Degree of rurality moderates the association of sedentary time with cognitive function in rural patients with cardiac diseases and depressive symptoms

Background Prolonged sedentary time has been linked to impaired cognitive outcomes. However, the impact of sedentary time on cognitive function at different degrees of rurality is not yet well understood in patients with cardiac diseases and depressive symptoms. Purpose To determine whether degree of rurality moderates the relationship between sedentary time and cognitive function. Methods This study includes 135 coronary heart disease or heart failure patients, primarily residing in rural Kentucky, including Appalachian areas, United States. Sedentary time was measured by the average daily sedentary time (in minutes) using accelerometry (ActiGraph). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment‐Blind. Rurality was determined by Rural‐Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes. Patients were categorized into two groups by rurality: (1) 89 patients in a less rural group (RUCA codes 4−6); and (2) 46 patients in a more rural group (RUCA codes 7−10). Data were collected May 2021‐September 2022 and analyzed using the Hayes PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results Sedentary time predicted cognitive function ( B = −0.006, p = 0.019), and this relationship was moderated by rurality (interaction term = 0.006, p = 0.022). Patients living in more rural areas had significantly worse cognitive function when sedentary for longer periods ( p = 0.019); specifically, every 100‐min increase in sedentary time was associated with a 0.6‐point decrease in cognitive function score. However, this relationship was not observed in those living in less rural areas ( p = 0.658). Conclusions Testing the impact of interventions aimed at reducing sedentary time on cognitive function is warranted in this population, particularly for those living in highly rural areas.