Physical activity across adulthood and cardiometabolic risk at the beginning of late adulthood

Background
The independent associations of life-long leisure time physical activity (PA) and current participation in PA with cardiometabolic risk at the beginning of late adulthood are unknown.

Purpose
To investigate the associations of PA trajectories across midlife and current PA with cardiometabolic risk at age 61.
Methods
Data came from the JYLS study (N=159, 52% women). Leisure-time PA frequency was assessed at ages 27, 42, 50, and 61 with a single question. Current PA at age 61 included self-reported weekly vigorous PA, weekly strength training, regular active commuting, and occupational PA (yes/no). Cardiometabolic risk factors at age 61 included waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose. PA trajectories were conducted using k means for longitudinal data. Data were analyzed with general and generalized linear models, adjusted for gender and medication.

Results
Of the three PA trajectories found, consistently active (N=67) had better cardiometabolic health compared to increasingly active (N=58), and consistently inactive (N=34). They had smaller waist circumference (mean difference = -5.2, 95% confidence interval [-9.9, -0.5] and -9.2 [-14.8, -3.5]), higher HDL cholesterol (0.22 [0.06, 0.38] and 0.22 [0.02, 0.42]), and lower triglyceride levels (-0.35 [-0.82, -0.08] and -0.51 [-0.88, -0.14]). When current PA was included, these differences did not remain statistically significant. Strength training was associated with smaller waist circumference (-4.67 [-8.2, -1.1]) and higher HDL (0.18 [0.02, 0.34]), and active commuting with higher HDL (0.15 [0.01, 0.29]). PA was not associated with blood pressure or glucose.

Conclusions
Being physically active since young adulthood is beneficial for body composition and blood lipids at the beginning of late adulthood, but current PA may be even more important.

Practical implications
It is not too late to start exercising at age 61. Identifying PA trajectories across midlife may help to target PA promotion.

Funding
Research Council of Finland (323541)