Accelerometer Measured Sedentary Time and Physical Activity in MS Patients Vs. Age Matched Controls

Mar 21, 2023

The following is a summary of the “Accelerometer measured physical activity and sedentary time in individuals with multiple sclerosis versus age matched controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” published in the January 2023 issue of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders by Macdonald, et al.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the differences in sedentary behavior and physical activity levels between people with MS and healthy controls using accelerometer data. PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, Science Direct, and CINAHIL were searched from their start until November 22, 2019. To qualify for inclusion, studies had to meet the following criteria: include a group of participants with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis of any type; have 3 or more days of PA monitoring using accelerometers during free-living conditions; include age-matched healthy controls; evaluate adults over the age of 18; report data in a manner suitable for quantitative pooling, including percent of time spent sedentary, minutes per day of sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity.

Following the application of inclusion criteria to the results of the initial search, 9021 papers were found. Around 21 papers met the criteria for inclusion. Researchers only looked at their initial measurements in one study that followed participants throughout time. About 1 publication compared PwMS to controls to assess validity; this was a reliability and validity study. Apart from two publications (a pilot study and a randomized control trial), all other papers are cross-sectional in nature. One study used data from 2 sources, but only 1 was counted. About 188 (579 people with MS and 519 healthy controls) provided outcome data.

All examined categories showed statistically significant variation: Standard mean difference for sedentary time (min/day), -0.286, P = 0.044, n = 4 studies; the standard mean difference for relative sedentary time (%/day), -0.646, P = 0.000, n = 5 studies; the standard mean difference for light physical activity (LPA) (min/day), -0.337, P = 0.039, n = 5 studies; the standard mean difference for relative LPA (%/day), -0.211, P mean difference = 0.914, P = 0.000, n = 5 studies; step count = 0.894, P = 0.000, n = 8 studies; activity count = 0.693, P = 0.000, n = 13 studies. In addition, when PwMS and healthy controls were monitored for activity levels in their own homes, those with MS were found to be less active overall, taking fewer steps per day and engaging in less moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA).