Are Barriers to Physical Activity Associated With Changing Physical Activity Levels and Sedentary Time in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease? A Longitudinal Study

The aims of the current study were to analyze the association between the barriers to and changes in physical activity levels and sedentary behavior, as well as to examine whether these barriers change over time in patients with peripheral artery disease. In this longitudinal study, we assessed 72 patients (68% men; 65.7 ± 9.2 years). Physical activity was measured over a 7-day period using an accelerometer, and data were collected on time spent in sedentary activities, low-light physical activities, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Personal and environmental barriers to physical activity were collected using yes or no questions. Assessments were repeated in the same patients after 27 months (95% confidence interval [26, 28] months). Most barriers remained stable in these patients; however, those who reported lack of money experienced an increase in sedentary behavior (β = 392.9 [159.7] min/week, p = .02) and a decrease in low-light physical activity (β = -372.4 [140.1] min/week, p = .02). These findings suggest that patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease typically exhibit stable barriers over time, and individuals reporting lack of money demonstrated a decrease in low-light physical activity and an increase in sedentary behavior after 27 months.