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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
08:36
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Characterizing device-measured sleep in observational health research using compositional data analysis: a systematic
Christine W St Laurent1, Guilherme Moraes Balbim2, Denver M Y Brown3
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. cstlaurent@umass.edu.
Summary
This review found inconsistent reporting of device-measured sleep data in compositional data analysis (CoDA) studies. Standardizing sleep measurement and processing is crucial for accurate insights into movement behaviors and health.
Area of Science:
- Movement behavior science
- Public health research
- Data analysis methodologies
Background:
- Compositional data analysis (CoDA) is vital for understanding the interplay between movement behaviors (sedentary time, physical activity, sleep) and health.
- Existing reviews on CoDA reporting standards primarily focus on physical activity and sedentary behavior, neglecting the critical role of sleep data.
- Standardized reporting of sleep data is essential for advancing CoDA research in health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the measurement, processing, and reporting practices of device-based sleep data in studies employing CoDA.
- To identify inconsistencies and gaps in sleep data handling within CoDA research examining movement behaviors and health outcomes.
- To provide recommendations for improving the quality and comparability of sleep data in future CoDA studies.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic literature search across seven databases, supplemented by citation tracking and expert consultation.
- Included observational studies published since 2015 that utilized CoDA with isometric log-ratio transformations and device-measured sleep data.
- Extracted data on sleep actigraphy measurement, processing, and reporting, referencing American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines, and assessed study quality using the NIH tool.
Main Results:
- Of 70 included studies, most reported limited sleep measurement and processing details.
- A significant majority (67 studies) incorporated only one sleep component into their time-use composition.
- Fewer than half (29 studies) acknowledged sleep-related limitations, with 10 studies rated as having poor quality.
Conclusions:
- Significant inconsistencies exist in how device-measured sleep data is measured, processed, and reported in CoDA studies.
- The variability in sleep data protocols underscores the urgent need for standardized approaches and transparent reporting.
- Future research must prioritize consistency and transparency to enhance the validity and comparability of findings on sleep within the 24-hour movement behavior framework for health.
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