Measuring physical activity with activity monitors in patients with heart failure: from literature to practice. A position paper from the Committee on Exercise Physiology and Training of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

Abstract

The aims of this paper were to provide an overview of available activity monitors used in research in patients with heart failure and to identify the key criteria in the selection of the most appropriate activity monitor for collecting, reporting, and analysing physical activity in heart failure research. This study was conducted in three parts. First, the literature was systematically reviewed to identify physical activity concepts and activity monitors used in heart failure research. Second, an additional scoping literature search for validation of these activity monitors was conducted. Third, the most appropriate criteria in the selection of activity monitors were identified. Nine activity monitors were evaluated in terms of size, weight, placement, costs, data storage, water resistance, outcomes and validation, and cut‐off points for physical activity intensity levels were discussed. The choice of a monitor should depend on the research aims, study population and design regarding physical activity. If the aim is to motivate patients to be active or set goals, a less rigorously tested tool can be considered. On the other hand, if the aim is to measure physical activity and its changes over time or following treatment adjustment, it is important to choose a valid activity monitor with a storage and battery longevity of at least one week. The device should provide raw data and valid cut‐off points should be chosen for analysing physical activity intensity levels. Other considerations in choosing an activity monitor should include data storage location and ownership and the upfront costs of the device.

Using Consumer-Wearable Activity Trackers for Risk Prediction of Life-Threatening Heart Arrhythmia in Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: An Exploratory Observational Study

“…There are several implications for systems designed for risk prediction of VAs. First, there is, on the one hand, the potential derived from using external research-grade wearable activity trackers, which can capture high-granularity and high-accuracy data [ 52 ]. Such devices have produced more accurate measures of daily activity compared to activity tracking using accelerometers embedded in ICDs, which is limited to daily summaries of physical activity [ 53 ].…”

Feasibility of a Sensor-Controlled Digital Game for Heart Failure Self-management: Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Nevertheless, studies like ours demonstrate actual physical activity engagement in real-world situations and examine the longitudinal relationship between clinically significant physical activity steps and optimal HF outcomes. A recent position paper on measuring physical activity by varied activity monitors for HF in real-world conditions has provided key criteria for the selection of activity monitors based on the aims of the research and observation metrics [ 70 ]. On the basis of our participants’ experience with the SCDG, future iterations could include the ability to set realistic step goal levels for participants with HF that are lower than 3000 steps and game play duration that is longer than 12 weeks.…”

January 2021 at a glance: focus on sex differences, acute heart failure and exercise capacity

“…Exercise training has a main role in improving functional capacity of HF patients 15 . In this issue of the Journal, the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published a position statement about devices to monitor physical activity in HF patients 16 and von Haehling et al 17 . reviewed the effects of HF treatments on exercise capacity and quality of life.…”