Viegas, RubenCosta, Filipa Alves daMendes, RomeuDeidda, ManuelaMcIntosh, EmmaSansano-Nadal, OriolMagaña, Juan CarlosRothenbacher, DietrichDenkinger, MichaelCaserotti, PaoloTully, Mark A.Roqué-Figuls, MartaGiné-Garriga, Maria2026-03-112026-03-112023-11Viegas R, Alves da Costa F, Mendes R, Deidda M, McIntosh E, Sansano-Nadal O, Magaña JC, Rothenbacher D, Denkinger M, Caserotti P, Tully MA, Roqué-Figuls M and Giné-Garriga M (2023) Relationship of the SITLESS intervention on medication use in community-dwelling older adults: an exploratory study. Front. Public Health 11:1238842. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.12388422296-2565http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/62121Background: Sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) interventions in older adults can improve health outcomes. Problems related with aging include prevalent comorbidity, multiple non-communicable diseases, complaints, and resulting polypharmacy. This manuscript examines the relationship between an intervention aiming at reducing SB on medication patterns. Method: This manuscript presents a local sub-analysis of the SITLESS trial data on medication use. SITLESS was an exercise referral scheme (ERS) enhanced by self-management strategies (SMS) to reduce SB in community-dwelling older adults. We analyzed data from the ERS + SMS, ERS and usual care (UC) groups. Patient medication records were available at baseline and at the end of the intervention (4-month period) and were analyzed to explore the effect of SITLESS on medication patterns of use. Result: A sample of 75 participants was analyzed, mostly older overweight women with poor body composition scores and mobility limitations. There was a significant reduction of 1.6 medicines (SD = 2.7) in the ERS group (p < 0.01), but not in the UC or ERS + SMS groups. Differences were more evident in medicines used for short periods of time. Conclusion: The findings suggest that an exercise-based program enhanced by SMS to reduce SB might influence medication use for acute conditions but there is a need to further investigate effects on long-term medicine use in older adults.engphysical activityolder adultsmedication useinterventionsedentary behaviorprimary health carecontribution to journal10.3389/fpubh.2023.1238842