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.

Keywords: accelerometery; latent class; physical activity pattern; sedentary behaviour; time-use; trajectories.

Figure 1

Line plots with 95% confidence intervals as error bars for PA and SB variables by profile membership across time. LIPA, light intensity physical activity; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; SB, sedentary behaviour. “Time” refers to absolute time for each behaviour, “relative time” refers to time in one behaviour relative to the two remaining behaviours and “variability” refers to the standard deviation of one behaviour across the days it was measured. All data are presented as z-values.