[Assessment of physical activity in cardiovascular diseases].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the more useful among many methods available for the measurement of physical activity in patients with cardiovascular disease. For practical and financial reasons only questionnaires and mechanical monitoring, which are appropriate for use in large studies, were assessed.


METHODS
To select tools valuable for clinical and epidemiological measurement of physical activity, with sufficient validity, reproducibility and sensitivity, we reviewed the literature in Medline with use of keywords: accelerometry, ambulatory accelerometry, ambulatory monitoring, cardiovascular diseases, daily activity, heart disease, pedometer, physical activity, questionnaire.


RESULTS
Considering appropriate level of reproducibility and validity, 15 questionnaires are available. For measuring postures and motions during daily life, activity monitor seems to be more valid than pedometers or single accelerometers.


CONCLUSIONS
At present the preferred method is a questionnaire, provided it is valid, repeatable, easy to use and inexpensive. In the future mechanical monitoring (especially activity monitor) will be probably a good alternative.
Casillas
J M
JM
Inserm ERITm 0207, pôle rééducation-réadaptation, CHU de Dijon, 23, rue Gaffarel, 2079 Dijon cedex, France. jean-marie.casillas@chu-dijon.fr
Deley
G
G
Salmi-Belmihoub
S
S
D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires