To examine sex as a moderating variable in the association between PA and MetS diagnosis among people with stroke.
This cross-sectional study was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a larger stroke intervention with community-living individuals (n = 127) who were ≥50 years of age, within one-year post-stroke, and had mild to moderate stroke severity. Our dependent variable, MetS (yes/no), was defined as reporting three or more of the following: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L) 1.3 in women (1.0 in men); triglycerides (mmol/L) ≥1.7; fasting glucose (mmol/L) ≥5.6 or diagnosed with diabetes; waist circumference (cm) ≥80 in females and ≥94 in males; and hypertension (mmHg; ≥130/80 if diabetic, 140/90 if not diabetic). PA was measured using the PA subscale of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Mean PA scores were calculated and used for the analysis. A (PA x sex) interaction variable was used to explore sex differences in the association between PA and MetS. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships of PA, sex (1 = males [ref category], 2 = females), and (PA x sex) interactions with MetS diagnosis.
The mean age of the mostly male (n=88) sample was 68.2±9.7 years. Eighty-four (66.1%) participants identified as having MetS. The mean PA of males with (n=58) and without MetS was 1.9 and 2.5 respectively, whereas the mean PA of females with (n=26) and without MetS was 2.0 and 2.2, respectively. Our analyses suggests that among people with lower physical activity, the odds (OR=2.48 (95% CI 0.62 – 9.72)) of a MetS diagnosis is higher among males.
Our findings indicate that sex moderates the association between PA and MetS diagnosis among people with stroke. Lower PA levels and male individuals displayed associations with MetS diagnosis.
These findings emphasize the importance of considering sex differences when designing interventions aimed at reducing the risk of MetS through PA.
metabolic syndrome
sex differences and physical activity
