Objectively-Measured Sedentary Time and Self-Reported Prescription Medication Use Among Adults: A Pilot Study

Abstract

While previous research has linked physical activity (PA) with lower prescription medication consumption, limited evidence has investigated sedentary time (ST) as a major contributor to medication use, despite ST’s known association with chronic disease and mortality risk, even when PA volume is considered. This study aimed to examine the independent associations between objectively measured ST, patterns of sedentary bouts, and self-reported prescription medication use among adults ≥25 years of age. Thirty-two participants reported the number and type of medications they were currently prescribed and wore an accelerometer continuously on their hip for seven days to detect their ST. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess how average daily ST, sedentary bout frequency, and sedentary bout duration influenced medication use. The results revealed a significant association between greater ST and higher medication consumption. Specifically, each additional hour of ST per day, each sedentary bout, and each one-minute increase in bout duration were linked to a 66% (PR 1.66; 95% CI 1.25–2.19; p < 0.001), 36% (PR 1.36; 95% CI 1.12–1.64; p < 0.01), and 9% (PR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03–1.16; p < 0.01) higher prevalence of prescription medications, respectively. These findings suggest that higher ST is associated with a greater prevalence of using prescription medications in adults.