Background
Methods
Study design and population
Physical activity assessment (predictor variables)
Habitual PA
Sports-related PA
Change of sports-related PA
Individual factors of metabolic syndrome assessment (outcomes of interest)
Elevated waist circumference
Blood lipids (triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol)
Elevated blood pressure
Elevated blood-glucose level
Assessment of confounders
Statistical analysis
Results
Sample characteristics
Outcomes of interest | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elevated WC (N = 479) | Elevated TG (N = 574) | Reduced HDL (N = 537) | Elevated BP (N = 297) | Elevated BG (N = 641) | ||||||
Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | |
Elevated WC, N (%) | – | – | 50 (19.5){5} | 60 (18.9){40} | 48 (18.5){2} | 46 (16.5){36} | 10 (9.4){2} | 29 (15.2){31} | 62 (20.4){2} | 67 (19.9){42} |
Elevated TG, N (%) | 44 (18.3) | 18 (7.5) | – | – | 34 (13.1) | 12 (4.3) | 21 (19.8) | 10 (5.2) | 58 (19.1) | 24 (7.1) |
Reduced HDL, N (%) | 39 (16.3) | 37 (15.5) | 31 (12.1) | 52 (16.4) | – | – | 20 (18.9) | 35 (18.3) | 54 (17.8) | 63 (18.7) |
Elevated BP, N (%) | 149 (62.1) | 106 (44.4) | 171 (66.8) | 137 (43.1) | 173 (66.8) | 122 (43.9) | – | – | 199 (65.5) | 148 (43.9) |
Elevated BG, N (%) | 6 (2.5) | 2 (0.8) | 10 (3.9) | 5 (1.6) | 9 (3.5) | 4 (1.4) | 1 (0.9) | 2 (1.0) | - | - |
Confounders | ||||||||||
N | 240 | 239 | 256 | 318 | 259 | 278 | 106 | 191 | 304 | 337 |
Age [years], mean (SD) | 43.3 (8.4) | 44.0 (8.9) | 44.5 (8.5) | 44.1 (8.5) | 44.4 (8.7) | 44.1 (8.5) | 41.0 (8.3) | 41.9 (8.2) | 44.3 (8.5) | 43.8 (8.5) |
SES, mean (SD) | 3.2 (0.9){2} | 2.9 (0.9){5} | 3.1 (0.9){4} | 2.8 (0.9){7} | 3.1 (0.9){4} | 2.8 (0.9){5} | 3.2 (0.9){1} | 2.9 (0.9){6} | 3.1 (0.9){3} | 2.8 (0.9){8} |
Low (%) | 4.6 | 10.0 | 5.1 | 10.7 | 5.4 | 10.1 | 2.8 | 7.9 | 5.9 | 10.1 |
Low/medium (%) | 23.3 | 16.3 | 25.0 | 19.5 | 23.9 | 19.4 | 27.4 | 21.5 | 23.7 | 19.0 |
Medium/high (%) | 24.2 | 44.4 | 24.6 | 43.4 | 26.6 | 44.6 | 19.8 | 41.4 | 25.3 | 43.6 |
High (%) | 47.1 | 27.2 | 43.8 | 24.2 | 42.5 | 24.1 | 49.1 | 26.2 | 44.1 | 24.9 |
Predictors | ||||||||||
Habitual PA [min/week], mean (SD) | 376.1 (302.9) | 307.5 (239.1) | 375.8 (305.5) | 317.8 (233.9) | 388.3 (313.8) | 324.1 (237.9) | 366.8 (288.0) | 296.7 (209.2) | 379.0 (310.5) | 319.6 (230.1) |
Low (< 75) (%) | 4.6 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
Medium (75–149) (%) | 22.5 | 26.8 | 21.1 | 23.9 | 22.4 | 24.1 | 23.6 | 25.7 | 21.7 | 22.8 |
High (≥ 150) (%) | 72.9 | 67.4 | 72.7 | 70.8 | 72.2 | 70.5 | 74.5 | 68.1 | 73.0 | 72.2 |
Sports-related PA [min/week], mean (SD) | 116.0 (148.4) | 104.7 (126.8) | 105.3 (144.4) | 90.4 (119.2) | 105.5 (142.6) | 98.1 (125.8) | 79.2 (93.8) | 92.9 (121.5) | 102.9 (137.9) | 90.7 (120.1) |
Inactive (< 75) (%) | 47.1 | 47.7 | 50.4 | 55.0 | 51.0 | 53.2 | 56.6 | 53.4 | 52.0 | 55.5 |
