Leveraging Accelerometry as a Prognostic Indicator for Increase in Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms.
Tamara P Lambert1, Asim H Gazi2, Anna B Harrison2
1The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
Biosensors
|November 10, 2022
Summary
Wearable accelerometry can objectively measure restlessness during opioid withdrawal. This technology may help track withdrawal intensity in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Opioid use disorder (OUD) presents a major public health challenge.
- Acute opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, impede abstinence.
- Objective measures of withdrawal severity are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate wearable accelerometry for quantifying restlessness in OUD patients.
- To correlate accelerometry data with clinical measures of opioid withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- 23 OUD patients undergoing withdrawal were monitored using mid-sternum accelerometry.
- Opioid cues and non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation (nVNS) were employed.
- Accelerometry signals were analyzed for movement patterns and correlated with the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS).
Main Results:
- Sinusoidal motion patterns detected by accelerometry correlated strongly with increased COWS scores (R = 0.92, p = 0.029).
- Maximum power spectral density of motion showed a significant relationship with rising withdrawal severity.
- Accelerometry provided an objective measure of withdrawal-related restlessness.
Conclusions:
- Wearable accelerometry can objectively detect and quantify restlessness during OUD withdrawal.
- This technology offers a potential ambulatory tool for monitoring withdrawal intensity.
- Objective markers from accelerometry could enhance OUD treatment and management.
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