Abstract P316: A Longitudinal Assessment of Exercise Participation From Mid- to Late-Life: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is a modifiable behavior with cumulative health benefits across the lifespan. Most studies of adult exercise patterns have been cross-sectional and limited to non-US populations. Describing longitudinal changes in exercise from mid- to late-life can provide insight into targeted exercise recommendations for middle-aged and older adults. Objective: In the biracial ARIC Study (n=15792), we report trends in the type and duration of exercise among adults aged 45-64 years who were followed for over 20 years. We further examined exercise patterns in a subset of adults who reported engaging in exercise at each ARIC visit (n=1254). Methods: Individuals self-reported type and duration of up to 4 exercises participated in the past year at four visits. Participant’s total minutes/week of exercise was estimated as a composite of the 4 exercises. Type of exercise was categorized as defined in Table 1. Participants were identified as having engaged in <30 minutes or ≥30 minutes/week for each exercise category. Results: Overall, 9,866 adults (female n=5,288; Black n=1,874) reported engaging in exercise at baseline (Table 1). Adults who reported exercise participation at all visits (n=1254; female n=658; Black n=163) had, on average, increased and then decreased their exercise duration from visits 1 to 6. Consistently active adults participated in exercises for a longer duration over time, while among the whole cohort, duration decreased. Walking was the most frequently reported exercise overall for the whole and consistently active cohort. The number of consistently active adults who walked for at least 30 minutes/week increased from 704 to 790 at visits 1 and 6, respectively Conclusion: Exercise patterns differed for adults reporting participation in exercise at a minimum at visit 1 compared to consistently active adults. Further exploration of predictors (i.e. retirement or health status) of exercise change should be examined to guide recommendations that aim to optimize energy expenditure in adulthood.