Medium (75–149) (%) | 26.3 | 25.1 | 25.8 | 20.8 | 25.1 | 20.1 | 26.4 | 23.0 | 24.0 | 20.5 |
High (≥ 150) (%) | 26.7 | 27.2 | 23.8 | 24.2 | 23.9 | 26.6 | 17.0 | 23.6 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
Sports-related PA [METh/week], mean (SD) | 14.1 (17.9) | 12.3 (15.2) {1} | 12.4 (17.4) | 10.9 (14.6){1} | 12.9 (17.3) | 12.0 (15.3) {1} | 9.5 (11.4) | 10.5 (14.0) {1} | 12.4 (16.7) | 10.9 (14.5) {1} |
Low (< 8.3) (%) | 46.3 | 51.9 | 51.6 | 57.9 | 51.0 | 55.0 | 55.7 | 57.6 | 51.3 | 57.3 |
Medium (8.3–16.5) (%) | 25.4 | 22.6 | 24.6 | 17.6 | 23.9 | 18.0 | 25.5 | 18.8 | 24.3 | 18.7 |
High (≥ 16.6) (%) | 28.3 | 25.1 | 23.8 | 24.2 | 25.1 | 26.6 | 18.9 | 23.0 | 24.3 | 23.7 |
Association of PA with new onset of elevated waist circumference
No. with incident elevated waist circumference (N = 234, 48.9%) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. at risk (N = 479) | No. incident elevated waist circumference (% of No. at risk) | Model 1 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | Model 2 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
Habitual PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 25 | 14 (2.9) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 118 | 58 (12.1) | 0.77 (0.42–1.41) | 0.397 | 0.78 (0.42–1.43) | 0.417 |
High (≥ 150) | 336 | 162 (33.8) | 0.73 (0.41–1.30) | 0.284 | 0.72 (0.40–1.27) | 0.253 |
Sports-related PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 227 | 109 (22.8) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 123 | 66 (13.8) | 1.05 (0.77–1.44) | 0.749 | 1.08 (0.79–1.49) | 0.618 |
High (≥ 150) | 129 | 59 (12.3) | 0.92 (0.67–1.26) | 0.594 | 0.88 (0.64–1.21) | 0.424 |
Sports-related intensity level at baseline [METh/week] {1} | ||||||
Not intensively active (< 8.3) | 235 | 110 (23.0) | ref | ref | ||
Moderately intensively active (8.3–16.5) | 115 | 59 (12.3) | 1.10 (0.80–1.52) | 0.552 | 1.07 (0.78–1.48) | 0.669 |
Highly intensively active (≥ 16.6) | 128 | 65 (13.6) | 1.09 (0.80–1.48) | 0.593 | 1.06 (0.77–1.44) | 0.725 |
Change in sports-related PA over time [min/week] {19} | ||||||
Stable inactive (< 150– < 150) | 234 | 115 (24.0) | ref | ref | ||
Quits activity (≥ – < 150) | 51 | 27 (5.6) | 0.96 (0.63–1.47) | 0.859 | 0.91 (0.59–1.39) | 0.656 |
Starts activity (< 150– ≥ 150) | 111 | 58 (12.1) | 0.75 (0.54–1.04) | 0.084 | 0.78 (0.56–1.07) | 0.123 |
Stable active (≥ 150– ≥ 150) | 64 | 26 (5.4) | 0.69 (0.45–1.05) | 0.084 | 0.66 (0.43–1.01) | 0.057 |
Change in sports-related intensity level over time [METh/week] {4} | ||||||
Stable low (< 16.6– < 16.6) | 250 | 126 (26.3) | ref | ref | ||
Decreasing (≥ 16.6– < 16.6) | 47 | 29 (6.1) | 1.32 (0.87–1.98) | 0.188 | 1.37 (0.91–2.07) | 0.130 |
Increasing (< 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 98 | 42 (8.8) | 0.61 (0.43–0.88) | 0.007* | 0.62 (0.45–0.92) | 0.015 |
