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

• Published in: Aging & mental health Vol. 26; no. 8; pp. 1678 - 1685
• Main Authors: Moura, Evanilson F., Cabral, Daniel A. R., Rêgo, Maria Luiza M., Browne, Rodrigo A. V., Macêdo, Geovani A. D., Cabral, Ludmila L. P., Vivas, Andres, Oliveira, Gledson T. A., Lucena, Bruno E. B., Elsangedy, Hassan M., Costa, Eduardo C., Fontes, Eduardo B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01-08-2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adults; Associations; Behavior; Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Coronavirus; COVID-19; depression; Exploratory behavior; Geriatric psychiatry; Health behavior; Hypertension; Linear analysis; Mental depression; Mental health; Older people; Pandemics; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Quality of life; Sedentary; Stress; Symptoms
• ISSN: 1360-7863; 1364-6915
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1942436

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.