The European Cystic Fibrosis Society has released updated advice on how best to measure physical activity in people living with cystic fibrosis (CF).
The new recommendations, authored by an international panel led by Professor Craig Williams of the University of Exeter and published in European Respiratory Review, advocate for the use of new technologies like wearable devices. The panel advises devices such as fitness trackers, smartwatches, and sensors in clothing should be used to precisely analyse time spent doing light, moderate, and vigorous activity. The panel also recommends capturing data on sedentary (inactive) behaviour and sleep time to provide a complete 24-hour picture of activity.
This is the most significant update since the Society released their 2015 guidance and reflects big changes in how activity is monitored and the increasing importance of being active for people with CF.
Professor Craig Williams from the University of Exeter Medical School said: "By using more advanced and standardised ways to measure physical activity, we've found researchers and clinicians can better support people with CF. Most sophisticated devices are still mainly used in research and there is currently no single international or national standard for how much or what kind of physical activity people with CF should do. We believe that needs to change. The ultimate goal is to make physical activity a regular part of care, helping people with CF live longer, healthier lives."
Cystic fibrosis is a long-term health condition that affects the lungs and digestive system, making it harder to breathe and absorb food. Being physically active can help people with CF stay healthier for longer by improving breathing, maintaining muscle strength, and supporting mental well-being. However, measuring and understanding physical activity accurately is essential for doctors, researchers, and those with CF.
In the past, physical activity was often tracked using simple pedometers or with questionnaires. Now, new technologies such as wearable devices can provide much more detailed information. The panel recommends doctors and researchers should use these devices to get a complete picture of patients' daily activity, including how much time they spend sitting, being active at different intensities, and sleeping. When analysing the data, it's important the devices record activity in short bursts (at least every second) to get the most accurate information.
Recommendations also state while it's still useful to use validated questionnaires and activity diaries to understand a person's habits and provide personal context, these should be considered secondary tools.
Dr Don Urquhart and Dr Thomas Radtke, chairpersons of the Exercise Working Group of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society, said: "The systematic review by Professor Williams and colleagues on measurement of the physical activity in people with cystic fibrosis provides a timely overview of current evidence. At a time where aging in CF is becoming a very hot topic, understanding the impact of exercise and physical activity on the aging process is a research priority. The systematic review will be invaluable to researchers working on such projects."
To develop the recommendations, experts looked at almost 7,500 scientific studies, eventually focusing on 90 that were most relevant. They found that while there is a lot of interest in tracking activity in people with CF, there are many different ways of measuring and analysing the data -making it hard to compare results or draw big conclusions about long-term health impacts.
More research is now needed to understand how activity levels over time affect health, hospital admissions, and survival rates.
