Physical activity levels and self-perception among patients living with chronic conditions in France: A population-based cross-sectional study using the ComPaRe cohort

TL;DR

This study finds that many patients with chronic conditions in France misperceive their physical activity levels, which could hinder efforts to improve their health.

Contribution

The study introduces a population-based analysis of physical activity misperception among patients with chronic conditions in France.

Findings

Approximately 32% of participants misperceived their physical activity levels.

Physical activity levels increased with age among men.

Only 64% of participants were categorized as active based on GPAQ measurements.

Abstract

Despite the numerous health benefits associated with physical activity (PA), many patients with chronic conditions remain inactive. We hypothesise that patients often misperceive their PA level, which affects behaviour change. We aimed to assess PA levels of patients with chronic conditions using the Global Physical activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and compare their perception of meeting WHO guidelines (150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week) with GPAQ measurements.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the GPAQ in a sample of participants recruited from the ComPaRe e-cohort, a nationwide cohort of adult patients with chronic conditions in France. We used stratified random sampling (based on age, gender and diploma) and non-responder weighting to obtain estimates representative of PA levels of chronic patients in France. Concordance between participants’ perception of meeting WHO guidelines and GPAQ measurements was assessed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient.

We included 629 patients (participation rate: 65.0%). The median age was 57 [46.0–65.4] years, with 348 (55.3%) women. A total of 369 (64.2%) patients were categorised as active (>750 metabolic equivalent tasks (Mets)/week) according to the GPAQ, with PA levels increasing with age among men. A total of 55 (8.6%) participants were unable to estimate their PA level, and 186 (32.4%) misperceived their PA level (cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.38 [0.31–0.45]), with 29 (5.1%) overestimating and 157 (27.4%) underestimating their activity.

Healthcare professionals should consider accurate screening for inactivity and patients’ self-perception of their PA level, as both are key to delivering personalised and impactful counselling.

Concordance between chronically ill patients’ perceived adherence to 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) weekly and measurements by the Global PA Questionnaire was fair to moderate.

Approximately half of the participants were categorised as active, with PA increasing with age in men.

These findings call for rethinking PA assessment during consultations.

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