Physical Activity Trajectories Preceding Incident Major Depressive Disorder Diagnosis Using Consumer Wearable Devices in the All of Us Research Program: Case-Control Study

TL;DR

This study used long-term wearable device data to identify physical activity decline patterns in the year before a major depressive disorder diagnosis, revealing potential early warning signals for intervention.

Contribution

It is the first to characterize detailed physical activity trajectories prior to MDD diagnosis using objective wearable data in a large cohort.

Findings

Consistent decline in activity levels among cases before diagnosis

Declines in activity appeared approximately 4-5 months prior to diagnosis

Subgroup differences showed steeper declines in men and older individuals

Abstract

Low physical activity is a known risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD), but changes in activity before a first clinical diagnosis remain unclear, especially using long-term objective measurements. This study characterized trajectories of wearable-measured physical activity during the year preceding incident MDD diagnosis. We conducted a retrospective nested case-control study using linked electronic health record and Fitbit data from the All of Us Research Program. Adults with at least 6 months of valid wearable data in the year before diagnosis were eligible. Incident MDD cases were matched to controls on age, sex, body mass index, and index time (up to four controls per case). Daily step counts and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were aggregated into monthly averages. Linear mixed-effects models compared trajectories from 12 months before diagnosis to diagnosis. Within cases, contrasts identified when activity first significantly deviated from levels 12 months prior. The cohort included 4,104 participants (829 cases and 3,275 controls; 81.7% women; median age 48.4 years). Compared with controls, cases showed consistently lower activity and significant downward trajectories in both step counts and MVPA during the year before diagnosis (P < 0.001). Significant declines appeared about 4 months before diagnosis for step counts and 5 months for MVPA. Exploratory analyses suggested subgroup differences, including steeper declines in men, greater intensity reductions at older ages, and persistently low activity among individuals with obesity. Sustained within-person declines in physical activity emerged months before incident MDD diagnosis. Longitudinal wearable monitoring may provide early signals to support risk stratification and earlier intervention.