Daniel Duclos-Bastías

The 2024 Copa América brought together the ten CONMEBOL national teams, yet no peer-reviewed study has analysed differences in performance among individual CONMEBOL teams using StatsBomb event data from this tournament. This exploratory study aimed to characterise the offensive and defensive profiles of the CONMEBOL teams and to describe their association with advancement to the quarterfinals, with particular attention to Chile. To ensure a comparable competitive window across teams, the analysis was restricted to the 24 group-stage matches, and penalty-shootout events were excluded. Event data were obtained from StatsBomb Open Data (competition_id = 223; CC BY-SA 4.0), from which expected goals (xG), passes per defensive action (PPDA), pass completion, and passing-network metrics (density and reciprocity) were computed at match level and averaged per team. Given the small sample (n = 10 CONMEBOL teams), between-group comparisons used the Mann–Whitney U test, prioritising effect sizes (r) and bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals over the significance dichotomy. With teams classified by their actual progression (six qualified, four eliminated), xG per match and xG per shot differed significantly between groups (both U = 24, p = 0.010, r = 0.82), whereas pressing (PPDA), pass completion, and passing-network metrics did not. Because with ten teams, the smallest attainable two-sided p is 0.010, findings are interpreted jointly with effect sizes and confidence intervals. Chile recorded the third-lowest xG per match of the bloc (0.54) and was the only team without goals across three matches, with a PPDA (35.86) and a share of shots from inside the box (59.1%) close to the bloc mean. These exploratory, descriptive findings indicate that Chile’s weak offensive output coincided with its elimination; the design does not permit causal inference or the identification of generalisable discriminators.

Background/Objectives: Physical activity interventions are widely implemented to promote health during childhood and adolescence; however, their effects on anthropometric, body composition, and physical fitness outcomes among Chilean pediatric populations remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of physical activity interventions on these outcomes in Chilean children and adolescents. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception to 30 May 2026, supplemented by Google Scholar and reference-list screening. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and Cochrane recommendations and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023398677). Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted using standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Eighteen studies involving participants aged 2–19 years were included, of which 16 contributed data to the meta-analysis. Pooled estimates favored physical activity interventions for cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.48 to 1.04; I² = 73.2%), body fat percentage (SMD = −0.83; 95% CI: −1.37 to −0.29; I² = 84.9%), and triceps skinfold thickness (SMD = −0.14; 95% CI: −0.20 to −0.08; I² = 0%). No clear difference was observed for waist circumference (SMD = −0.05; 95% CI: −0.14 to 0.05) or for BMI in studies with a concurrent control group (SMD = −0.37; 95% CI: −0.79 to 0.05) and in uncontrolled before–after studies (SMD = −0.13; 95% CI: −0.34 to 0.09). Between-study heterogeneity was substantial to considerable for most outcomes, and the certainty of evidence was very low for all meta-analyzed outcomes. Conclusions: Physical activity interventions were associated with more favorable pooled estimates for cardiorespiratory fitness and specific measures of adiposity among Chilean children and adolescents, whereas no clear differences were observed in BMI or waist circumference. However, substantial between-study heterogeneity and very low certainty of evidence limit confidence in these findings and warrant cautious interpretation. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify these associations.

Background: Multimorbidity is highly prevalent among older adults and is associated with functional decline, disability, cognitive impairment, and increased healthcare burden. However, traditional disease-count approaches may fail to capture the heterogeneity of multimorbidity patterns. This study aimed to identify cardiometabolic multimorbidity phenotypes and examine their associations with functional and cognitive outcomes among older Chilean adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 2,031 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016–2017. Six objectively measured cardiometabolic conditions were included: diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, elevated total cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and obesity. K-means cluster analysis was applied to identify multimorbidity phenotypes, and the number of clusters was selected combining elbow, silhouette, and clinical interpretability criteria. Functional outcomes included self-rated health assessed using the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), mobility limitations, difficulty performing usual activities, and pain/discomfort. Cognitive performance was assessed using the abbreviated Mini-Mental State Examination. Adjusted linear regression models controlling for age and sex were performed. Results: Overall, 53.5% of participants presented multimorbidity (≥ 2 conditions). Four multimorbidity phenotypes were identified: Low-burden (30.9%), Obesity-predominant (25.1%), Hypertension-dominant (22.1%), and Metabolic + obesity (21.9%). Significant between-group differences were observed for self-rated health (ANOVA p = 0.022), cognitive performance ( p = 0.0003), mobility limitations ( p = 0.005), difficulty performing usual activities ( p = 0.0008), and pain/discomfort ( p = 0.003). The phenotype structure was robust to the exclusion of metabolic syndrome in a sensitivity analysis (Adjusted Rand Index = 0.719). In adjusted analyses with the Low-burden phenotype as reference, the Hypertension-dominant phenotype was independently associated with greater pain/discomfort (β = 0.14, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.21; FDR-adjusted p = 0.011) and the Metabolic + obesity phenotype with higher Mini-Mental scores (β = 0.56, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.95; FDR-adjusted p = 0.039); an association between the Hypertension-dominant phenotype and lower self-rated health (β = -4.25, 95% CI -8.00 to -0.50) did not withstand correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: Distinct cardiometabolic multimorbidity phenotypes were differentially associated with functional and cognitive outcomes among older Chilean adults. These findings support the importance of phenotype-based approaches to improve risk stratification and promote more personalized strategies in geriatric care and healthy aging.

Background/Objectives: Recess and physical education are complementary school-based opportunities for movement, yet national evidence on how students’ liking of physical education relates to active recess is scarce in Latin America. We examined the association between disliking physical education and inactive recess among Chilean students and described reported reasons for inactive recess. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the 2024 Chilean National Survey of Physical Activity and Sports Habits. The primary analysis included 3802 school-attending participants aged 5–17 years with valid responses to the liking of physical education and recess activity items. Inactive recess was defined as reporting no running/jumping, sport, or dance during recess. Modified Poisson regression with normalized survey weights and robust variance estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs), controlling for age, sex assigned at birth, urban/rural area, socioeconomic status, disability, and region. Region-stratified bootstrap inference used 2000 replicates. Results: Weighted active-recess prevalence was 75.8%. Adjusted inactive-recess prevalence was 18.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.0–20.4) among students who liked physical education and 56.9% (95% CI 50.3–63.6) among those who disliked it, an absolute difference of 38.7 percentage points (95% CI 31.6–45.8). Disliking physical education was associated with a prevalence of inactive recess approximately three times higher (aPR 3.09, 95% CI 2.61–3.68); the bootstrap CI was 2.61–3.69. Associations did not differ by sex or age group. Among 977 students with inactive recess, the most frequent reasons were lack of interest (40.3%) and absence of games, equipment, or a suitable place (29.1%). Conclusions: Disliking physical education was strongly associated with inactive recess, but temporality cannot be established. Enjoyable, inclusive physical education and better recess opportunities merit joint evaluation in school-based physical activity strategies.

