Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Sep 13, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: Sep 17, 2018 - Oct 25, 2018
Date Accepted: Jan 21, 2019
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Design and Preliminary Findings from a new e-Cohort embedded in the Framingham Heart Study (eFHS)
ABSTRACT
Background:
New models of scalable population-based data collection that integrate digital and mobile health data are necessary.
Objective:
To describe a cardiovascular digital and mobile health e-cohort embedded in a traditional longitudinal cohort study, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS).
Methods:
We invited eligible and consenting FHS Generation 3 and Omni participants to download the eFHS app onto their smartphones and co-deployed a digital blood pressure (BP) cuff. Soon thereafter, participants were also offered a smartwatch (Apple Watch). Participants are invited to complete surveys through the eFHS app, to perform weekly BP measurements and to wear the smartwatch daily.
Results:
Up to July 2017, we have enrolled 790 eFHS participants, representing 75.7% of potentially eligible FHS participants. eFHS participants were, on average, 538 years of age and 57% were women. 85% (n=675) of eFHS participants completed all of the baseline survey and 59% (n=470) completed the 3-month survey. 42% (n=241 of 573) and 76% (n=306 of 405) of eFHS participants adhered to weekly digital BP and HR uploads, respectively over 12 weeks.
Conclusions:
We have designed an e-cohort focused on identifying novel CVD risk factors using a new smartphone app, a digital BP cuff, and a smartwatch. Despite minimal training and support, preliminary findings over a 3-month follow-up period show that uptake is high and adherence to periodic app-based surveys, weekly digital BP assessments, and smartwatch HR measures is acceptable.
Citation

Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.