Does a variation in self-reported physical activity reflect variation in objectively measured physical activity, resting heart rate, and physical fitness? Results from the Tromso study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between self-reported physical activity (PA) and objectively measured PA, resting heart rate, and physical fitness.


METHODS
During 2007-08, 5017 men and 5607 women aged 30-69 years attended the sixth survey of the Tromsø study. Self-reported PA during leisure-time and work were assessed and resting heart rate was measured. In a sub-study, the activity study, PA (Actigraph LLC) and physical fitness (VO₂(max)) were objectively measured among 313 healthy men and women aged 40-44 years.


RESULTS
Self-reported leisure PA was significantly correlated with VO₂(max) (ml/kg/min) (women 0.40, p < 0.001, men 0.44 p < 0.001) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (>2000 counts/min) (women 0.28, p < 0.01, men 0.25, p < 0.01). The intra-class correlation coefficient between self-reported leisure PA and overall PA (counts/min) measured by accelerometer was 0.62 (95% CI 0.51, 0.71) for women and 0.59 (95% CI 0.47, 0.69) for men, and for VO₂(max) the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.86 (95% CI 0.81, 0.90) for both sexes. Among all participants, an inverse dose-response relationship was observed between self-reported leisure PA and resting heart rate for both men and women (p < 0.0001). More women than men met the international recommendations of 10,000 step counts/day (27% vs. 22%) and the recommendation of at least 30 minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous intensities (30% vs. 22 %).


CONCLUSIONS
The Tromsø physical activity questionnaire has acceptable validity and provides valid estimates of high-intensity leisure activity. However, these results underscore the need for collecting objectively PA measurements in large epidemiological studies.
Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Norway. aina.emaus@medisin.uio.no
Aina
A
Emaus
Jorid
J
Degerstrøm
Tom
T
Wilsgaard
Bjørge Herman
BH
Hansen
Christina M
CM
Dieli-Conwright
Anne-Sofie
AS
Furberg
Svein Arne
SA
Pettersen
Lars Bo
LB
Andersen
Anne Elise
AE
Eggen
Leslie
L
Bernstein
Inger
I
Thune
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors