High sedentary behaviour and low physical activity are associated with lower health related quality of life in Myanmar and Vietnam

Abstract

The study aimed to estimate independent and combined associations of sedentary behaviour and physical activity with health related quality of life (HRQoL) in Myanmar and Vietnam. The cross-sectional sample included 3201 chronic disease patients (median age 51 years, Interquartile Range 25) systematically recruited from primary care facilities. Sedentary time and physical activity were assessed with the General Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Overall, the study population engaged <4 hours (51.3%), 4 ≤ 8 hours (31.2%), and 8 or more hours a day (17.5%) sedentary time a day; 30.7% engaged in low physical activity 50% moderate and 23.6% high physical activity. In the final linear regression model, adjusted for relevant confounders, higher sedentary time (≥8 h) decreased summative HRQoL, HRQoL-Psychological, HRQoL-Physical and HRQoL-social, and moderate and/or high physical activity were associated with better summative HRQoL, HRQoL-Psychological, HRQoL-Physical, HRQoL-social, and better HRQol-environment. Combined regression analysis found that participants with both less than eight hour of sedentary time and moderate or high physical activity had a significantly higher summative HRQoL, HRQoL-Physical, HRQoL-Psychological, HRQoL-social, and HRQol-environment. Findings suggest an independent and combined association between moderate or high physical activity and low sedentary time with HRQoL among chronic disease patients in Myanmar and Vietnam