Significant differences in step counts, sedentary, light, and moderate activity were detected between the older 7164 and newer GT3X + accelerometers using the Normal filter. These differences limit the comparability of sedentary behavior and physical activity results across or within studies using different generations of ActiGraphs. The differences between the 7164 and GT3X+N ranged from 2.9Âminutes/day with moderate activity, 25.6Âminutes/day with sedentary behavior, and 31.2Âminutes/day with light activity. The application of the LFE with the new generation ActiGraph reduced these differences to non-significant levels (0.3Âmin/day in moderate, 3.5Âmin/day in sedentary and 4.3Âmin/day in light), and the 95% confidence intervals suggested that true differences larger than 2.8, 15.9 or 11.5 mins/day, respectively, were unlikely. However, the LFE did not reduce the difference in step counts, which were about 2000 fewer steps with the GT3X+N and about 3600 more steps with the GT3X+LFE compared with the validated 7164 [8, 9]. Bland-Altman plots showing reasonable agreement between the GT3X+LFE and 7164 in nonwear, sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous activity support the conclusion that the data from these devices are fairly interchangeable.
The results showing more sedentary and less light activity with the GT3X+N compared with the 7164 are consistent with laboratory and free-living studies showing the newer generation models to be less sensitive on the lower end of the intensity spectrum compared with the older model [10–12, 15, 16]. The results in the moderate and vigorous intensity categories are less consistent with previous studies. Present results showing less moderate activity with the GT3X+N compared with the 7164 are not consistent with studies showing no significant differences between newer and older generation devices [10–12, 16]. In the present study, the LFE reduced the differences in moderate intensity while Mathias and colleagues [16] found that the LFE introduced moderate-intensity differences. However, Wanner and colleagues [15] found about 3Âminutes per day more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with the GT3X-LFE compared to the GT3X-N which is similar to the present findings. The present study showed no significant differences in vigorous activity between the 7164 and GT3X + with either the Normal or LFE filter which is not consistent with the findings of Mathias and colleagues showing more vigorous with the 7164 compared to the GT3X with both the Normal and LFE filters [16]. Different study designs (laboratory vs free-living setting), data processing methods, and Actigraph models (GT3X vs GT3X+) may account for the inconsistent results across studies.
The documented differences between models (and using different filters) call into question the generalizability of findings from calibration/validation studies to data collected with different generation ActiGraphs. For example, cut points derived using the 7164 model (e.g., <100Âcpm, Freedson [21]) may not be suitable for data collected with the GT3X+N. The validity concerns that arise from applying 7164-derived cut points to GT3X+N data are attenuated when using the LFE filter. Similarly, algorithms and cut points derived from studies using the newer models (with the Normal filter) [22–24] may not be appropriate for data collected with the 7164 model or a newer model with the LFE. It may be necessary to develop cut points and nonwear definitions that are model and filter-specific.
This study had several strengths. The use of the older generation Actigraph (7164) allowed us to explore the implications of comparing physical activity estimates produced by older and newer generation devices; the majority of studies to date that have used the 7164 model. The 7164 models in this study were selected from a batch of over 100 devices and we ensured proper calibration and no malfunction. Also, using the GT3X + model (instead of the GT3X) allowed for the filter to be applied post-data collection on the same data thereby reducing inter-monitor variability that could have been introduced if two GT3X devices were used to compare the filters. To our knowledge, this study is the first to compare step counts between older and newer generation Actigraphs. Wanner and colleagues compared free-living step counts in 65 adults and found significantly more step counts recorded with the LFE compared to the Normal filter, a finding consistent with the present study. However, the 7164 model was not included in that study. Limitations of the present study included a small sample so meaningful but non-significant differences between models may have occurred, although data were collected at all intensities and significant differences were detected for small differences. The convenience sample may limit the generalizability of results.
Studies using a newer generation ActiGraph should employ the LFE filter for greater sensitivity to lower intensity activity, more comparable results to studies using the older models, and more appropriate application of established calibration cut points. Longitudinal studies that change from an older generation to a newer generation ActiGraph, or that use older and newer generation models simultaneously, should employ the LFE filter for more comparable activity estimates across models. Studies using a newer generation ActiGraph and interested in measuring step counts will either significantly underestimate steps using the GT3X + (Normal filter) or significantly overestimate steps using the GT3X + with the LFE. There is evidence that the older generation ActiGraph (7164) is the most accurate at detecting steps compared with the new ActiGraphs, and some validated pedometers [9]. No solution was identified to create comparable step counts across Actigraph generations. Present findings need to be replicated in other populations, such as children and older adults, who have different movement patterns.