Older adults’ daily step counts and time in sedentary behavior and different intensities of physical activity

Background: Daily step count is the most simple measure of physical activity. However, little is known about how daily step count related to time spent in different intensities of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). Methods: These cross-sectional data were derived from 450 older Japanese adults (56.7% men, mean age 74.3 years) who were randomly selected from three communities and responded a survey. Daily step count and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light-intensity PA (LPA), and SB were measured using a validated wearable technology (HJA-350IT). Associations of daily step count with time spent in measured behaviors were examined by linear regression models using isometric log-ratio transformations of time-use composition, adjusting for gender, age and residential area. Results: Participants averaged 5,412 (SD: 2,878) steps/d and accumulated MVPA, LPA, and SB corresponding to 4.0, 34.8, and 61.2% of daily waking time, respectively. Daily step count significantly increased with increase in time spent in MVPA relative to other behaviors (i.e. LPA and SB) and in the ratio of LPA to SB after allowing for MVPA. After stratification, daily step count was significantly related to the ratio of LPA to SB in those taking