Physical Activity Patterns among Individuals with Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes across Two Years—A Longitudinal Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify distinct profiles of physical activity (PA) patterns among individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes participating in a two-year PA trial and to investigate predictors of the profiles. Methods: Data (n = 168, collected 2013–2020) from the cohort of a randomized trial aimed at increasing PA in individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes were used. PA and sedentary behaviours were assessed by waist-worn ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers at baseline and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Fifteen PA and sedentary variables were entered into a latent class mixed model for multivariate longitudinal outcomes. Multinominal regression analysis modelled profile membership based on baseline activity level, age, gender, BMI, disease status and group randomisation. Results: Two profiles of PA patterns were identified: “Increased activity” (n = 37, 22%) included participants increasing time in PA and decreasing sedentary time. “No change in activity” (n = 131, 78%) included participants with no or minor changes. “Increased activity” were younger (p = 0.003) and more active at baseline (p = 0.011), compared to “No change in activity”. No other predictor was associated with profile membership. Conclusions: A majority of participants maintained PA and sedentary patterns over two years despite being part of a PA intervention. Individuals improving PA patterns were younger and more active at baseline.

Physical Activity Pattern of Adults With Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors: Time-Series Cluster Analysis

“…Our findings shed light on previously unaddressed or overlooked associations between physical activity patterns and health risk factors. Many previous studies did not report the association between age and physical activity patterns [ 17 , 18 ], and this association was reported only in a few studies [ 29 - 32 ]. Some of these studies reported results consistent with our findings.…”

“…In their study, those aged 18-29 years showed a pattern with the lowest vigorous activity and the highest sustained physical activity, whereas those aged ≥75 years showed a pattern with the highest vigorous activity and the lowest sustained physical activity, indicating differences in physical activity patterns by age. Another study by Rossen et al [ 32 ], which analyzed the physical activity patterns of individuals with diabetes for 2 years, found that the younger the age, the more physical activity increased 2 years later, showing that physical activity patterns can vary depending on age.…”