Comparison of Different Physical Activity Measures in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: A Prospective Study

Alharbi, Muaddi; Bauman, Adrian; Alabdulaali, Mohammed; Neubeck, Lis; Smith, Sidney; Naismith, Sharon; Jeon, Yun-Hee; Tofler, Geoffrey; Surour, Atef; Gallagher, Robyn

Abstract

Concordant assessments of physical activity (PA) and related measures in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is essential for exercise prescription. This study compared exercise measurement from an in-person walk test; wearable activity tracker; and self-report at CR entry, completion (8-weeks) and follow-up (16-weeks). Forty patients beginning CR completed the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and wore Fitbit-Flex for four consecutive days including two weekend days. The sample mean age was 66 years; 67% were male. Increased exercise capacity at CR completion and follow-up was detected by a 6MWT change in mean distance (39 m and 42 m; p = 0.01, respectively). Increased PA participation at CR completion was detected by Fitbit-Flex mean change in step counts (1794; p = 0.01). Relative changes for Fitbit-Flex step counts and a 6MWT were consistent with previous research, demonstrating Fitbit-Flex’s potential as an outcome measure. With four days of data, Fitbit-Flex had acceptable ICC values in measuring step counts and MVPA minutes. Fitbit-Flex steps and 6MWT meters are more responsive to changes in PA patterns following exposure to a cardiac rehabilitation program than Fitbit-Flex or PASE-estimated moderate–vigorous PA (MVPA) minutes. Fitbit-Flex step counts provide a useful additional measure for assessing PA outside of the CR setting and accounts for day-to-day variations. Two weekend days and two weekdays are needed for Fitbit-Flex to estimate PA levels more precisely.

Citation

Alharbi, M., Bauman, A., Alabdulaali, M., Neubeck, L., Smith, S., Naismith, S., …Gallagher, R. (2022). Comparison of Different Physical Activity Measures in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: A Prospective Study. Sensors, 22(4), Article 1639. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22041639

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 17, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 19, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 31, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 31, 2022
• Journal: Sensors
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 1639
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s22041639
• Keywords: coronary heart disease; physical activity; Fitbit; 6MWT; PASE; responsiveness; interchangeability; cardiac rehabilitation
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2859742