Objective versus Self-reported Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

The main purpose of this study was to compare the relationships between physical activity (measured using an accelerometer vs. self-reported) and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Differences in accelerometry physical activity between 10-minute bouts and total bouts were also compared. Methods: Data originated from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression was used to predict cardiovascular disease risk from physical activity levels. Results: Self-reported physical activity could not significantly predict the odds of having cardiovascular risk. However, the insufficiently active group classified according to the total-bout physical activity had significantly greater odds of having hypertension or prehypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.00-1.82), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.01-3.19), and dyslipidemia (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.17-2.36) than the highly active group. Regarding the 10-minute bout physical activity, the inactive group had significantly greater odds of having only hypertension or prehypertension (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.02-2.76) than the highly active group. Conclusion: Total-bout physical activity measured using an accelerometer could significantly predict the cardiovascular disease risk compared to 10-minute bout physical activity. However, self-reported physical activity could not significantly predict the cardiovascular disease risk.