Accelerometer-derived Step Metrics and Quality of Life in Individuals with and without Cardiovascular Diseases

Background and Aims: Steps are increasingly used to prescribe physical activity, but their impact on quality of life (QoL) remains unclear. We examined the dose-response association between step metrics and QoL, and whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) status moderates this association. Methods: Individual-level data of five studies were pooled. Physical activity was measured with thigh-worn accelerometry. We assessed steps/day, daily minutes of fast stepping ([≥]100 steps/min), peak 1- and 30-min cadence. We investigated the association of step metrics and QoL (questionnaire-based; standardized) with multivariable (non-)linear regression, and the interaction with CVD status. Results: We included 9,371 participants (62 [54-68] years; 47% female), comprising 1,977 individuals with and 7,394 without CVD. Significant, curvilinear dose-response associations between step metrics and QoL were found. The optimal step volume was 6,561 steps/day which associated with a 0.35 SD (95%CI: 0.28-0.42) higher QoL compared to the referent 4,000 steps/day. The optimal doses for peak 1-min and peak 30-min cadence were 107 steps/minute (+0.34 SD; 95%CI: 0.28-0.41) and 74 steps/minute (+0.29 SD; 95%CI: 0.24-0.34) respectively, compared to references of 90 and 60 steps/minute. Only fast stepping interacted with CVD status, with a lower optimum in those with versus without CVD (4 minutes/day, +0.20 SD, 95%CI: 0.12-0.28 versus 9 minutes/day, +0.19 SD, 95%CI: 0.12-0.25), compared to the referent 2 minutes/day. Conclusions: Step metrics were curvilinearly associated with QoL with optimal benefits at ~6,500 steps/day. Optimal QoL benefits can be reached at feasible stepping targets, and at slightly fewer daily minutes of fast stepping in CVD versus non-CVD.