Patel S, Benzo R, Slivka W, Sciurba F
There is increasing interest in the objective measurement of physical activity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients due to the close relationship between health, physical activity level, disability and mortality.
This study aimed to a) determine the validity and reproducibility of an activity monitor that integrates accelerometry with multiple physiologic sensors in the determination of energy expenditure in COPD subjects and b) to document the contribution of the additional physiologic sensors to accelerometry measures in improving true energy expenditure determination.
Eight subjects performed two 6 minute walk and shuttle walk tests. Energy expenditure was calculated using the physiologic activity monitor.
Physiologic sensor data significantly improved the explained variance in energy expenditure determination, compared to accelerometry data alone.
This physiologic activity monitor provides a valid and reproducible estimate of energy expenditure during slow to moderate paced walking and represents an objective method to assess activity in COPD subjects.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2007, 4(2): 107-112