Aims: To investigate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown on trajectories of arterial pulse-wave velocity in a large population of users of connected smart scales that provide reliable measurements of pulse-wave velocity.
Methods and results: Pulse-wave velocity recordings obtained by Withings Heart Health & Body Composition Wi-Fi Smart Scale users before and during lockdown were analysed. We compared two demonstrative countries: France, where strict lockdown rules were enforced (n = 26 196) and Germany, where lockdown was partial (n = 26 847). Subgroup analysis was conducted in users of activity trackers and home blood pressure monitors. Linear growth curve modelling and trajectory clustering analyses were performed. During lockdown, a significant reduction in vascular stiffness, weight, blood pressure, and physical activity was observed in the overall population. Pulse-wave velocity reduction was greater in France than in Germany, corresponding to 5.2 month reduction in vascular age. In the French population, three clusters of stiffness trajectories were identified: decreasing (21.1%), stable (60.6%), and increasing pulse-wave velocity clusters (18.2%). Decreasing and increasing clusters both had higher pulse-wave velocity and vascular age before lockdown compared with the stable cluster. Only the decreasing cluster showed a significant weight reduction (-400 g), whereas living alone was associated with increasing pulse-wave velocity cluster. No clusters were identified in the German population.
Conclusions: During total lockdown in France, a reduction in pulse-wave velocity in a significant proportion of French users of connected smart bathroom scales occurred. The impact on long-term cardiovascular health remains to be established.
Keywords: COVID-19; Connected devices; Lockdown; Pulse-wave velocity; Smart bathroom scales; Vascular age; Vascular stiffness.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.