Associations between leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors among older adults with long-term spinal cord injury

Abstract

Study Design This is a cross-sectional study. Objectives To describe the association between cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, blood glucose and lipids) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in older adults with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting Community settings, southern Sweden. Methods Data from the baseline data collection of the Swedish Aging with Spinal Cord Injury Study (SASCIS) (n = 123, 71% men, injury levels C1-L5, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale AD , mean age 63 years, mean time since injury 24 years). Data were collected through home interviews, assessments and blood samples. The Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with SCI was used to assess LTPA. Associations were investigated using multivariable linear regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, level and severity of injury, cause of injury, time since injury and tobacco use. Results More minutes per day of moderate-to-heavy LTPA were significantly associated with a lower BMI (Beta = −0.31; p = 0.001) and a lower WC (Beta = −0.24; p = 0.009). More minutes per day of total LTPA (mild intensity or greater) were associated with a higher systolic blood pressure (Beta = 0.27; p = 0.041) among participants with tetraplegia. No other significant associations between the cardiovascular risk factors and total LTPA were found. Conclusion Participation in daily LTPA is associated with better cardiovascular health with regard to BMI and WC in older adults with long-term SCI. Further studies are needed to establish the specific amount of activity needed to obtain positive health effects in this group and the directional causality of the associations. Sponsorship Not applicable.

Development of Cardiometabolic Health indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project

“…Self-reported physical activity is problematic in the SCI population and the proposed final outcome indicator will not be immune to this limitation. 47 , 48 Although physical exercise recall can be problematic, it was shown to be feasible when using recall periods of 7 days 49 or less. 50 Knowledge retention regarding the guidelines for physical exercise in the SCI population were noted as potentially problematic during the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles.…”

Relationship between initial functional level and weight change in individuals with subacute spinal cord injuries. A retrospective observational study

“…In persons with SCI, it has been indicated that increasing BMI/ weight, may decrease mobility and participation [4]. Further, associations between BMI and leisure time physical activity have been identi ed [5]. In summary, the evidence suggests a bi-directional relationship between various measures of nutritional status and activity level.…”

“…In addition, the impact of the motor system and hence reduced opportunity for physical activity affect energy expenditure. [4,5]. Therefore, the sequela of disease mechanisms after SCI predisposes to changes in body composition, possibly affecting weight [6,7].…”