scholarly journals Continuous 7-Month Internet of Things–Based Monitoring of Health Parameters of Pregnant and Postpartum Women: Prospective Observational Feasibility Study

10.2196/12417 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. e12417
Author(s):  
Johanna Saarikko ◽  
Hannakaisa Niela-Vilen ◽  
Eeva Ekholm ◽  
Lotta Hamari ◽  
Iman Azimi ◽  
...  

Background Monitoring during pregnancy is vital to ensure the mother’s and infant’s health. Remote continuous monitoring provides health care professionals with significant opportunities to observe health-related parameters in their patients and to detect any pathological signs at an early stage of pregnancy, and may thus partially replace traditional appointments. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of continuously monitoring the health parameters (physical activity, sleep, and heart rate) of nulliparous women throughout pregnancy and until 1 month postpartum, with a smart wristband and an Internet of Things (IoT)–based monitoring system. Methods This prospective observational feasibility study used a convenience sample of 20 nulliparous women from the Hospital District of Southwest Finland. Continuous monitoring of physical activity/step counts, sleep, and heart rate was performed with a smart wristband for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over 7 months (6 months during pregnancy and 1 month postpartum). The smart wristband was connected to a cloud server. The total number of possible monitoring days during pregnancy weeks 13 to 42 was 203 days and 28 days in the postpartum period. Results Valid physical activity data were available for a median of 144 (range 13-188) days (75% of possible monitoring days), and valid sleep data were available for a median of 137 (range 0-184) days (72% of possible monitoring days) per participant during pregnancy. During the postpartum period, a median of 15 (range 0-25) days (54% of possible monitoring days) of valid physical activity data and 16 (range 0-27) days (57% of possible monitoring days) of valid sleep data were available. Physical activity decreased from the second trimester to the third trimester by a mean of 1793 (95% CI 1039-2548) steps per day (P<.001). The decrease continued by a mean of 1339 (95% CI 474-2205) steps to the postpartum period (P=.004). Sleep during pregnancy also decreased from the second trimester to the third trimester by a mean of 20 minutes (95% CI –0.7 to 42 minutes; P=.06) and sleep time shortened an additional 1 hour (95% CI 39 minutes to 1.5 hours) after delivery (P<.001). The mean resting heart rate increased toward the third trimester and returned to the early pregnancy level during the postpartum period. Conclusions The smart wristband with IoT technology was a feasible system for collecting representative data on continuous variables of health parameters during pregnancy. Continuous monitoring provides real-time information between scheduled appointments and thus may help target and tailor pregnancy follow-up.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Saarikko ◽  
Hannakaisa Niela-Vilen ◽  
Eeva Ekholm ◽  
Lotta Hamari ◽  
Iman Azimi ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Monitoring during pregnancy is vital to ensure the mother’s and infant’s health. Remote continuous monitoring provides health care professionals with significant opportunities to observe health-related parameters in their patients and to detect any pathological signs at an early stage of pregnancy, and may thus partially replace traditional appointments. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of continuously monitoring the health parameters (physical activity, sleep, and heart rate) of nulliparous women throughout pregnancy and until 1 month postpartum, with a smart wristband and an Internet of Things (IoT)–based monitoring system. METHODS This prospective observational feasibility study used a convenience sample of 20 nulliparous women from the Hospital District of Southwest Finland. Continuous monitoring of physical activity/step counts, sleep, and heart rate was performed with a smart wristband for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over 7 months (6 months during pregnancy and 1 month postpartum). The smart wristband was connected to a cloud server. The total number of possible monitoring days during pregnancy weeks 13 to 42 was 203 days and 28 days in the postpartum period. RESULTS Valid physical activity data were available for a median of 144 (range 13-188) days (75% of possible monitoring days), and valid sleep data were available for a median of 137 (range 0-184) days (72% of possible monitoring days) per participant during pregnancy. During the postpartum period, a median of 15 (range 0-25) days (54% of possible monitoring days) of valid physical activity data and 16 (range 0-27) days (57% of possible monitoring days) of valid sleep data were available. Physical activity decreased from the second trimester to the third trimester by a mean of 1793 (95% CI 1039-2548) steps per day (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). The decrease continued by a mean of 1339 (95% CI 474-2205) steps to the postpartum period (<i>P</i>=.004). Sleep during pregnancy also decreased from the second trimester to the third trimester by a mean of 20 minutes (95% CI –0.7 to 42 minutes; <i>P</i>=.06) and sleep time shortened an additional 1 hour (95% CI 39 minutes to 1.5 hours) after delivery (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). The mean resting heart rate increased toward the third trimester and returned to the early pregnancy level during the postpartum period. CONCLUSIONS The smart wristband with IoT technology was a feasible system for collecting representative data on continuous variables of health parameters during pregnancy. Continuous monitoring provides real-time information between scheduled appointments and thus may help target and tailor pregnancy follow-up.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Sarhaddi ◽  
Iman Azimi ◽  
Anna Axelin ◽  
Hannakaisa Niela-Vilen ◽  
Pasi Liljeberg ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method reflecting autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulations. Altered HRV is associated with adverse mental or physical health complications. ANS also has a central role in physiological adaption during pregnancy causing normal changes in HRV. OBJECTIVE Assessing trends in heart rate (HR) and HRV parameters as a non-invasive method for remote maternal health monitoring during pregnancy and three months postpartum. METHODS Fifty-eight pregnant women were monitored using an Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based remote monitoring system during pregnancy and 3-months postpartum. Pregnant women were asked to continuously wear Gear sport smartwatch to monitor their HR and HRV. In addition, a cross-platform mobile application was utilized for collecting pregnancy-related information. The trends of HR and HRV parameters were extracted using reliable data. We also analyzed the trends of normalized HRV parameters based on HR to remove the effect of HR changes on HRV trends. Finally, we exploited hierarchical linear mixed models to analyze the trends of HR, HRV, and normalized HRV parameters. RESULTS HR increased significantly during the second trimester (P<.001) and decreased significantly during the third trimester (P<.01). Time-domain HRV parameters, average normal interbeat intervals (AVNN), standard deviation of normal interbeat intervals (SDNN), root mean square of the successive difference of normal interbeat intervals (RMSSD), normalized SDNN (nSDNN), and normalized RMSSD (nRMSSD) decreased significantly during the second trimester (P<.001) then increased significantly during the third trimester (P<.01). Some of the frequency domain parameters, low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), and normalized HF (nHF) decreased significantly during the second trimester (P<.01), and HF increased significantly during the third trimester (P<.01). In the postpartum period, nRMSSD decreased (P<.05), and the LF to HF ratio (LF/HF) increased significantly (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that HR increased and HRV parameters decreased as the pregnancy proceeded, and the values returned to normal after the delivery. Moreover, our results show that HR started to decrease while time-domain HRV parameters and HF started to increase during the third trimester. Our results also demonstrate the possibility of continuous HRV monitoring in everyday life settings.


