Wearable Activity Trackers Objectively Measure Incidental Physical Activity in Older Adults Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement

Abstract

Background: For older adults with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR), recovery of physical function is important, yet few studies objectively measure it in real-world environments. This exploratory study explored the acceptability and feasibility of using wearable trackers to measure incidental physical activity (PA) in AS patients before and after AVR. Methods: Fifteen adults with severe AS wore an activity tracker at baseline, and ten at one month follow-up. Functional capacity (six-minute walk test, 6MWT) and HRQoL (SF 12) were also assessed. Results: At baseline, AS participants (n = 15, 53.3% female, mean age 82.3 ± 7.0 years) wore the tracker for four consecutive days more than 85% of the total prescribed time, this improved at follow-up. Before AVR, participants demonstrated a wide range of incidental PA (step count median 3437 per day), and functional capacity (6MWT median 272 m). Post-AVR, participants with the lowest incidental PA, functional capacity, and HRQoL at baseline had the greatest improvements within each measure; however, improvements in one measure did not translate to improvements in another. Conclusion: The majority of older AS participants wore the activity trackers for the required time period before and after AVR, and the data attained were useful for understanding AS patients’ physical function.

Daily Physical Activity Measured by Wearable Smartwatch for Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the SMART TAVR Study

“…The median step per day within the first month after aortic valve replacement of these 10 patients with aortic stenosis was 3092 (IQR, 2096-4163). 12 Our result was also similar to a pilot study and found 3000 to 4000 steps per day in patients with aortic stenosis for 6 weeks after TAVR. 13 However, both these studies only reported a short-term outcome without reaching the follow-up of 1 year.…”

“…16 Previous studies demonstrated that participants with poor baseline PA, functional capacity, and health-related quality of life would improve mostly at 1 month after TAVR. 12,17 In contrast, our results showed that elder patients with morbidities, such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation or flutter, CKD, and STS score, would have lower step counts within the 1-year follow-up. Those with a baseline >6 MWT would have a better PA performance.…”

“…One previous study only enrolled 10 patients, while 4 of them received surgical aortic valve replacement. 12 The other study included 662 transapical TAVR patients and consisted of 28.9% of the whole cohort. 17 Although a goal of 10 000 daily steps was commonly suggested for the general population, this number had a limited scientific basis.…”

“…One previous study only enrolled 10 patients, while 4 of them received surgical aortic valve replacement. 12 The other study included 662 transapical TAVR patients and consisted of 28.9% of the whole cohort. 17…”