Stable high (≥ 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 80 | 35 (7.3) | 0.72 (0.49–1.05) | 0.084 | 0.70 (0.48–1.02) | 0.060 |
Association of PA with incident elevated triglycerides
No. with incident elevated triglycerides (N = 292, 50.9%) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. at risk (N = 574) | No. incident elevated triglycerides (% of No. at risk) | Model 1 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | Model 2 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
Habitual PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 33 | 19 (3.3) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 130 | 58 (10.1) | 0.98 (0.57–1.69) | 0.947 | 1.24 (0.68–2.26) | 0.489 |
High (≥ 150) | 411 | 215 (37.5) | 1.14 (0.70–1.88) | 0.601 | 1.36 (0.78–2.35) | 0.277 |
Sports-related PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 304 | 162 (28.2) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 132 | 68 (11.8) | 0.92 (0.69–1.24) | 0.596 | 1.04 (0.77–1.42) | 0.793 |
High (≥ 150) | 138 | 62 (10.8) | 0.87 (0.65–1.17) | 0.369 | 1.02 (0.74–1.40) | 0.912 |
Sports-related intensity level at baseline [METh/week] {1} | ||||||
Not intensively active (< 8.3) | 316 | 170 (29.6) | ref | ref | ||
Moderately intensively active (8.3–16.5) | 119 | 62 (10.8) | 0.97 (0.72–1.30) | 0.818 | 1.06 (0.78–1.44) | 0.733 |
Highly intensively active (≥ 16.6) | 138 | 60 (10.5) | 0.83 (0.62–1.12) | 0.224 | 0.96 (0.70–1.33) | 0.814 |
Change in sports-related PA over time [min/week] {28} | ||||||
Stable inactive (< 150– < 150) | 296 | 167 (29.1) | ref | ref | ||
Quits activity (≥ 150– < 150) | 52 | 29 (5.1) | 0.95 (0.64–1.41) | 0.800 | 1.08 (0.72–1.63) | 0.705 |
Starts activity (< 150– ≥ 150) | 119 | 50 (8.7) | 0.62 (0.45–0.85) | 0.003* | 0.62 (0.44–0.88) | 0.007* |
Stable active (≥ 150– ≥ 150) | 79 | 36 (6.3) | 0.76 (0.53–1.10) | 0.141 | 0.87 (0.59–1.29) | 0.484 |
Change in sports-related intensity level over time [METh/week] {13} | ||||||
Stable low (< 16.6– < 16.6) | 318 | 181 (31.5) | ref | ref | ||
Decreasing (≥ 16.6– < 16.6) | 58 | 29 (5.1) | 0.88 (0.59–1.31) | 0.530 | 1.05 (0.69–1.59) | 0.823 |
Increasing (< 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 110 | 45 (7.8) | 0.58 (0.42–0.81) | 0.001* | 0.63 (0.44–0.89) | 0.009* |
Stable high (≥ 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 75 | 30 (5.2) | 0.66 (0.45–0.98) | 0.037 | 0.76 (0.50–1.14) | 0.182 |
Association of PA with incident reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterols
No. with incident reduced HDL (N = 139, 25.9%) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. at risk (N = 537) | No. incident reduced HDL (% of No. at risk) | Model 1 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | Model 2 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
