Device-measured physical activity and mental disorders: A UK Biobank prospective cohort study

Oral Presentation B14.5

Authors

  • Frederick K. Ho University of Glasgow
  • Fanny Petermann-Rocha University of Glasgow
  • Solange Parra-Soto University of Glasgow
  • Jirapitcha Boonpor University of Glasgow
  • Stuart R. Gray University of Glasgow
  • Jill P. Pell University of Glasgow
  • Carlos Celis-Morales University of Glasgow; Universidad Mayor; Universidad Catolica del Maule

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.587

Keywords:

Accelerometry, Mental Health, Physical Activity, Public Health

Abstract

Background: Evidence on associations of device-based physical activity (PA) with mental disorders is limited. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the association between device-measured PA and mental disorders. Methods: 43,043 participants from UK Biobank were included in this prospective cohort study. Wrist-worn accelerometers were used to measure total, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), moderate (MPA), and vigorous (VPA) PA. Associations between PA domains and mental disorders (including depression and anxiety) were analysed using penalised splines in Cox proportional hazard models. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Sensitivity analyses were conducted adjusting for body-mass index and longstanding illnesses as well as excluding events in the first two years of follow-up. Population attributable fractions for insufficient MPA and VPA were estimated. Results: After a median follow-up of 6.1 years, 1,672 (4.2%) individuals were diagnosed with mental disorders. Compared with participants who had no MVPA at all, those who performed 150-300 minutes of MPA/week (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.50-0.67) and 75-150 minutes of VPA/week (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.53-0.83) were at lower risk of overall mental disorders after mutual adjustment. However, owing to the high prevalence of sufficient MPA, only 1.93% of mental disorders was attributed to MPA <150 minutes/week, while 18.88% was attributed to VPA <75 minutes/week, assuming causality. Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Device-measured PA was associated with lower risk of mental disorders. A significant proportion of mental health burden may be avoidable through increased VPA. Funding: None.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Ho, F., Petermann-Rocha, F., Parra-Soto, S., Boonpor, J., Gray, S., Pell, J., & Celis-Morales, C. (2021). Device-measured physical activity and mental disorders: A UK Biobank prospective cohort study: Oral Presentation B14.5. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.587

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