Do device-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior differ by depression symptom status in persons with...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Depression is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and impacts physical activity.
• Less is known about sedentary behavior and its relationship with depression in MS patients.
• Understanding physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in MS is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in sedentary behavior and physical activity volume and patterns based on depression symptom status in individuals with MS.
• To compare device-measured sedentary behavior and physical activity between MS patients with and without elevated depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 441 adults with MS completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and wore an accelerometer for 7 days.
• Participants were categorized into elevated (n=127) or non-elevated (n=314) depression symptom groups.
• Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) and covariance (MANCOVA) were used to analyze differences in sedentary behavior and physical activity.

Main Results:

• Initial MANOVA showed a difference in the volume of physical activity and sedentary behavior, with the non-depressed group taking more steps/day.
• After controlling for disability, age, disease duration, and education using MANCOVA, the difference in steps/day between groups was no longer statistically significant.
• No significant differences were found in sedentary behavior or physical activity patterns between depression groups.

Conclusions:

• This study found no significant differences in sedentary behavior or physical activity volume/patterns related to depression status in MS patients.
• The initial difference in daily steps was explained by factors like disability, age, disease duration, and education.
• Steps per day may be a relevant target for health interventions in MS patients with higher disability and depressive symptoms.