Patterns of physical activity in different domains and diabetes absence in adults

Abstract

The objective was to analyse the patterns of physical activity (moderate and vigorous walking) in different domains (work, commuting, household, leisure time) as predictors of absence of diabetes. This was a cross-sectional study in the city of Lauro de Freitas, Bahia, Brazil, with a sample of 522 individuals, 57.8% of them female, over 18 years of age. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (ROC) were constructed and compared to patterns of physical activity in differing domains and absence of diabetes. Cut-off points of physical activity (minutes/week) were established to predict the absence of diabetes. A 95% confidence interval was considered to find the largest areas under the ROC curves for leisure time physical activity and for the differing domains analysed altogether. Walking was not a good predictor of diabetes absence. Accumulated physical activity in different domains (185 minutes/week of moderate intensity or 285 minutes/week of moderate or vigorous intensity walking) presented the best cut-off points for predicting the absence of diabetes. Practicing physical activity, especially leisure time or accumulated in different domains, contributes to diabetes prevention.