Physical activity, patient-reported symptoms, and clinical events: Insights into postprocedural recovery from personal digital devices

BACKGROUND Personal digital devices may offer insights into patient recovery and an approach for remote monitoring after procedures. 

OBJECTIVE To examine associations between activity measured using personal digital devices, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and clinical events among patients after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) or bariatric surgery. 

METHODS We aggregated personal digital device, PROM, and electronic health record data in a study conducted at 2 health systems. We used Fitbit devices for step count assessments, KardiaMobile for cardiac rhythm assessments, and PROMs for pain and palpitations over 5 weeks. 

RESULTS Among 59 patients, 30 underwent AF ablation and 29 bariatric surgery. Thirty-six patients (63%) reported pain. There was no difference in median [interquartile range] daily steps between patients with and those without pain (4419 [3286–7041] vs 3498 [2609–5888]; P =.23). Among AF ablation patients, 21 (70%) reported palpitations. Median daily steps were lower among those with palpitations than among those without (4668 [3021–6116] vs 8040 [6853–10,394]; P =.03). When accounting for within-subject correlation, recordings of AF were associated with a significant mean decrease in median daily steps (–351; 95% confidence interval –524 to –177; P <.01). Patients who received a new antiarrhythmic drug prescription had AF recorded in a median of 5 [5–5] of 5 total weeks, whereas patients who did not receive a new antiarrhythmic recorded AF in a median of 1 [0–3] week (P =.02). 

CONCLUSION Personal digital device and PROM data can provide insight into postprocedural recovery outside of usual clinical settings and may inform follow-up and clinical decision-making. (ClinicalTrials.gov