Home monitoring of arterial pulse-wave velocity during COVID-19 total or partial lockdown using connected smart

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Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies
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Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies

Published on: February 3, 2023

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Rosa Maria Bruno1,2, Jean Louis Pépin3,4, Jean Philippe Empana1

  • 1Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, F-75015 Paris, France.

European Heart Journal. Digital Health
|January 30, 2023
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 lockdown reduced vascular stiffness in French smart scale users, with greater pulse-wave velocity (PWV) reduction observed during strict lockdown. This indicates a potential short-term cardiovascular benefit, but long-term effects require further study.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Public Health
  • Digital Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread lockdowns, altering daily routines and potentially impacting cardiovascular health.
  • Arterial pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a validated marker of vascular stiffness and a predictor of cardiovascular risk.
  • Connected smart scales offer a scalable method for remote monitoring of physiological parameters like PWV.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on arterial pulse-wave velocity (PWV) trajectories.
  • To compare the effects of strict versus partial lockdown on vascular stiffness using data from smart scale users in France and Germany.
  • To identify distinct patterns (clusters) of PWV changes during lockdown and their associated factors.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of PWV data from Withings smart scale users before and during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
  • Comparison of PWV changes between France (strict lockdown) and Germany (partial lockdown).
  • Application of linear growth curve modeling and trajectory clustering to French population data; subgroup analysis using activity tracker and home blood pressure monitor data.

Main Results:

  • A significant reduction in vascular stiffness (PWV), weight, blood pressure, and physical activity was observed overall during lockdown.
  • The reduction in PWV was more pronounced in France than in Germany, equivalent to a 5.2-month reduction in vascular age.
  • In France, three PWV trajectory clusters were identified: decreasing (21.1%), stable (60.6%), and increasing (18.2%). The decreasing cluster showed weight loss, while living alone was linked to the increasing cluster.

Conclusions:

  • Total lockdown in France led to a significant reduction in PWV among smart scale users, suggesting improved vascular health in a substantial proportion.
  • The observed reduction in vascular stiffness during lockdown warrants further investigation into its long-term implications for cardiovascular health.
  • No distinct PWV trajectory clusters were identified in the German population, possibly due to less stringent lockdown measures.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Connected devicesLockdownPulse-wave velocitySmart bathroom scalesVascular ageVascular stiffness

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