Background/Objectives: Whether baseline body mass index (BMI) modifies the anthropometric response to immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based exercise interventions remains unclear. This exploratory secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluated whether baseline BMI was associated with heterogeneity in the effect of an IVR-based exercise intervention on post-intervention anthropometric outcomes in university students. The treatment effect modification analysis was not prespecified in the parent trial protocol or registry. Methods: Sixty-four participants were randomized to IVR or control groups, of whom 60 (30 per group) provided post-intervention anthropometric data and were included in the principal complete-case analysis. Post-intervention BMI was designated as the principal outcome of the present secondary analysis, whereas body weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were secondary outcomes. Treatment effect modification was evaluated using baseline-adjusted ordinary least-squares regression models including treatment allocation, centered baseline BMI, and the treatment × baseline BMI interaction. Sensitivity analyses included adjustment for sex, HC3 heteroscedasticity-consistent standard errors, influence diagnostics, exploratory assessment of nonlinearity, and multiple imputation including all 64 randomized participants. Categorical BMI analyses were conducted post hoc and considered exploratory. Results: No statistically significant linear treatment-by-baseline BMI interaction was detected for post-intervention BMI (B = −0.039, 95% CI: −0.098 to 0.020; p = 0.189) or for body weight, waist circumference, or hip circumference (all p > 0.05). Model-estimated IVR–control differences in post-intervention BMI became progressively more negative with increasing baseline BMI, but uncertainty widened toward the upper end of the observed BMI distribution. Multiple imputation including all 64 randomized participants yielded a nearly identical interaction estimate (B = −0.039, 95% CI: −0.097 to 0.020; p = 0.192). Post hoc categorical analyses yielded different patterns from the principal continuous analysis and were considered hypothesis-generating. Conclusions: No statistically significant linear treatment-by-baseline BMI interaction was detected for post-intervention BMI or the secondary anthropometric outcomes. However, the modest sample size, limited representation at the upper end of the BMI distribution and widening uncertainty in the conditional estimates preclude excluding potentially meaningful treatment effect heterogeneity. These exploratory findings should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalent anthropometric responses across baseline BMI levels and require confirmation in trials specifically designed and adequately powered to evaluate effect modification.

Background/Objectives: Diet quality is an important determinant of health during young adulthood; however, associations between dietary behaviours and anthropometric outcomes in university students remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the associations between dietary behaviours and anthropometric indicators in Chilean university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students from southern Chile between June and November 2025. Dietary habits were assessed using a validated Chilean dietary habits questionnaire, from which Healthy Eating, Unhealthy Eating, and Overall Diet scores were derived. Anthropometric measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Age- and sex-adjusted multivariable linear regression models were fitted. Exploratory analyses included psychometric evaluation, principal component analysis, false discovery rate (FDR) correction, and dietary behaviour network analysis. Results: A total of 374 students were included, of whom 40.3% were women. Psychometric analyses provided only partial support for the predefined two-domain structure, with stronger properties for the healthy domain. None of the predefined dietary scores were associated with BMI. The Unhealthy Eating Score was nominally positively associated with waist circumference (β = 0.285 cm per score point, 95% CI: 0.011–0.560), although this association did not remain statistically significant after FDR correction. Exploratory item-level analyses identified positive associations between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and waist circumference and inverse associations between breakfast consumption and BMI after FDR correction. Conclusions: Predefined dietary behaviour scores showed limited associations with anthropometric outcomes. Psychometric analyses provided only partial support for the predefined scoring structure, particularly for the unhealthy dietary domain. Exploratory item-level analyses suggested that specific dietary behaviours may provide complementary information beyond that obtained by composite dietary scores, although these findings require confirmation in prospective longitudinal studies and further psychometric validation.

Background/Objectives: Handgrip strength is a simple and reliable indicator of muscular fitness during childhood. However, updated reference values for handgrip strength in preschool children remain limited in many countries, including Chile. This study aimed to develop updated age- and sex-specific reference values for maximum handgrip strength in preschool children aged 4–6 years from the Araucanía Region, Chile, and to examine its associations with age and anthropometric characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 899 preschool children (464 boys and 435 girls) from the Araucanía Region, Chile. Handgrip strength was assessed using a Takei 5401 digital dynamometer following the PREFIT protocol. Maximum handgrip strength was defined as the highest value obtained from either hand. Age- and sex-specific percentile reference values (P5, P10, P25, P50, P75, P90, and P95) and interpolated percentile curves were generated. Associations of maximum handgrip strength with age and anthropometric variables were examined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Results: Maximum handgrip strength increased progressively from 4 to 6 years in both sexes, with boys showing significantly higher mean values than girls at each age (all p ≤ 0.011; Cohen’s d = 0.28–0.65). Median (P50) maximum handgrip strength increased from 6.5 to 9.1 kg in girls and from 7.2 to 9.9 kg in boys. Height showed the strongest correlation with maximum handgrip strength (ρ = 0.554), followed by body weight (ρ = 0.463), age (ρ = 0.458), waist circumference (ρ = 0.307), and body mass index (ρ = 0.184) (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides updated age- and sex-specific reference values and interpolated percentile curves for maximum handgrip strength in preschool children aged 4–6 years from the Araucanía Region, Chile. These regional reference data may facilitate the interpretation of handgrip strength performance in preschool children assessed under comparable conditions and provide a useful resource for physical fitness assessment and future research.

