 30 sec).ConclusionsThis study establishes reference values for STS testing in healthy adults in Colombia, accounting for age, sex, BMI, and physical activity.

Introduction: Heart failure, associated with high mortality and comorbidity, negatively impacts the quality of life of patients. Although cardiac rehabilitat...

Background: Heart failure is a primary non-communicable disease in Latin America and the Caribbean, which significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. After diagnosis, emphasis is placed on cardiac rehabilitation and patient education regarding healthy lifestyles and habits. Interdisciplinary management is crucial in this process. However, lack of treatment adherence is a recurring issue in this population. In this context, technology allows us to address non-adherence to treatment. Its implementation helps overcome barriers and achieve treatment goals. Objective: To determine the effects of a cardiac telerehabilitation-mediated exercise program and telephone educational follow-up on functional capacity in patients with heart failure, compared with cardiac telerehabilitation and conventional outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Methods: This article presents a SPIRIT-compliant protocol study of a three-arm, controlled, crossover clinical trial using participant blinding and simple sealed envelope block randomization. Conclusion: According to the literature review, this can be considered the first three-arm clinical trial in the telerehabilitation of patients with heart failure. The measurement and intervention instruments are comparable and adequate compared to other studies. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05761639

Background. Obesity is a multifactorial disease that affects overall health and is associated with several conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. Adipose tissue, particularly visceral adipose tissue, significantly contributes to chronic inflammation that exacerbates these comorbidities. In addition, the prevalence of heart failure and obesity in patients is high. Objective. To determine the prevalence and factors associated with excess weight in patients with heart failure. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with patients diagnosed with heart failure and enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program at a clinic in Cali, Colombia. The study included sociodemographic and clinical variables, functional aerobic capacity measured by the 6-minute walk test, quality of life assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLFHQ), and depression evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results. A total of 300 participants were involved in the study, including 152 individuals without excess weight and 148 with excess weight. Statistically significant results (p < 0.05) revealed that hypertension (OR = 1.81; CI [1.23–3.85]), elevated triglyceride levels (OR = 1.84; CI [1.08–3.13]), and a mild PHQ-9 score (OR = 1.91; CI [1.04–3.49]) were associated with a higher likelihood of excess weight. Conclusion. Patients with HF aged under 65 years and with reduced or moderate left ventricular ejection fraction show a lower probability of excess weight. In contrast, those with hypertension, elevated triglyceride levels, and a mild PHQ-9 score are more likely to present excess weight.

Introduction. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a submaximal test to assess functional capacity for exercise. In Colombia, the distance of the 6MWT is compared with those predicted by reference equations from other countries. Besides, pedometric measurements have not been included in the test. Objective. To establish reference values for the distance walked in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the equation according to sex in healthy people in the southwestern Colombia. Methods. Observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study. There were 336 volunteers, 227 males, with no history of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, or comorbidities limiting gait. Subjects performed the 6MWT twice on the same day in the morning, 30 minutes apart. The pedometer was placed at the starting point; the laps, meters, and number of steps in each test were recorded, selecting the one with the best distance. Linear regression was performed to obtain the reference equations by sex, according to age, weight, height, and number of steps. The R2 was used as a measure of adjustment. Results. The distance walked was greater in males compared to females (616.7 [p25-75: 566.1-657.0] vs 588.0 [p25-75: 544.5-640.0]; p = 0.008). Two equations were obtained by sex, for females with R2 = 0.54 and males with R2 = 0.42. Conclusion. The distance walked in 6MWT in Colombian subjects was more remarkable in males than females. Height and steps were the most significant predictors of the 6MWT length in the regression equations for females and males, with R2 of 0.54 and 0.42, respectively.