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A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers
Published on: April 21, 2017
Use of accelerometers to characterize physical activity patterns with COPD exacerbations
Huong Q Nguyen1, Bonnie Steele, Joshua O Benditt
1University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98199, USA. hqn@u.washington.edu
International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
|November 30, 2007
Summary
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can adhere to accelerometer monitoring for 16 weeks to track physical activity (PA) patterns around exacerbations. This technology shows promise for understanding COPD disease fluctuations.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Wearable Technology
Background:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management requires understanding disease exacerbations (AECOPD).
- Characterizing physical activity (PA) patterns can provide insights into AECOPD.
- Feasibility of long-term PA monitoring in COPD patients is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using accelerometers for characterizing PA in COPD patients over 16 weeks.
- To determine patient adherence to a 16-week activity monitoring protocol.
- To explore PA fluctuations surrounding AECOPD.
Main Methods:
- Eight COPD patients wore a triaxial accelerometer (RT3) during waking hours for 16 weeks.
- Patients maintained daily symptom diaries to mark AECOPD.
- Mean vector magnitude units (VMU) per minute were calculated; descriptive statistics and plots were generated.
Main Results:
- High adherence to the monitoring protocol (97.6%) and wearing the device (>10 hours/day, 91.5%) was observed.
- Seven AECOPD were captured over 896 person-days.
- Significant intra-individual variability in daily PA was noted during stable periods and outpatient-treated exacerbations.
Conclusions:
- Patients with COPD demonstrate good adherence to a 16-week accelerometer monitoring protocol.
- Patients expressed willingness to use activity monitoring devices for extended periods if data are useful.
- Future research should validate other devices and replicate findings in larger COPD cohorts over longer durations.
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