JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Hexoskin smart shirt (HX) is a shirt measuring continuously and objectively and could be a potential telemonitoring system.

Objective:

The main focus is to determine the accuracy of the calibrated HX to measure tidal volumes (TV) in comparison to spirometry (SPIRO) in various tasks.

Methods:

TV of fifteen healthy subjects were measured in 7 tasks with SPIRO and HX. These tasks were performed in two sessions, between sessions all equipment was removed. A one-time spirometer-based calibration per task was determined in session 1 and applied to the corresponding task in both sessions. Bland-Altman analysis was used to determine the agreement between TV measured with HX and SPIRO. A priori we determined the bias had to be less than ±5% with LOA less than ±15%. Lung volumes were measured and should have LOA less than ±0.150 L.

Results:

In the first session, all tasks had a median bias within the criteria (±0.6%). In the second session, biases were ±8.9%, only two tasks met the criteria. In both sessions, LOA were within criteria in six out of seven tasks (±14.7%). LOA of lung volumes were > 0.150 L.

Conclusions:

HX is able to correctly measure TV in healthy subjects in various tasks. However, after reapplication of the equipment, calibration factors cannot be reused to obtain results within the determined boundaries. Clinical Trial: NTR7130 (Dutch trial registration system)