Kuni Vergauwen1, Ivan P J Huijnen2, Rob J E M Smeets3, Daphne Kos4, Inge van Eupen5, Jo Nijs6, Mira Meeus7. 1. Department of Health Care, AP University College, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be, Belgium. Electronic address: kuni.vergauwen@ap.be. 2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Adelante, Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands. Electronic address: ivan.huijnen@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 3. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; CIR Revalidatie, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Electronic address: r.smeets@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 4. Department of Health Care, AP University College, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation, National MS Center Melsbroek, Belgium. Electronic address: daphne.kos@kuleuven.be. 5. Department of Health Care, AP University College, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: inge.vaneupen@ap.be. 6. Pain in Motion group VUB (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Building F-Kima, Laarbeeklaan 103, BE-1090 Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: jo.nijs@vub.ac.be. 7. MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Belgium. Electronic address: mira.meeus@uantwerpen.be.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the ability of a self-report activity diary to measure the physical activity level (PAL) in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and whether illness-related complaints, health-related quality of life domains (HRQOL) or demographic factors are associated with discrepancies between self-reported and objectively measured PAL. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with CFS, recruited from the chronic fatigue clinic of a university hospital, and twenty matched healthy controls wore an accelerometer (Actical) for six consecutive days and registered their activities in an activity diary in the same period. Participants' demographic data was collected and all subjects completed the CFS Symptom List (illness-related complaints) daily and Short-Form-36 (HRQOL domains) during the first and second appointment. RESULTS: A significant, but weak association between the activity diary and Actical was present in patients with CFS (rs = 0.376 and rs = 0.352; p < 0.001) and a moderately strong association in healthy controls (rs = 0.605; and rs = 0.644; p < 0.001) between week and weekend days, respectively. A linear mixed model identified a negative association between age and the discrepancy between the self-reported and objective measure of PA in both patients with CFS and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The activity diary showed limited ability to register the PAL in female patients with CFS. The discrepancy between measures was not explained by illness-related complaints, HRQOL domains or demographic factors. The activity diary cannot replace objective activity monitoring measured with an accelerometer, but may provide additional information about the perceived activity.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the ability of a self-report activity diary to measure the physical activity level (PAL) in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and whether illness-related complaints, health-related quality of life domains (HRQOL) or demographic factors are associated with discrepancies between self-reported and objectively measured PAL. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with CFS, recruited from the chronic fatigue clinic of a university hospital, and twenty matched healthy controls wore an accelerometer (Actical) for six consecutive days and registered their activities in an activity diary in the same period. Participants' demographic data was collected and all subjects completed the CFS Symptom List (illness-related complaints) daily and Short-Form-36 (HRQOL domains) during the first and second appointment. RESULTS: A significant, but weak association between the activity diary and Actical was present in patients with CFS (rs = 0.376 and rs = 0.352; p < 0.001) and a moderately strong association in healthy controls (rs = 0.605; and rs = 0.644; p < 0.001) between week and weekend days, respectively. A linear mixed model identified a negative association between age and the discrepancy between the self-reported and objective measure of PA in both patients with CFS and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The activity diary showed limited ability to register the PAL in female patients with CFS. The discrepancy between measures was not explained by illness-related complaints, HRQOL domains or demographic factors. The activity diary cannot replace objective activity monitoring measured with an accelerometer, but may provide additional information about the perceived activity.