Combined Associations of Muscle-Strengthening Activities and Accelerometer-Assessed Physical Activity on Multimorbidity: Findings From NHANES

PURPOSE: Physical activity (PA) has previously been demonstrated to be inversely related with multimorbidity (having more than one chronic disease); however, it is unknown whether dual participation in both PA and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) may further reduce the odds of being multimorbid. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the association between multimorbidity and individuals meeting recommended guidelines for both PA and MSA.

DESIGN: Nonexperimental.

SETTING: The 2003-2006 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey.

SUBJECTS: Four thousand five hundred eighty-seven adults aged ≥20 years.

MEASURES: Accelerometry-measured PA, self-reported MSA, and multimorbidity.

ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using multivariable linear and logistic regression.

RESULTS: The odds (95% confidence interval) of being multimorbid for those only meeting MSA guidelines, only meeting PA guidelines, and meeting both PA and MSA guidelines (vs. not meeting either), respectively, were .69 (.48, .98; p = .04), .55 (.44, .70; p < .01), and .38 (.27, .53; p < .01).

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that individuals meeting recommended guidelines for both MSA and PA were less likely to be multimorbid than individuals participating in one or none of these exercise modalities. Determining effective ways to initiate and maintain concurrent adoption of MSA and PA is needed to provide a cost-effective behavioral alternative for reducing the prevalence of multimorbidity.