Initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sedentary behavior in hypertensive older adults: An accelerometer-based analysis
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Published on: March 7, 2019
Rodrigo A V Browne1, Geovani A D Macêdo2, Ludmila L P Cabral1
1Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Background:
This study reports the accelerometer-based physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in hypertensive older adults.
Methods:
Thirty-five hypertensive older adults were included in this observational study. Accelerometer-based PA and SB measures were assessed before (January to March 2020) and during (June 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. Linear mixed models were used to assess within-group changes in PA and SB measures, adjusted by accelerometer wear time.
Results:
Before COVID-19 pandemic participants presented: 5809 steps/day (SE = 366), 303.1 min/day (SE = 11.9) of light PA, 15.5 min/day (SE = 2.2) of moderate-vigorous PA, and 653.0 min/day (SE = 12.6) of SB. During COVID-19 pandemic there was a decrease in steps/day (β = -886 steps/day, SE = 361, p = 0.018), in moderate-vigorous PA (β = -2.8 min/day, SE = 2.4, p = 0.018), and a trend in light PA (β = -26.6 min/day, SE = 13.4, p = 0.053). In addition, SB increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (β = 29.6 min/day, SE = 13.4, p = 0.032). The magnitude of changes was greater on the weekend, mainly for steps/day (β = -1739 steps/day, SE = 424, p < 0.001) and the SB pattern (more time spent in bouts of ≥10 and 30 min, less breaks/day and breaks/h).
Conclusions:
The COVID-19 pandemic may elicit unhealthy changes in movement behavior in hypertensive older adults. Lower PA, higher and more prolonged SB on the weekend are the main features of the behavioral changes.
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