Continuous recording of vital signs with a wearable device in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer—an operational feasibility study
Open Access
- 3 March 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Supportive Care in Cancer
- Vol. 29 (9), 5283-5292
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06099-8
Abstract
Purpose Pediatric patients with cancer are at high risk for severe infections. Infections can trigger changes of vital signs long before clinical symptoms arise. Continuous recording may detect such changes earlier than discrete measurements. We aimed to assess the feasibility of continuous recording of vital signs by a wearable device (WD) in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Methods In this prospective, observational single-center study, pediatric patients under chemotherapy wore the Everion® WD for 14 days. The predefined patient-specific goal was heart rate recorded in good quality during ≥18/24 h per day, on ≥7 consecutive days. The predefined criterion to claim feasibility was ≥15/20 patients fulfilling this patient-specific goal. Results Twenty patients were included (median age, 6 years; range, 2–16). Six patients aged 3–16 years fulfilled the patient-specific goal. Quality of heart rate recording was good during 3992 of 6576 (61%) hours studied and poor during 300 (5%) hours, and no data was recorded during 2284 (35%) hours. Eighteen of 20 participants indicated that this WD is acceptable to measure vital signs in children under chemotherapy. Conclusion The predefined feasibility criterion was not fulfilled. This was mainly due to important compliance problems and independent of the WD itself. However, continuous recording of vital signs was possible across a very wide age range in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. We recommend to study feasibility in the Everion® again, plus in further WDs, applying measures to enhance compliance. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04134429) on October 22, 2019.Keywords
Funding Information
- Batzebär Foundation
- Bernese Foundation for Children and Adolescents with Cancer
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- World Medical Association Declaration of HelsinkiJAMA, 2013
- Monitoring and Identification of Sepsis Development through a Composite Measure of Heart Rate VariabilityPLOS ONE, 2012
- Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Performance of Risk Prediction Rules in Children and Young People with Febrile NeutropeniaPLOS ONE, 2012
- Predicting Adverse Events in Children With Fever and Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia: The Prospective Multicenter SPOG 2003 FN StudyJournal of Clinical Oncology, 2010
- Continuous Multi-Parameter Heart Rate Variability Analysis Heralds Onset of Sepsis in AdultsPLOS ONE, 2009
- Level of activity in children undergoing cancer treatmentPediatric Blood & Cancer, 2009
- Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics supportJournal of Biomedical Informatics, 2008
- Physical activity during treatment in children with leukemia: a pilot studyApplied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2006
- Abnormal Heart Rate Characteristics Preceding Neonatal Sepsis and Sepsis-Like IllnessPediatric Research, 2003
- The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VIArchives of Dermatology, 1988