Validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in adults with asthma

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) has been used in several studies in adults with asthma due to its easy applicability; however, validity of the IPAQ has not been studied in this population yet. <b>Aim:</b> To verify the validity of IPAQ-short form to assess physical activity (PA) in adults with asthma. <b>Methods:</b> Adults with stable asthma wore the triaxial activity monitor Actigraph® on their waist for seven days during wake time, so that objective measurement of number of steps, metabolic equivalent of task (MET) and time spent in light and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) were analysed. Participants filled out the IPAQ-short form matching with the same week they wore the monitor. IPAQ variables analysed were total time of reported PA/week, and the categorization of low, moderate or high PA level (according to frequency and duration of PA and METs/week). <b>Results:</b> Fifty-three adults with asthma (17 male; 48±15 years; 29±6 kg/m²) took 7078±3179 steps/day and spent 2632±760 minutes/week in light PA and 185±162 minutes/week in MVPA. The total time of PA/week in the IPAQ was 831±915 minutes. Self-reported total time of PA/week was weakly correlated with number of steps (r=0.32) and time spent in MVPA (r= 0.27). The IPAQ categorization (30% low, 34% moderate and 36% high levels of PA) correlated moderately with number of steps, METs and time spent in light and MVPA (r= 0.41 &lt; r &lt; 0.51). <b>Conclusions:</b> The IPAQ-short form is not valid to quantify time spent in PA/week and do not reflect number of steps of adults with asthma. However, in the absence of activity monitors, it may be useful to classify people with asthma in low, moderate or high levels of PA.