Majority of Elderly Sedentary Kenyans Show Unfavorable Body Composition and Cardio-Metabolic Fitness

Chronic disease, more prevalent among the elderly, is influenced by body composition and cardio-metabolic physiognomies. Aim: In this study, body composition, cardiovascular, and metabolic function in sedentary but healthy Kenyan individuals of ≥ 50 years was determined. Methods: For 53 volunteers from Eldoret, Kenya, their biological, demographic characteristics, metabolic functions, cardiovascular performance, and body composition measurements were done before they were subjected to a Shuttle Run Test (SRT). Following SRT, their cardiovascular parameters were measured, and maximal oxygen consumption estimated. Fasting blood sugars and lipid profiles were measured after a 12-hour fast. Results: For males and females, respectively, the following parameters were recorded: average ages 55.5 ± 3.0 and 53.9 ± 3.0 years, BMI > 24.9 Kg/M2 in 67% and 88.5%, waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5 in 70% and 88.5%, waist–hip ratio 78% ( ≥ 0.90 ) and 38.5% (≥ 0.85), and blood pressure >140/90 mmHg in 22.2% and 23.1%. Pre-diabetic to diabetic values were found in 70.4% males and 88.5% females. The percent body fat was 22.3 ± 8.0 and 38.3 ± 4.69 in males and females, respectively. Lipid profile for males and females, respectively, showed high Total Cholesterol (TC) in 48.1% and 42.3%, anomalous Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) in 29.6% and 26.9%, lower than normal HDL levels in 29.6% and 23.1%, elevated triglycerides in 22.2% and 7.7%, abnormal TC/HDL ratio in 44.4% and 38.5% females, higher LDL/HDL in 33.3% and 34.6%, and critical Triglycerides/HDL levels in 7.4% and 3.8%. Overall, 51.9% of males and 53.8% of females showed features consistent with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Majority of elderly sedentary Kenyans have body compositions and cardio-metabolic profiles below that for good cardiopulmonary fitness.