Background/Objectives: Diet quality, motor competence, and physical fitness are important domains of child development, yet their interrelationships during the preschool years remain insufficiently understood. This study examined whether diet quality was independently associated with motor competence and physical fitness and explored the potential role of motor competence and postural stability within these relationships in preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 134 preschool children aged 4–6 years. Motor competence was assessed using selected tasks from the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, and physical fitness was evaluated using tests from the PREFIT battery and the sit-and-reach test. Diet quality was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire from which a Diet Quality Index (DQI) was derived. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index were used to examine the associations among study variables. Exploratory pathway analyses and prespecified sensitivity analyses were additionally performed. Results: Diet quality showed a positive but non-significant association with motor competence, whereas no significant direct association with physical fitness was observed after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. Exploratory pathway analyses likewise did not provide evidence of statistically significant indirect associations between diet quality and physical fitness through motor competence, although the direction of the observed associations was consistent across sensitivity analyses. In addition, higher Global Motor Competence and Postural Stability were consistently associated with better global physical fitness, lower-limb muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, and speed/agility. Conclusions: The present study found no evidence of significant direct or indirect associations between diet quality and physical fitness after multivariable adjustment, although healthier dietary patterns showed consistently favorable trends. Consistent with previous evidence, motor competence, particularly postural stability, was positively associated with multiple components of physical fitness.

Background/Objectives: Postural stability is considered a key component of motor development during early childhood; however, its specific association with different components of physical fitness in preschool children remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the association between postural stability and physical fitness components in preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 134 preschool children. Physical fitness was assessed through lower-limb muscular strength (standing long jump), speed/agility (4 × 10 m shuttle run), cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle run), and flexibility (sit-and-reach test). Object-control skills and postural stability were evaluated using selected tasks from the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2. Composite indices were created for object-control skills and postural stability. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and object-control skills. Additional analyses included ANCOVA by postural stability tertiles and sensitivity analyses using HC3 robust standard errors, exclusion of influential observations, and bootstrap resampling. Results: Greater postural stability was independently associated with better lower-limb muscular strength (B = 9.49; 95% CI: 4.39–14.60; p ≤ 0.001) and cardiorespiratory fitness (B = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.06–0.49; p = 0.014). An association with speed/agility was observed in the primary model but lost statistical significance in sensitivity analyses. No significant association was found with flexibility. ANCOVA analyses confirmed significant differences across postural stability tertiles for lower-limb muscular strength (p = 0.033) and cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.011). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the associations for lower-limb muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness. Conclusions: Greater postural stability was consistently associated with better lower-limb muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in preschool children. These findings suggest that postural stability is associated with selected components of physical fitness during early childhood. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify the direction and potential implications of these associations.

Background: Early identification of fall and frailty risk is essential for preventing disability and maintaining functional independence in older adults. Although simple functional assessments are widely used in community settings, their combined application as a classification approach in large real-world populations remains limited. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2979 community-dwelling adults (67.6 ± 8.3 years) enrolled in a municipal physical activity program. Participants underwent standardized assessments of gait speed, handgrip strength, and balance. A composite fall/frailty risk classification was defined using established functional cut-offs. Associations between functional variables and risk classification were examined using correlation analyses and group comparisons. Results: Overall, 45% of participants were classified as high risk. Women showed a higher prevalence compared to men (47% vs. 35%). Lower gait speed (r = −0.56), reduced handgrip strength (r = −0.32), and shorter balance time (r = −0.47) were significantly associated with higher risk classification (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Functional performance measures are strongly associated with a composite classification of fall and frailty risk. These findings support the use of simple, scalable screening tools in community and primary care settings to identify vulnerable older adults and inform early intervention strategies.