Background: To evaluate use of wearable activity devices to monitor trends in ambulation and sleep after head and neck surgery.
Methods: Patients utilized Fitbit devices after surgery. Daily activity and sleep scores, step counts, and total sleep time (TST) were obtained.
Results: There were 30 patients within the final cohort. Trends in step counts after specific procedures were identified, and higher subjective activity level correlated with step counts (r = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.07-0.41). Among patients with complete step data (n = 24), POD1 steps ≥200 were associated with reduced length of stay (4.5 ± 1.7 days vs. 7.2 ± 4.0 days, 95% CI = 0.33-5.0). Mean TST was 5.4 ± 2.5 h, TST correlated with subjective sleep scores (r = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.03-0.044), and clinical events associated with sleep-wake transitions on Fitbit devices were identified.
Conclusions: Wearable activity devices appear feasible for monitoring trends in postoperative ambulation and sleep. Use of these devices may facilitate postoperative recovery.
Keywords: Fitbit; ambulation; recovery; sleep; wearable device.
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