Feasibility of Using Accelerometer Measurements to Assess Habitual Physical Activity in Rural Heart Failure Patients.

Lufei Young,Susan Barnason,Melody Hertzog

doi:10.3390/geriatrics2030023

Lufei Young, Susan Barnason + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics2030023

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Abstract

(1) Background: Physical inactivity is prevalent in rural heart failure (HF) patients. To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving physical activity (PA), we need an accurate, reliable PA assessment tool that is feasible and acceptable to HF patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and reliability of using an accelerometer to assess HF patients’ PA. (2) Method: A total of 100 HF patients discharged from a rural hospital participated in the study and wore an accelerometer at baseline, 3, and 6 months following discharge. (3) Result: The daily average wear time across all three time points was 15.7 (±3.3) h for weekdays, and 15.8 (±3.7) h for weekends. Approximately 50% of the participants adhered to the device wear protocol at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Factors related to wear time were also examined. Acceptable reliability assessed by intra-class correlation (ICC > 0.879) was found for daily activity calories, activity counts per minutes, and time spent on moderate or greater PA. (4) Conclusion: The present findings suggest that an accelerometer is a feasible and reliable measure of habitual PA in rural HF patients over time.

Highlights

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome caused by structural and/or functional impairment of cardiac ventricular filling or output [1]
Identifying a feasible and reliable physical activity (PA) assessment tool accepted by HF patients is critical [18]
We examined the feasibility of using an accelerometer to assess habitual PA level in HF patients

Summary

Introduction

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome caused by structural and/or functional impairment of cardiac ventricular filling or output [1]. Based on left ventricular ejection fraction values (above 50% vs below 40%) obtained from echocardiograph exams, HF can be further classified as HF with preserved (HFpEF) or reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) [2]. HF patients who are physically active have lower risk of adverse outcomes (e.g., mortality, complications), as well as improved functioning and independence [5,6]. To achieve significant improvement in clinical and functional outcomes, it is recommended that HF patients engage in at least 150 min per week of moderate exercise (30 min a day, five times a week) or 75 min per week of vigorous exercise (or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity), in addition to 2 days per week of muscle strengthening [7]. Individuals with HF have been found to be less physically active than their urban counterparts [10,11,12,13]

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