Habitual PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 29 | 11 (1.9) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 125 | 31 (5.4) | 0.85 (0.41–1.74) | 0.648 | 0.86 (0.41–1.79) | 0.683 |
High (≥ 150) | 383 | 97 (16.9) | 0.77 (0.40–1.49) | 0.442 | 0.72 (0.37–1.40) | 0.332 |
Sports-related PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 280 | 87 (15.2) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 121 | 26 (4.5) | 0.61 (0.39–0.96) | 0.034 | 0.59 (0.37–0.95) | 0.031 |
High (≥ 150) | 136 | 26 (4.5) | 0.63 (0.41–0.98) | 0.041 | 0.63 (0.40–0.99) | 0.048 |
Sports-related intensity level at baseline [METh/week] {1} | ||||||
Not intensively active (< 8.3) | 285 | 88 (15.4) | ref | ref | ||
Moderately intensively active (8.3–16.5) | 112 | 26 (4.5) | 0.72 (0.46–1.13) | 0.149 | 0.68 (0.43–1.09) | 0.107 |
Highly intensively active (≥ 16.6) | 139 | 25 (4.4) | 0.59 (0.37–0.93) | 0.022 | 0.58 (0.36–0.93) | 0.024 |
Change in sports-related PA over time [min/week] {24} | ||||||
Stable inactive (< 150– < 150) | 276 | 86 (15.0) | ref | ref | ||
Quits activity (≥ 150– < 150) | 38 | 8 (1.4) | 0.61 (0.30–1.27) | 0.189 | 0.66 (0.32–1.38) | 0.269 |
Starts activity (< 150– ≥ 150) | 120 | 23 (4.0) | 0.54 (0.34–0.87) | 0.011 | 0.43 (0.25–0.74) | 0.002* |
Stable active (≥ 150– ≥ 150) | 79 | 18 (3.1) | 0.74 (0.44–1.23) | 0.245 | 0.67 (0.39–1.16) | 0.156 |
Change in sports-related intensity level over time [METh/week] {11} | ||||||
Stable low (< 16.6– < 16.6) | 86 | 92 (16.1) | ref | ref | ||
Decreasing (≥ 16.6– < 16.6) | 101 | 9 (1.6) | 0.56 (0.27–1.15) | 0.114 | 0.62 (0.30–1.28) | 0.193 |
Increasing (< 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 50 | 17 (3.0) | 0.48 (0.28–0.81) | 0.006* | 0.43 (0.24–0.77) | 0.004* |
Stable high (≥ 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 289 | 16 (2.8) | 0.57 (0.33–0.98) | 0.040 | 0.55 (0.31–0.97) | 0.040 |
Association of PA with incident elevated blood pressure
No. with incident elevated BP (N = 185, 62.3%) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. at risk (N = 297) | No. incident elevated BP (% of No. at risk) | Model 1 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | Model 2 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
Habitual PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 14 | 8 (2.7) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 74 | 44 (14.8) | 1.23 (0.58–2.62) | 0.597 | 1.00 (0.42–2.40) | 0.995 |
High (≥ 150) | 209 | 133 (44.8) | 1.23 (0.59–2.54) | 0.583 | 1.056 (0.46–2.45) | 0.899 |
Sports-related PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||||
Low (< 75) | 162 | 98 (33.0) | ref | ref | ||
Medium (75–149) | 72 | 45 (15.2) | 1.09 (0.75–1.57) | 0.652 | 1.11 (0.75–1.65) | 0.607 |
High (≥ 150) | 63 | 42 (14.1) | 1.30 (0.90–1.88) | 0.163 | 1.40 (0.94–2.09) | 0.098 |
Sports-related intensity level at baseline [METh/week] {1} | ||||||
Not intensively active (< 8.3) | 169 | 95 (32.0) | ref | ref | ||
