Circadian rhythm parameters and physical activity associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the PREVIEW lifestyle study

Abstract

The aim of this study was an assessment of post hoc associations among circadian rhythm parameters, physical activity (PA), and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with obesity and prediabetes after 3 years of weight loss maintenance. Circadian rhythm parameters (continuous wrist-temperature measurements), PA, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), heart rate (HR), plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, remnant cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were determined in 91 free-living participants (mean [SD], age=56.6 [10] years; BMI =28.2 [4.0]; homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]=3.2 [3.1]) and in 38 participants in sedentary respiration chamber conditions (age=56.6[10] years; BMI=28.5[4.0]; HOMA-IR=3.3 [1.4]). Associations of circadian rhythm parameters and PA with cardiometabolic risk factors were determined using factor analyses followed by Pearson correlations. Values of cardiometabolic risk factors were similar, whereas circadian rhythm parameters and PA differed significantly (p < 0.05) between conditions. In both conditions, parameters indicating a robust circadian rhythm associated inversely with CRP and positively with plasma HDL-C concentrations. In free-living conditions, PA associated inversely with SBP and HR and positively with HDL-C and robust circadian rhythm parameters. In sedentary conditions, PA associated positively with HR and inversely with robust circadian rhythm parameters. PA mediated the inverse association of parameters indicating a robust circadian rhythm with SBP in free-living conditions. In adults with obesity and prediabetes, parameters indicating a robust circadian rhythm were, independently of PA, associated with lower cardiometabolic risk and CRP. Only in free-living conditions, PA mediated the association of higher circadian stability with lower SBP.