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P070 Next Generation Wearable Technology for IBD Patients: A Feasibility Study
Kara DiJoseph1, Michelle Rosario, Alex Hajduczok
1Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 18, 2023
Summary
Remote physiologic monitoring using the Whoop Strap shows promise for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) management. Wearable technology may empower patients to detect flares early, improving IBD care through proactive self-management and timely medical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Digital Health
- Wearable Technology
Background:
- Rising Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) prevalence impacts patient quality of life.
- Remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) shows potential for predicting disease activity and enabling self-management in chronic illnesses.
- Wearable devices like the Whoop Strap offer novel opportunities for RPM in IBD care, with limited existing data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential benefits of the Whoop Strap as a remote physiologic monitoring tool for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients.
- To investigate the correlation between wearable-derived physiologic metrics (sleep, heart rate variability, resting heart rate) and IBD symptoms.
- To assess the feasibility of using wearable technology for patient self-management and early detection of disease flares.
Main Methods:
- Recruited adult Ulcerative Colitis patients for a 12-month study using the Whoop Strap 3.0.
- Collected patient-recorded symptoms via the Whoop mobile application.
- Correlated physiologic data (sleep, RHR, HRV) with IBD symptoms and collected monthly questionnaire data on disease activity, mood, and stress.
Main Results:
- Preliminary data from 7 participants suggests feasibility, with 2 patients proactively reporting concerns based on Whoop metric changes.
- One patient's elevated HRV and RHR preceded objective markers of inflammation (increased C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin).
- Observed HRV and RHR changes, alongside sleep disturbances, prompted further investigation in another patient.
Conclusions:
- Remote physiologic monitoring via wearable devices like the Whoop Strap is feasible for IBD patients, promoting self-care ownership.
- The Whoop device may empower patients to communicate potential flares to providers before symptom onset, enabling expedited evaluation.
- This feasibility study supports larger prospective research into wearable technology for IBD management.
