Wearable device use and aerobic physical activity guideline adherence in adults with hypertension: analysis of US population-based survey data

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity (PA) is linked to improved health and hypertension management, yet many adults with hypertension do not meet aerobic guidelines, and limited research has examined the use of wearable devices in promoting activity in this population. This study aimed to examine the association between wearable device use and adherence to the aerobic PA guideline among individuals with hypertension. METHODS: Adults with self-reported of hypertension in the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were included in the analysis. Participants were categorizing as either wearable device users or nonusers based on self-report. Participants were considered meeting the aerobic PA guidelines if they engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week. Otherwise, they were categorizing as not meeting the guideline. Associations between wearable device use and guideline adherence were evaluated using survey-weighted adjusted Poisson regression with a log link, adjusting for demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Among 1602 participants with hypertension, 18.1% (95% CI, 14.1-22.5) of participants reported using wearable devices. Among users, 79.3% (95% CI, 69.9-88.6) met the aerobic PA guideline, compared to 70.3% (95% CI, 64.7-76.0) of nonusers. Wearable users were more likely to meet the guideline than nonusers (prevalence ratio = 1.22 (95% CI, 1.06-1.40)). CONCLUSION: Wearable devices could be an effective tool in promoting PA among individuals with hypertension leading to adherence to the recommended aerobic PA guideline.