Comparison between physical activity levels measured by wearable device and Frailty Syndrome: Results from the PRO-EVA Study

Marcela Pimentel, Eujessika Rodrigues, Sabrina Macêdo, Caroline Ramalho, Álvaro Maciel, Weslley Sales, Paulo Barbosa, Edgar Vieira
Purpose:

This study aims to compare PA levels measured by smartwatches across different frailty phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults. 

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, using a convenience sample of community-dwelling older adults. Data collection occurred in three stages, all performed by trained interviewers. Stage 1: Participants were assessed for sex, age, and education, and frailty status was determined using the criteria established by Fried et al. (2001). Stage 2: Participants were given a FITBIT© Inspire HR smartwatch, and instructed to wear it on their non-dominant upper limb for 7 consecutive days. The device recorded daily steps, calories burned (kcal), and distance traveled in meters per day. Time spent in PA was categorized by intensity level, derived from an algorithm integrating active minutes and heart rate data from the smartwatch. Maximum heart rate (HRmax) was estimated using Tanaka’s equation. PA levels were classified as light (LPA) (57-63% of HRmax), moderate (MPA) (64-76% of HRmax), and vigorous (VPA) (77-95% of HRmax). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0, with group comparisons conducted via the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results:

The sample comprised 178 older adults, with a median age of 71 years (IQR 66-76), predominantly female (60.1%). Among the participants, 71.2% were classified as pre-frail. Non-frail individuals exhibited significantly higher median times in both light and moderate PA [85 minutes (IQR 54-151), p0.001, and 223 minutes (IQR 101-367), p0.001, respectively] compared to frail and pre-frail groups. Specifically, frail individuals spent significantly less time in light PA [18 minutes (IQR 8-35)] and moderate PA [23.5 minutes (IQR 14.5-65)] compared to pre-frail individuals [light PA: 54 minutes (IQR 29-111); moderate PA: 95 minutes (IQR 28-182)].

Conclusion(s):

Objective data from smartwatches suggest that frail community-dwelling older adults engage in significantly less light and moderate physical activity compared to their pre-frail and non-frail counterparts.

Implications:

These findings provide valuable insights into the physical activity behaviors of frail older adults, with potential implications for the development of targeted health interventions for this vulnerable population.   

Funding acknowledgements:
CAPES, CNPq and Fundação de Amparo e Promoção da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação do Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN).
Keywords:
Wearable Devices
Frailty
Physical Activity
Primary topic:
Older people
Second topic:
Health promotion and wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Third topic:
Innovative technology: information management, big data and artificial intelligence
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Provide the ethics approval number:
No. 2.996,329
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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