Researchers use wearable fitness trackers to monitor sleep, CVD risk
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) have launched a two-year study to see if data from consumer-grade fitness trackers can help predict a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study started on Aug. 1 and will use commercially available wearable devices to monitor physical activity, sleep and blood pressure.
“We’re focusing on physical activity, sleep and blood pressure—gathering all that data to see whether we can use advanced mathematical modeling to predict a person’s cardiovascular disease risk or vascular dysfunction,” study leader Yue Liao, PhD, MPH, UTA assistant professor of kinesiology, said in a statement. “We want to see if we can detect early signs of CVD in order to intervene earlier with lifestyle changes.”
One focus of the study is sleep, which is an often overlooked factor in cardiovascular health. Researchers hope to see how sleep affects energy levels, physical activity and overnight organ function. The study is funded with a $400,000 through a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Minority Health Research and Education Grant. This program looks at health research and education for medically underserved populations who face disparities in health access and outcomes in Texas.
“We’re not just measuring sleep stages or duration, but also continuous markers like heart rate and blood pressure during sleep to detect health risks," Liao said.
The researchers plan to use the collected data to develop a machine-learning model that uses data from wearable sensors to go beyond basic fitness tracking to better risk stratify people and numerous parameters available from consumer devices. This could be an inexpensive way to track the health of larger numbers of people who otherwise may have limited access to healthcare. It also may enable earlier prevention efforts before their disease progresses to more serious later stages that are harder and more expensive to treat, which is often when lower-income patients present.
“Typical diagnosis of CVD happens after symptoms appear, often when it’s already too late,” Liao explained. “But now, we have wearable sensors that can continuously monitor daily activities like sleep and blood pressure. We want to use that data to detect early trends or signals of dysfunction.”
Ashe said the study relies on commercially available devices to make the approach more accessible to the general public than many traditional research tools like more expensive medical-grade devices. Additionally, because wearable devices can capture a wide range of vascular health data, participants may not need to undergo complicated lab-based assessments, Liao said
“The goal is to eventually detect vascular dysfunction using only wearable data,” she said.
Co-investigators in the study included Christine Spadola, PhD, MS, an assistant professor of social work; Souvik Roy, PhD, MS, associate professor of mathematics; and Matthew Brothers, PhD, MS, a professor of kinesiology.
The American Heart Association released a scientific statement in 2016 that sleep duration and quality has an impact cardiometabolic health.[1] The statement cites studies that found sleep duration is a risk factor for cardiometabolic conditions, as is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia.
Irregular sleep duration and timing was identified as a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of traditional risk factors and sleep quantity and quality in the The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).[2] A 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers made the argument that sleep should be added to cardiovascular risk scoring in older U.S. adults.[3]
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]