Differences in Demographic, Behavioral, and Biological Variables Between Those With Valid and Invalid Accelerometry Data: Implications for Generalizability
Click name to view affiliation
Search for other papers by Paul D. Loprinzi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Bradley J. Cardinal in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Carlos J. Crespo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Gary R. Brodowicz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ross E. Andersen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ellen Smit in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Background:
The exclusion of participants with invalid accelerometry data (IAD) may lead to biased results and/or lack of generalizability in large population studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether demographic, behavioral, and biological differences occur between those with IAD and valid accelerometry data (VAD) among adults using a representative sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.
Methods:
Ambulatory participants from NHANES (2003−2004) who were 20−85 years of age were included in the current study and wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer for 7 days. A “valid person” was defined as those with 4 or more days of at least 10+ hrs of monitoring per day. Among adults (20−85 yrs), 3088 participants provided VAD and 987 provided IAD. Demographic, behavioral, and biological information were obtained from the household interview or from data obtained in a mobile examination center.
Results:
Differences were observed in age, BMI, ethnicity, education, smoking status, marital status, use of street drugs, current health status, HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein, self-reported vigorous physical activity, and plasma glucose levels between those with VAD and IAD.
Conclusions:
Investigators should take into consideration the potential cut-off bias in interpreting results based on data that excludes IAD participants.
Loprinzi is with the Dept of Exercise Science, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY. Cardinal is with the Program in Exercise and Sport Science, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Crespo, Brodowicz, and Smit are with the School of Community Health, Portland State University, Portland, OR. Smit is also with the Program in Epidemiology, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Andersen is with the Dept of Kinesiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
© 2023 Human Kinetics