The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Quality Of Life In People With Metabolic Syndrome

One-third of US adults suffer from metabolic syndrome (MetS). People with MetS (PwMetS) report worse health-related quality of life (QoL) outcomes than people without MetS. Physical inactivity is a strong correlate of MetS. However, relationships between physical activity (PA) and QoL outcomes of PwMetS are unclear. PURPOSE: To evaluate relationships between PA and QoL outcomes of PwMetS. METHODS: Using baseline data from a behavioral clinical trial spanning 5 geo-diverse sites, PwMetS wore an accelerometer on the right hip for 7 consecutive days. The PA outcomes included the sum of moderate and vigorous PA minutes performed in a week (MVPA) and the average daily step count (Daily Steps). The SF-36 Health Survey was administered to evaluate general health, mental health, vitality, physical function, role limitations from physical health, bodily pain, role limitations from emotional health, and social function. Higher scores indicate better QoL measures (e.g., less bodily pain). Unadjusted Spearman’s correlations evaluated relationships between PA and QoL measures (Table). RESULTS: Among 618 participants (75.7% females), MVPA (x̄ = 104.88, SD = 97.58) was related to physical function (ρ = 0.265, p < .001), bodily pain (ρ = 0.145, p < .001), and limitations from physical health (ρ = 0.097, p = .016). Daily Steps (x̄ = 4362.59, SD = 2228.43) were related to physical function (ρ = 0.318, p < .001), bodily pain (ρ = 0.128, p < .001), role limitations from physical health (ρ = 0.127, p = .002) and social functioning (ρ = 0.095, p = .019). CONCLUSION: Performing more PA is related to better physical functioning, having less body pain, having less role limitations from physical health, and better social functioning. Outcome interpretation is limited by non-causal cross-sectional data and self-reported QoL measures. Including directional investigation of these QoL and PA relationships will benefit future studies for PwMetS. Table. - MVPA Spearman’s rho p-value General Health 0.060 .136 Mental Health 0.006 .876 Vitality 0.061 .128 Physical Function 0.265 <.001* Role limitations from physical health 0.097 .016* Bodily Pain 0.145 <.001* Role limitations from emotional health 0.037 .355 Social Function 0.078 .053 Daily Steps General Health 0.066 .102 Mental Health 0.017 .678 Vitality 0.077 .055 Physical Function 0.318 <.001* Role limitations from physical health 0.127 .002* Bodily Pain 0.128 <.001* Role limitation from emotional health 0.025 .536 Social Function 0.095 .019* Supported by William G. McGowan Charitable Fund