Evaluation of Sleep Parameters and Sleep Staging (Slow Wave Sleep) in Athletes by Fitbit Alta HR, a Consumer Sleep Tracking Device

Yu Kawasaki; Takatoshi Kasai; Yuko Sakurama; Akiko Sekiguchi; Eri Kitamura; Itsuki Midorikawa; Nanako Shiroshita; Fusae Kawana; Etsuko Ogasawara; Mari Kitade; Natsue Koikawa; Takao Matsuda

doi:10.2147/NSS.S351274

Evaluation of Sleep Parameters and Sleep Staging (Slow Wave Sleep) in Athletes by Fitbit Alta HR, a Consumer Sleep Tracking Device

Nat Sci Sleep. 2022 Apr 26:14:819-827. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S351274. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yu Kawasaki¹, Takatoshi Kasai^{2

3

4

5}, Yuko Sakurama⁶, Akiko Sekiguchi⁶, Eri Kitamura¹, Itsuki Midorikawa⁷, Nanako Shiroshita⁴, Fusae Kawana³, Etsuko Ogasawara^{6

8}, Mari Kitade^{1

6}, Natsue Koikawa^{6

8}, Takao Matsuda⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Cardiovascular Respiratory Sleep Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Cardiovascular Management and Remote Monitoring, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Sleep and Sleep-Disordered Breathing Center, Juntendo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Akita Northern Happinets, Akita, Japan.
⁸ School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan.
⁹ Department of Gynecology, National Hospital Organization Nishi-Beppu National Hospital, Oita, Japan.

Abstract

Purpose: Sleep is an essential factor for athletes, and it is important to intervene in sleep to manage it. We need a device that can evaluate sleep easily and constantly. Consumer wearable devices can be useful tools for athletes. In order to use consumer wearable devices in clinical research, it is essential to conduct a validation study. Thus, we conducted a validation study to assess the Fitbit Alta HR^TM (FBA)- a consumer wearable device with an accelerometer and a heart rate monitor to detect sleep stages and quality against electroencephalographic (EEG) studies in athletes.

Patients and methods: Forty college athletes participated in the study. EEG was applied to participants simultaneously while wearing FBA.

Results: Regarding sleep parameters, there was a strong correlation between the total sleep time (TST)-EEG and the TST-Fitbit (r = 0.83; p < 0.001). Regarding the sleep stages, there was a modest correlation between the N3 sleep-EEG and the N3 sleep-Fitbit (r = 0.68; p < 0.001). In addition, there was a strong correlation between the percentage of N3 sleep in between sleep onset and initial rapid eye movement sleep-EEG and those on Fitbit (r = 0.73; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that FBA facilitates sleep monitoring and exhibits acceptable agreement with EEG. Therefore, FBA is a useful tool in athletes' sleep management.

Keywords: athletes; electroencephalogram; sleep monitoring; wearable technology.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the MEXT*-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities, 2014–2018 (*Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport, Juntendo University, Project for Fostering, Survey research for the strategic strengthening of female athletes 2018–2019 by the Japan Sports Agency. These funding sources do not have any other roles in this study.