Association Between Wearable Device Use and Levels of Physical Activity Among Older Adults in the US: Evidence From the 2019-2020 Health Information National Trends Survey

Anita O Onyekwere; Okelue E Okobi; Francis C Ifiora; Micheal K Akinboro; Ngozi T Akueme; Joy Iroro; Abigail O Dan-Eleberi; Faith C Onyeaka; Aba Amoasiwah Ghansah

doi:10.7759/cureus.44289

Association Between Wearable Device Use and Levels of Physical Activity Among Older Adults in the US: Evidence From the 2019-2020 Health Information National Trends Survey

Cureus. 2023 Aug 28;15(8):e44289. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44289. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Richmond Gabriel University, Kingstown, VCT.
² Family Medicine, Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus, Miami, USA.
³ Family Medicine, Medficient Health Systems, Laurel, USA.
⁴ Family Medicine, Lakeside Medical Center, Belle Glade, USA.
⁵ Pharmacy, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA.
⁶ Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M Health School of Public Health, College Station, USA.
⁷ Dermatology, University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, NGA.
⁸ Internal Medicine, All Saints University School of Medicine, Roseau, DMA.
⁹ Internal Medicine, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, GHA.
¹⁰ Haematology/Blood Transfusion Science, Madonna University, Calabar, NGA.
¹¹ Internal Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Accra, GHA.

Abstract

Objective To examine the relationship between electronic wearable device (WD) use and physical activity (PA) levels among older adults in the US. Methods Data were pooled from 3310 older adults from the 2019 and 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey. The explanatory variable was WD use, and the outcomes were weekly PA levels, resistance training, and sedentary time. Logistic regression was conducted to investigate the association between WD use and the reported outcome variables. Separate logistic models were also fitted to explore the relationship between WD use and physical activity outcomes among a subgroup of older adults with chronic conditions. Results A total of 14.4% of older adults reported WD use. Older adults who use WD were more likely to meet national guidelines for weekly levels of PA (odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (1.10, 2.32); p = 0.015) and resistance strength training (OR 1.54, 95% CI (1.14, 2.09); p = 0.005) when compared with their counterparts not using WD. After restricting the analysis to those with chronic conditions only, WD use was only associated with a higher level of weekly strength training (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.19, 2.38; p = 0.004). Conclusion WD use may be associated with increased physical activity among older adults, including those with chronic health conditions. Further studies are needed to examine the factors influencing the adoption and sustained use of WD in older adults.

Keywords: activity; association; elderly; older adults; physical activity; us; usa; wearable device.