Physical Activity, Cardiometabolic Disorders, and Guideline Adherence Among Post-Menopausal Women Versus Aged-Matched Men: Insights From the NHANES

Physical activity (PA) can improve several cardiometabolic risk factors, which are associated with lifestyle factors such as sedentary behaviour and smoking. We sought to estimate and compare the subjectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time, and their association with cardiometabolic risk factors among post-menopausal women versus age-matched men from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The analysis included 4,768 post-menopausal women and age-matched men (> 50 years) who self-reported their PA, sedentary time, cardiometabolic risk factors (diabetes, BMI, hypertension, waist circumference and hyperlipidaemia), and smoking status. Post-menopausal women were found to be less physically active (252 ± 9.4 vs. 320 ± 10.7 min/week, p = <.0001), but more sedentary (5.96 ± 0.07 vs. 5.93 ± 0.007 hours/min, p = <.0001) compared with age-matched men. Among participants meeting the 2018 physical activity guidelines (PAG), post-menopausal women had a lower prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidaemia but a higher prevalence of abnormal waist circumference. On multivariable analysis, the following factors were associated with a lower likelihood of meeting the 2018 PAG among post-menopausal women: age (odds ratio [OR] 0.979, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-0.99), less than high school education (OR 0.416, 95% CI 0.302-0.572) as well as high school education (OR 0.611, 95% CI 0.466-0.800), compared with a college education, and obesity (OR 0.665, 95% CI 0.503-0.878), while never smoking was associated with a higher likelihood (OR 1.296, 95% CI 1.019-1.647). In conclusion, post-menopausal women had higher sedentary time and were less physically active when compared to age-matched men. Among participants meeting the 2018 PAG, post-menopausal women had a lower prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidaemia but a higher prevalence of abnormal waist circumference.