Light physical activity and sedentary time are associated with multiple comorbid conditions in patients with...

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is frequently accompanied by multiple comorbidities. Patients with PAD typically engage in low levels of physical activity (PA) and spend extended periods in sedentary behavior (SB). However, the relationship between these behaviors and the presence of comorbidities in this population remains unclear.

To analyze the association between PA and SB with multiple comorbid conditions in patients with PAD.

This cross-sectional study included 179 patients with PAD and claudication symptoms (66 ± 9 y.o.; 62.6% male), which had an ankle-brachial index <0.90 in at least one limb (0.58 ± 0.16). An accelerometer was worn for seven consecutive days to measure PA (light and moderate-vigorous) and the time spent in SB. Sociodemographic information (sex, age and current medication), body mass index, total walking distance (six-min walk test) and chronic diseases were obtained. Crude and adjusted linear regression models were created for the association between SB, light PA, and moderate-vigorous PA with the outcome (multiple comorbid conditions). For all the statistical analyses, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The time spent in SB (β = 0.280; p = 0.012) and light PA (β = -0.209; p = 0.015) were positively and negatively associated with the multiple comorbid conditions after adjustments for sex, age, ankle-brachial index, total walking distance, body mass index and moderate-vigorous PA. The time spent in moderate-vigorous PA was not associated (p > 0.05).

Higher time spent in SB and lower time spent in light PA were associated with multiple comorbid conditions in patients with PAD. Recommendations should focus not only on increasing PA but also on reducing prolonged SB.