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Device-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior in a community-based cohort of older adults
Rosenberg D, Walker R, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Bellettiere J, Xiang Y, Richmire K, Higgins M, Wing D et al.. BMC public health, 2020-08-18
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Few studies characterize older adult physical activity and sitting patterns using accurate accelerometer and concurrent posture measures. In this descriptive paper, we report accelerometer data collection protocols, consent rates, and physical behavior measures from a population-based cohort study (Adult Changes in Thought, ACT). Methods The ACT study holds enrollment steady at approximately 2000 members of Kaiser Permanente Washington aged 65+ without dementia undergoing detailed biennial assessments. In 2016 the ACT-Activity Monitor (ACT-AM) sub-study was initiated to obtain data from wearing activPAL and ActiGraph devices for 7 days following regular biennial visits. We describe the methods protocol of ACT-AM and present characteristics of people who did and did not consent to wear devices. We compute inverse probability of response weights and incorporate these weights in linear regression models to estimate means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of device-based pattern metrics, adjusted for wear time and demographic factors, and weighted to account for potential selection bias due to device-wear consent. Results Among 1885 eligible ACT participants, 56% agreed to wear both devices (mean age 77 years, 56% female, 89% non-Hispanic white, 91% with post-secondary education). On average, those who agreed to wear devices were younger and healthier. Estimated mean (95% CI) activPAL-derived sitting, standing, and stepping times were 10.2 h/day (603-618 min/day), 3.9 h/day (226-239 min/day), and 1.4 h/day (79-84 min/day), respectively. Estimated mean ActiGraph derived sedentary (Vector Magnitude [VM] 518 counts/15 s) physical activity durations were 9.5 h/day (565-577 min/day), 4.5 h/day (267-276 min/day), and 1.0 h/day (59-64 min/day). Participants who were older, had chronic conditions, and were unable to walk a half-mile had higher sedentary time and less physical activity. Conclusions Our recruitment rate demonstrates the feasibility of cohort participants to wear two devices that measure sedentary time and physical activity. Data indicate high levels of sitting time in older adults but also high levels of physical activity using cut-points developed for older adults. These data will help researchers test hypotheses related to physical behavior and health in older adults in the future.
Key findings
- Results Among 1885 eligible ACT participants, 56% agreed to wear both devices (mean age 77 years, 56% female, 89% non-Hispanic white, 91% with post-secondary education).
Why it matters
This study describes physical activity and sitting patterns in older adults using wearable devices. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC public health) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | BMC Public Health: journal h-index 289 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 72 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.0 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Andrea Z. LaCroix: h-index 124 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32811454) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09330-z
- PubMed: 32811454
- Original source →
- Free full text: BMC Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rosenberg, D., Walker, R., Greenwood-Hickman, M. A., Bellettiere, J., Xiang, Y., Richmire, K., et al. (2020). Device-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior in a community-based cohort of older adults. BMC public health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09330-z
Vancouver
Rosenberg D, Walker R, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Bellettiere J, Xiang Y, Richmire K, et al. Device-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior in a community-based cohort of older adults. BMC public health. 2020. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09330-z. PMID: 32811454.
BibTeX
@article{rosenberg2020-32811454,
author = {Rosenberg, D. and Walker, R. and Greenwood-Hickman, M. A. and Bellettiere, J. and Xiang, Y. and Richmire, K. and Higgins, M. and Wing, D. and others},
title = {{Device-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior in a community-based cohort of older adults}},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1186/s12889-020-09330-z},
pmid = {32811454},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09330-z}
}
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