IPAQ-L and CPET Usefulness in a North-Eastern Romanian Population Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Main Authors: Andrei Manta, Elena Cojocaru, Maria Magdalena Leon-Constantin, Alexandra Maștaleru, Mihai Roca, Cristina Rusu, Sabina Alexandra Cojocariu, Florin Mitu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: cardiovascular rehabilitation; heart failure; hypertension; obesity; cardiopulmonary exercise testing; physical activity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/12/5483

(1) Background: Current guidelines emphasize the importance of regular moderate and/or high intensity aerobic exercises in cardiovascular disease prevention. Our study aimed to evaluate the utility of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Long Form (IPAQ-L) for its physical activity (PA) quantification in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 110 patients aged between 34 and 69 years admitted to the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Clinic. All patients underwent a clinical examination, blood tests, a cycle ergometer exercise stress test and individual assessment of their weekly PA level using the IPAQ-L. (3) Results: Obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes were highly prevalent in our study group but did not influence the IPAQ-L results. In terms of physical performance, moderate intensity was the most common level of intensity found in our study group. Regarding the data on the relationship between the IPAQ-L questionnaire and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters, vigorous PA was correlated with predicted maximal oxygen uptake (<i>p</i> = 0.025) and moderate PA, in addition to walking, were correlated with heart rate reserve (<i>p</i> = 0.005 and <i>p</i> = 0.009, respectively). (4) Conclusions: IPAQ-L can be used for the evaluation of individual PA levels within a cardiovascular rehabilitation program, but cannot substitute for the importance and utility of CPET.