Exploring the associations between lung function and sedentary time among middle-aged and older Canadian Men and Women

The purpose of this work is to understand 1) the associations of sedentary time, physical activity and lung function in non-smoking men and women, as well as current smokers; 2) the associations of sedentary time and physical activity with healthcare use and quality of life in men and women with a diagnosed chronic respiratory condition and/or reduced lung function; and 3) the effect of replacing sedentary time with physical activity on lung function in men and women. Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging will be analyzed using a variety of statistical techniques. The results of our work will provide insight into the potential role of sedentary behaviour for the prevention of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Moreover, it will provide insight into ways through which we can reduce the effects of lung disease, thereby improving one’s quality of life.

We found that physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep are associated with lung function, respiratory disease outcomes, and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults. We also found significant effects for replacing sedentary time with sleep or physical activity on these outcomes using isotemporal models.