To analyze the mediating effect of sleep duration and sleep quality on physical activity level and cognitive function of elderly residents in rural areas of Chengdu.

By using the method of multi-stage random sampling, subjects over 60 years old were recruited in rural areas of Chengdu in October 2020. A total of 732 subjects were included in this study.A questionnaire survey was conducted by using the physical activity scale for the elderly and telephone interview questionnaire on cognitive status. Linear regression model was used to analyze the effect of physical activity level on cognitive function, and intermediary software package (mediation package) was used to explore the mediating effect of sleep duration and sleep quality.

Physical activity had a positive effect on cognitive function (β=0.004, P<0.0l), and there was a partial mediating effect of sleep duration in the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in sleep duration (P<0.05). The mediating effect was 0.000 4, accounting for 7.74% of the total effect (0.004 1). There was a partial mediating effect of sleep quality between physical activity and cognitive function (P<0.01). The mediating effect was 0.000 9, accounting for 19.18% of the total effect (0.003 6).

In order to prevent and delay the decline of cognitive function, elderly rural residents should continue to participate in physical activities, and it is necessary to carry out intervention programs aimed at their sleep duration and sleep quality to promote the improvement of their cognitive function.