Relationship the duration of the evaluation between the time of use of the accelerometer and the sample loss in elderly women participating from Healthy Environment Study (EAS), Rio do Sul, SC

Abstract

Introduction: Accelerometry measurements have enabled practical and accurate results in the assessment of physical activity in different populations, however, there is a lack of methodological detail regarding the procedures used in this type of study when performed in the elderly, especially in the duration of the measurement. Objective: To analyze whether the duration of physical activity measurement can influence the time of daily use of an accelerometer and sample loss in obese and non-obese elderly women, members of the Healthy Environment Study (EAS). Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study to assess physical activity using an accelerometer for 30 days. The sample included 64 elderly people who participated or not in physical activity groups, organized by the Department of Health, Assistance and Social Development of Rio do Sul, SC. They were divided into Non-Obese Group (GNO) and Obese Group (GO), through assessment of body mass index. Operational aspects for data collection involved weekly visits to the participants' homes to change the accelerometer, as well as weekly monitoring with calls to control the quality of the collections. Results: The mean time of accelerometer use was approximately 10 hours/day between the GO and GNO groups, both on weekdays and weekends throughout the follow-up. The total dropout rate throughout the study was 50%. A higher proportion of sample loss was observed after seven days of physical activity assessment using accelerometry. Conclusion: It was evidenced that the duration of up to seven days of physical activity assessment via accelerometry seems to lead to less sample loss in studies with the elderly.

Keywords: Aged. Accelerometry. Reasons for dropping out. Methodological aspects.