Predictors of physical activity and sedentary behavior in peripheral artery disease patients: A longitudinal study

Aim To identify clinical predictors of changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) during a 27-month follow-up period in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Methods In this longitudinal study, 69 patients (68% men) were followed for 27 months. Patients wore an accelerometer for 7 days, and assessed the time spent in SB, light PA, and moderate-to-vigorous PA. Comorbid conditions, walking capacity (6-minute walk test – 6MWT), and cognitive function were obtained. Assessments were repeated in the same patients after 27 months (95% CI: 26–28 months). Results We observed changes in light PA (b = -0.359, p = 0.007) and in SB (b = -0.446, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with their respective baseline levels, indicating that individuals with higher baseline exposure exhibited larger longitudinal changes. Baseline comorbidities, particularly diabetes and obesity, were associated with less favorable changes in light PA and SB. Changes in moderate-to-vigorous PA were positively associated with absolute 6MWT (b = 0.320, p = 0.043), relative 6MWT (b = 0.298, p = 0.037), and cognitive function (b = 0.302, p = 0.034). Conclusion Changes in light PA and SB were primarily associated with their baseline levels, whereas changes in moderate-to-vigorous PA were positively associated with concurrent changes in walking capacity and cognitive function. These findings indicate that patients with poorer functional and cognitive trajectories may be more likely to experience reductions in moderate-to-vigorous PA over time, without implying a causal effect between these domains.