Determining Physical Activity Intensity Distribution Threshold For Prediabetes/Diabetes Prevention In Post-Menopausal Women In Hong Kong

The population of menopausal women is increasing due to population aging. The dramatic alteration in hormone profiles that occurs during the menopausal transition leads to unfavorable changes in glucose metabolism. Despite the well-known fact that exercise is a potent tool to mitigate elevated blood glucose, most research has focused on the effects of structured exercise sessions on glycemic control, while little is known about the effects of daily physical activity (PA) patterns. PURPOSE: To establish a threshold of PA intensity distribution throughout 24 hours on a daily basis that associates with the risk of developing prediabetes/diabetes in post-menopausal women. METHODS: This pilot study recruited 38 post-menopausal women (mean age: 64 ± 4 years) living in Hong Kong. PA was monitored for seven consecutive days using an accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph). PA data were analyzed by a cut-point free method using the GGIR package version 3.1.4 in R. Intensity gradient (IG) was used as the proxy for PA intensity distribution. Venous blood was also collected from participants after 10 hours of fasting. Fasting blood glucose level was measured using a glucometer (Contour Plus Glucometer, Bayer Healthcare) and served as the indicator of prediabetes/diabetes. The threshold of IG to prevent the onset of prediabetes/diabetes was determined by logistic regression using Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The logistic regression analysis reveals that there is a significant association between IG and the risk of prediabetics/diabetes (β = -4.20, Z-value = -2.11). A greater IG, indicating a larger portion of higher intensity PA, is associated with a lower risk of developing prediabetes/diabetes, with the logistic regression threshold determined at -2.627 based on ROC curve analysis. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that daily PA intensity distribution with an intensity gradient larger than -2.627 is associated with a lower risk of developing prediabetes/diabetes.