JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The use of wearable activity trackers shows promise in providing detailed data on physical activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the feasibility for long-term use.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore feasibility of recording physical activity using a wearable activity tracker and describe wear-time patterns among patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods:

Data from a randomised controlled trial (NCT: 05031767) was analysed. AxSpA patients with low disease activity were recruited from an outpatient clinic and asked to wear a Garmin vívosmart® 4 activity tracker for one year. The activity tracker measured steps and heart rate. Trial feasibility (eligibility, inclusion rate, patient characteristics), technical feasibility (data recorded, tracker adherence i.e. days worn, missing data), and operational feasibility (synchronisation reminders, tracker replacements) were analysed. Tracker adherence was calculated as the percentage of recorded minutes of the maximum possible minutes. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was used to explore tracker wear-time patterns.

Results:

Of the 160 patients screened, 75 (47%) agreed to use the tracker and 64 (85%) were analysed (11 had insufficient data). Median activity tracker adherence over one year was 66% (IQR: 30-86). There was 30% missing step- and 0.01% heart rate data in the physical activity dataset. A median of 18 (IQR: 9-25) reminders per patient to synchronize activity data were distributed. Analysis on wear-time patterns resulted in three groups: Adherent (51% of patients), Minimal Use (27%), and Intermittently adherent (22%).

Conclusions:

Trial feasibility was low, while technical and operational feasibility were acceptable. Only 51% of the patients were highly adherent. Activity trackers, though trendy, have low to moderate feasibility over one year in patients with axSpA. Automated synchronisation and adherence barriers should be further explored.