Accelerometer-measured physical activity patterns in daily life and their association with factors of sedentary behavior in people with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES

Being physically active is important, but people with epilepsy (PWE) tend to have a sedentary lifestyle. There is limited evidence about physical activity patterns in PWE using objective measures. The aims of this study were: (1) to examine the physical activity patterns of PWE, (2) compare activity patterns between PWE in terms of drug-resistant epilepsy and medically controlled epilepsy with age- and sex-matched healthy controls; and (3) explore the association between physical activity patterns and body function and structure, activity and participation, and quality of life of PWE.

METHODS

Seventy-three PWE and 74 healthy controls were enrolled. Physical activity data were collected prospectively over a 7-day period using a SenseWear Arm Band. Body function and structure in PWE were evaluated using the Fatigue Severity Scale, 30-second Chair Stand (30CST), Biodex-Fall Risk, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Activity and participation in PWE were measured using Activities-specific Balance Confidence, Timed Up and Go Test, Six-Minute Walk Test, and Tinetti-Balance and Tinetti-Gait. The quality of life of PWE was evaluated using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31.

RESULTS

PWE took fewer steps per day and were sedentary for more time compared with healthy controls (7826 vs. 10,564 steps, P = 0.01; 534 min/day vs. 463 min/day, P < 0.001), especially PWE with drug-resistant epilepsy. 30CST, MoCA, and Biodex-Fall Risk were associated with sedentary behavior, with Biodex-Fall Risk explaining 7.2 % of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS

PWE demonstrated lower physical activity levels compared with healthy individuals, especially those with drug-resistant epilepsy. Our study highlights the need to tailor strategies including postural stability exercises for the enhancement of physical activity levels in PWE.