Accelerometer-measured sedentary time accumulation patterns and cardiometabolic risk severity in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study

To analyze the association between accelerometer-measured sedentary time accumulation patterns and cardiometabolic risk severity in community-dwelling older adults. Cross-sectional study (n = 248; 78% females; 66 ± 5 years). Sedentary time (ST; <100 counts/min) was assessed by a hip-worn accelerometer for seven days. Total ST (≥ 1 min) and ST in bouts of < 10 (short), 10–29 (medium), and ≥ 30 (prolonged) minutes were registered. Cardiometabolic risk severity was calculated using a continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS), comprising fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Data were analyzed using adjusted generalized linear models. Participants spent 10.5 ± 1.6 h/day, 4.2 ± 0.8 h/day, 3.6 ± 0.8 h/day, and 2.7 ± 1.2 h/day, respectively, in total ST, short, medium, and prolonged ST bouts. Adjusted models revealed that total ST (β = 0.08; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.14), and ST in prolonged bouts (β = 0.16, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.27) were positively associated with cMetS, while ST in short bouts was negatively associated with cMetS (β= -0.18, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.05). In addition, older adults in the highest tertile of ST had higher cMetS for total ST (β = 0.24; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.46) and ST in prolonged bouts (β = 0.29; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.56), and lower cMetS for ST in short bouts (β = -0.25; 95% CI -0.46 to -0.04), compared to those in the lowest tertile. There was no association between ST in medium bout and cMetS (p > 0.05). ST in prolonged bouts was associated with higher cardiometabolic risk severity, whereas ST in short bouts was linked to lower risk in community-dwelling older adults.