Assessment of physical activity using accelerometry, an activity diary, the heart rate method and the Indian migration study questionnaire in south Indian adults.
OBJECTIVE
To validate questionnaire-based physical activity level (PAL) against accelerometry and a 24 h physical activity diary (24 h AD) as reference methods (Protocol 2), after validating these reference methods against the heart rate-oxygen consumption (HRVO2) method (Protocol 1).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two villages in Andhra Pradesh state and Bangalore city, South India.


METHODS
Ninety-four participants (fifty males, forty-four females) for Protocol 2; thirteen males for Protocol 1.


RESULTS
In Protocol 2, mean PAL derived from the questionnaire (1.72 (sd 0.20)) was comparable to that from the 24 h AD (1.78 (sd 0.20)) but significantly higher than the mean PAL derived from accelerometry (1.36 (sd 0.20); P < 0.001). Mean bias of PAL from the questionnaire was larger against the accelerometer (0.36) than against the 24 h AD (-0.06), but with large limits of agreement against both. Correlations of PAL from the questionnaire with that of the accelerometer (r = 0.28; P = 0.01) and the 24 h AD (r = 0.30; P = 0.006) were modest. In Protocol 1, mean PAL from the 24 h AD (1.65 (sd 0.18)) was comparable, while that from the accelerometer (1.51 (sd 0.23)) was significantly lower (P < 0.001), than mean PAL obtained from the HRVO2 method (1.69 (sd 0.21)).


CONCLUSIONS
The questionnaire showed acceptable validity with the reference methods in a group with a wide range of physical activity levels. The accelerometer underestimated PAL in comparison with the HRVO2 method.
Bharathi
Ankalmadagu V
AV
St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Opp. Koramangala BDA complex, Bangalore - 560034, Karnataka, India.
Kuriyan
Rebecca
R
Kurpad
Anura V
AV
Thomas
Tinku
T
Ebrahim
Shah
S
Kinra
Sanjay
S
Lyngdoh
Tanica
T
Reddy
Srinath K
SK
Dorairaj
Prabhakaran
P
Vaz
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult