Associations of objectively measured movement behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness with mental health and quality of life in older adults with hypertension: an exploratory analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: Herein, we explored the associations of pre-pandemic COVID-19 physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with mental health and quality of life in older adults with hypertension.

Method: Objectively measured PA and SB, perceived stress, depression symptoms, and quality of life were assessed before and during the pandemic in seventeen older adults with hypertension. CRF was assessed before the pandemic by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were analyzed using the mixed linear model.

Results: Pre-pandemic light PA (positive association) and SB (negative association) were associated with quality of life during the pandemic. Higher pre-pandemic CRF was associated with less negative changes in perceived stress, depression symptoms, and quality of life during the pandemic.

Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest that a healthier pre-pandemic movement behavior (more PA, less SB) and better CRF can mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in older adults with hypertension.

Keywords:

• Coronavirus
• stress
• depression
• physical activity
• sedentary

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the older adults who volunteered to participate in this study. We also thank Maria Beatriz F. Araújo and Ronildo Paulo-Pereira for their support in data collection.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

Data can be shared upon request.

Additional information

Funding

This study received funding from CAPES (10.13039/501100002322 ) and CNPq (10.13039/501100003593).