The Relationship Between Different Dimensions Of Physical Activity, metabolic Equivalents And Cognitive Levels In Patients With Hearing Impairment: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between different dimensions of physical activity (time, frequency and intensity), metabolic equivalents (MET) and cognitive levels in patients with hearing impairment.Methods: The 1111 middle-aged and elderly patients with hearing impairment included in this study were from the China health and retirement longitudinal study (CHARLS) conducted in 2018. Physical activity was classified into vigorous PA (VPA), moderate PA (MPA), and light PA (LPA) according to intensity, and descriptive analyses were performed in terms of different dimensions as well as metabolic equivalents. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, education, marriage, smoking, drinking, and hearing aid wear by multiple linear regression models, the relationships between the different dimensions of physical activity, metabolic equivalents and cognitive levels were analyzed. Results: Among the different dimensions of physical activity, patients with LPA volume 150-299 min/w had higher cognitive scores (β = 4.778,95% CI: 1.555 to 8.002) compared to inactivity, whereas patients with VPA volume ≥ 300 min/w had lower cognitive scores (β = -2.186,95% CI: -3.644 to -0.728).Cognitive scores were higher in patients with LPA 3-5 d/w (β = 5.357,95% CI: 2.688 to 8.025); whereas patients with VPA 6-7 d/w had lower cognitive scores (β = -2.762,95% CI: -4.416 to -1.109).Cognitive scores were higher for patients with LPA duration 30-119 min/d (β = 2.249,95%CI: 0.471 to 4.028); In contrast, patients with VPA duration 30-119 min/d had lower cognitive scores (β = -2.927,95% CI: -5.835 to -0.019). There were no significant differences in cognitive levels between patients with any volume/ frequency/ duration of MPA. When analyzed in terms of metabolic equivalents, patients with metabolic equivalents of 0-600, 1200-1799 and 6000-8999 had higher cognitive levels compared to inactivity, and patients with metabolic equivalents of 6000-8999 having the highest cognitive scores (β = 3.881,95% CI: 1.266 to 6.496).Conclusion:In patients with hearing impairment,prolonged high-intensity exercise may be associated with lower cognitive levels, but low-intensity physical activity was associated with higher cognitive levels.