Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Dec 13, 2020
Date Accepted: Apr 3, 2021
An mHealth-based thermometer for foot temperature monitoring in relation to wound healing in patients with chronic foot ulcer after endovascular therapy
ABSTRACT
Background:
Foot temperatures may rise after endovascular therapy (EVT), but the relationship between foot temperatures and wound healing is unclear.
Objective:
This study evaluated the feasibility of an mHealth-based thermometer for foot temperature monitoring in patients with chronic foot ulcer (CFU) before and after EVT and the association between temperature change and wound healing time.
Methods:
This was a prospective cohort study. Patients who had a CFU for more than 3 months and underwent EVT between June 2019 and December 2019 were included. The study subjects received standard medical care and EVT for revascularization. The investigated mHealth-based thermometer is composed of four temperature-sensing chips, which were put over the foot before and after EVT. Data from the chips were transferred to an associated mobile phone app simultaneously via Bluetooth. Wound healing time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the associations between baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazard model
Results:
A total of 163 patients with CFU who underwent EVT were enrolled and followed until wound healing was complete or for 180 days. The mean foot temperature before EVT was 30.6±2.8°C, and it was significantly elevated to 32.1±2.8°C after the procedure (p=0.01). Wound healing time was significantly different in the Kaplan-Meier curves of the patient groups with temperature changes of more and less than 2°C (log-rank p test<0.0001). A foot temperature increase ≥2°C after EVT was associated with increased wound healing in a univariate analysis (HR 1.78; 95% CI, 1.24-2.76, p=0.021), and the association remained significant in a multivariate analysis (HR 1.69; 95% CI, 1.21-2.67, p=0.026).
Conclusions:
The investigated mHealth-based thermometer is feasible and useful in foot temperature monitoring. Foot temperature increases ≥2°C after EVT, as recorded by the mHealth-based thermometer, were associated with enhanced wound healing in patients with CFU. Further studies are needed, however, to confirm these results and provide healthcare professionals with a new endpoint for EVT. Clinical Trial: NA
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