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Comparative Study
. 2013 Jun 13;15(6):e111.
doi: 10.2196/jmir.2470.

Comparison of physical activity measures using mobile phone-based CalFit and Actigraph

David Donaire-Gonzalez  1 , Audrey de Nazelle, Edmund Seto, Michelle Mendez, Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen, Michael Jerrett
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of physical activity measures using mobile phone-based CalFit and Actigraph

David Donaire-Gonzalez et al. J Med Internet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological studies on physical activity often lack inexpensive, objective, valid, and reproducible tools for measuring physical activity levels of participants. Novel sensing technologies built into smartphones offer the potential to fill this gap.

Objective: We sought to validate estimates of physical activity and determine the usability for large population-based studies of the smartphone-based CalFit software.

Methods: A sample of 36 participants from Barcelona, Spain, wore a smartphone with CalFit software and an Actigraph GT3X accelerometer for 5 days. The ease of use (usability) and physical activity measures from both devices were compared, including vertical axis counts (VT) and duration and energy expenditure predictions for light, moderate, and vigorous intensity from Freedson's algorithm. Statistical analyses included (1) Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test for usability measures, (2) Spearman correlation and linear regression for VT counts, (3) concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and (4) Bland-Altman plots for duration and energy expenditure measures.

Results: Approximately 64% (23/36) of participants were women. Mean age was 31 years (SD 8) and mean body mass index was 22 kg/m(2) (SD 2). In total, 25/36 (69%) participants recorded at least 3 days with at least 10 recorded hours of physical activity using CalFit. The linear association and correlations for VT counts were high (adjusted R(2)=0.85; correlation coefficient .932, 95% CI 0.931-0.933). CCCs showed high agreement for duration and energy expenditure measures (from 0.83 to 0.91).

Conclusions: The CalFit system had lower usability than the Actigraph GT3X because the application lacked a means to turn itself on each time the smartphone was powered on. The CalFit system may provide valid estimates to quantify and classify physical activity. CalFit may prove to be more cost-effective and easily deployed for large-scale population health studies than other specialized instruments because cell phones are already carried by many people.

Keywords: accelerometry; cellular phone; global positioning systems; monitoring; motor activity; physiologic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Set of devices that were worn during 5 consecutive days.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Agreement between CalFit and Actigraph GT3X in vertical axis, duration, and energy expenditure in physical activity within the coinciding measurement time periods. (A) accelerometer vertical axis measures, (B) duration in physical activity, and (C) intensity of physical activity.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Agreement between CalFit and Actigraph GT3X for duration of light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity within the coinciding measurement time periods. (A) duration of light physical activity, (B) duration of moderate physical activity, and (C) duration of vigorous physical activity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of average intensity recorded by CalFit and Actigraph GT3X within light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity identified by Actigraph.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Agreement between CalFit and Actigraph GT3X during light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity within the coinciding days with at least 10 hours of recorded activity. (A) duration of light physical activity per day, (B) duration of moderate physical activity per day, and (C) duration of vigorous physical activity per day.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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