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How can wrist sensors aid clinical trials with PH children?
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How can wrist sensors aid clinical trials with PH children?
“Wrist sensors reveal physical activity gaps for children with PH in study,” by Marisa Wexler, MS, discusses how the findings may help develop metrics for use in clinical trials with kids.
At first, I felt annoyed because the findings seem to be stating the obvious: “Children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) engage in fewer and shorter bouts of intense physical activity than their peers, according to a new study that measured data from sensors worn on the wrist.” My son was diagnosed with PH when he was 8, and I did not need a wrist sensor to tell me this, but as I continued reading, I began to understand the potential benefits of this technology.
The 6-minute walk test is limited because, depending on how the patient is feeling that day, it may not accurately reflect the patient’s physical ability. As the article points out, this test is even harder to rely on for children.
“The results showed that overall physical activity was similar in the children with and without PH. However, differences were evident when the researchers looked at the intensity of physical activity.”
I don’t think the wrist sensors should replace the 6-minute walk, but they should be included to assess a PH child’s normal day-to-day activity, and if they provide information that helps trials, even better.
What are your thoughts?
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3 Replies
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Thanks for sharing this, Colleen. Marisa did a great job covering the highlights in this interesting article.
Like you, I don’t think a wrist sensor can replace the six-minute walk (6MW) test. However, I believe it could serve as a supplementary tool to provide a more comprehensive long-term record of physical activity in children.
You’ve hit on a crucial point about the 6MW test. It’s so sensitive to factors like the time of day or a child’s(or adult’s) mood, which really questions its reliability for tracking ongoing physical activity.
This is a fantastic topic for discussion. What are everyone else’s thoughts on this?
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Hi Colleen, I actually think this device could have great applications if successful for not just PH but also for other diseases or individuals suffering from similar symptoms. After taking a quick read through of the research study that this was on I discovered I learned a few things. These bracelets are put on at 2 weeks at a time and for the sake of the study were used on children from ages 8-18. However, one of the greatest things that I think this study points out right off the bat is how a 6 minute stress test may not always be an effective or valid form of test in the case of PH.
While I agree with your assessment that the 6 minute stress test can effectively show the current length or strength the patient can withstand extensive activity, this does not accurately portray the day to day issues of a PH patient. When looking at a PH patient their issues are much more constant with at times smaller bursts of physical activity causing episodes at times.
This is why this type of test can be much more effective especially when done over the 2 week period. This allows researchers and doctors to monitor the health and progress of the patient over this 2 week period. This shows their activity level not only at their best but at their “worst” and allows them to see how they react to these symptoms. With this in mind I do think that both the 6 minute walk and the waist band have their place in testing how a PH patient is doing.
Cons: some cons that should still be noted is that even with a research level design in these bracelets that are not completely accurate. Even the research article notes that there can be some inconsistencies in the readings due to involuntary movements in the patient’s arm throughout the day that the bracelet picks up on. This has left researchers claiming that a possible solution of a waist band may be a good alternative in the future.
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Thank you, Cullen, for your excellent feedback on this. You have made good points that I missed.
I would love to hear thoughts from other members. Would anyone like to share?
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