Moderately intensively active (8.3–16.5) | 63 | 45 (15.2) | 1.34 (0.93–1.92) | 0.118 | 1.26 (0.86–1.85) | 0.241 |
Highly intensively active (≥ 16.6) | 64 | 45 (15.2) | 1.42 (0.99–2.03) | 0.058 | 1.49 (1.01–2.20) | 0.044 |
Change in sports-related PA over time [min/week] {12} | ||||||
Stable inactive (< 150– < 150) | 171 | 102 (34.3) | ref | ref | ||
Quits activity (≥ 150– < 150) | 26 | 20 (6.7) | 1.65 (1.01–2.69) | 0.046 | 1.68 (1.01–2.80) | 0.046 |
Starts activity (< 150– ≥ 150) | 59 | 38 (12.8) | 0.75 (0.51–1.10) | 0.142 | 0.69 (0.45–1.06) | 0.090 |
Stable active (≥ 150– ≥ 150) | 29 | 18 (6.1) | 0.92 (0.55–1.53) | 0.737 | 0.92 (0.52–1.63) | 0.775 |
Change in sports-related intensity level over time [METh/week] {3} | ||||||
Stable low (< 16.6– < 16.6) | 176 | 103 (34.7) | ref | ref | ||
Decreasing (≥ 16.6– < 16.6) | 30 | 22 (7.4) | 1.47 (0.92–2.34) | 0.106 | 1.52 (0.92–2.50) | 0.101 |
Increasing (< 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 55 | 36 (12.1) | 0.74 (0.50–1.10) | 0.137 | 0.74 (0.49–1.13) | 0.158 |
Stable high (≥ 16.6– ≥ 16.6) | 33 | 23 (7.7) | 1.03 (0.65–1.63) | 0.904 | 1.11 (0.68–1.81) | 0.668 |
Association of PA with incident elevated blood-glucose
No. with incident elevated BG (N = 47, 7.3%) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No. at risk (N = 641) | No. incident elevated BG (% of No. at risk) | Model 1 adjusted Hazard Ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
Habitual PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||
Low (< 75) | 33 | 2 (0.3) | ref | |
Medium (75–149) | 143 | 11 (1.7) | 2.12 (0.46–9.85) | 0.338 |
High (≥ 150) | 465 | 34 (5.3) | 1.39 (0.33–5.82) | 0.656 |
Sports-related PA level at baseline [min/week] | ||||
Low (< 75) | 345 | 31 (4.8) | ref | |
Medium (75–149) | 142 | 10 (1.6) | 0.97 (0.46–2.06) | 0.942 |
High (≥ 150) | 154 | 6 (0.9) | 0.54 (0.22–1.32) | 0.176 |
Sports-related intensity level at baseline [METh/week] {1} | ||||
Not intensively active (< 8.3) | 349 | 31 (4.8) | ref | |
Moderately intensively active (8.3–16.5) | 137 | 11 (1.7) | 1.13 (0.55–2.28) | 0.745 |
Highly intensively active (≥ 16.6) | 154 | 5 (0.7) | 0.50 (0.19–1.30) | 0.154 |
Change in sports-related PA over time [min/week] {26} | ||||
Stable inactive (< 150 – < 150) | 333 | 34 (5.3) | ref | |
Quits activity (≥ 150 – < 150) | 52 | 5 (0.7) | 0.97 (0.38–2.50) | 0.950 |
Starts activity (< 150 – ≥ 150) | 144 | 6 (0.9) | 0.43 (0.17–1.04) | 0.062 |
Stable active (≥ 150 – ≥ 150) | 86 | 1 (0.1) | 0.13 (0.02–0.92) | 0.042 |
Change in sports-related intensity level over time [METh/week] {6} | ||||
Stable low (< 16.6 – < 16.6) | 348 | 32 (5.0) | ref | |
Decreasing (≥ 16.6 – < 16.6) | 54 | 4 (0.6) | 1.03 (0.36–2.95) | 0.962 |
Increasing (< 16.6 – ≥ 16.6) | 135 | 10 (1.6) | 0.76 (0.36–1.58) | 0.457 |
Stable high (≥ 16.6 – ≥ 16.6) | 98 | 1 (0.1) | 0.13 (0.02–0.99) | 0.049 |