Author(s):  
Justyna Krzepota ◽  
Dorota Sadowska ◽  
Elżbieta Biernat

Background: The problem of an inadequate level of physical activity (PA) is important in the context of its relationship with the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between PA and QoL among pregnant women. Methods: The study analyzed 346 questionnaires filled in by pregnant women (157 in the second trimester and 189 in the third). The tool used for assessment of PA was the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire-Polish version (PPAQ-PL). The quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-short form (WHOQoL-Bref). The results obtained from the PPAQ-PL and WHOQoL-Bref questionnaires for women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and intergroup differences were analyzed. Results: There was a significant correlation in the group of women in the second trimester of pregnancy between quality of life in the physical health domain and the intensity and type of physical activity. The women who rated their quality of life higher in this domain declared higher energy expenditures (EE) associated with vigorous activity (R = 0.159, p ≤ 0.05), as well as with occupational activity (R = 0.166; p ≤ 0.05) and sport/exercise activity (R = 0.187; p ≤ 0.05). In women in the third trimester, higher EE related to sport/exercise activity coincided with higher assessments of the overall quality of life (R = 0.149, p ≤ 0.05) and general health (R = 0.170, p ≤ 0.05). In the case of the psychological domain (R = 0.161, p ≤ 0.05) and social relationship domain (R = 0.188; p ≤ 0.05) of QoL, positive correlations occurred with EE related to vigorous activity. In contrast, high assessment of physical health domain coincided with higher EE related to occupational activity (R = 0.174; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Our study makes an important contribution to knowledge concerning the correlations between PA and QoL in pregnancy. The results suggest the need for improvement in prenatal care and promotion of PA programs for pregnant women.


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Beddoe ◽  
Kathryn A. Lee ◽  
Sandra J. Weiss ◽  
Holly Powell Kennedy ◽  
Chin-Po Paul Yang

Purpose: The purpose of this experimental pilot study was to measure the effects of a mindfulness-based yoga intervention on sleep in pregnant women. Methods: Fifteen healthy, nulliparous women in their second or third trimesters with singleton pregnancies attended weekly mindfulness meditation and prenatal Hatha yoga classes in the community for 7 weeks. Sleep variables, as estimated by 72 hr of continuous wrist actigraphy and the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS), were recorded at baseline (Time 1) and postintervention (Time 2). Control data were obtained by evaluating sleep in the third-trimester group at Time 1. Due to small sample size, data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric statistics. Results: Women who began the intervention in the second trimester had significantly fewer awakenings, less wake time during the night, and less perceived sleep disturbance at Time 2 than at baseline. Those who began during the third trimester had poorer sleep over time in spite of the intervention. Women who began the intervention in their second trimester had less awake time at Time 2 compared to third-trimester controls at Time 1. Conclusions: Mindful yoga shows promise for women in their second trimester of pregnancy to diminish total number of awakenings at night and improve sleep efficiency and merits further exploration. Results from this pilot study provide the data to estimate sample size and design and implement powered and more controlled studies in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (7S) ◽  
pp. 101-101
Author(s):  
Olga Roldan-Reoyo ◽  
Melitta McNarry ◽  
Kelly Mackintosh ◽  
Lidia Romero-Gallardo ◽  
Laura Baena-Garcia ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 205064062096461
Author(s):  
Ana-Marija Grišić ◽  
Maria Dorn-Rasmussen ◽  
Bella Ungar ◽  
Jørn Brynskov ◽  
Johan F K F Ilvemark ◽  
...  

Background Infliximab therapy during pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease is challenged by a dilemma between maintaining adequate maternal disease control while minimizing fetal infliximab exposure. We investigated the effects of pregnancy on infliximab pharmacokinetics. Methods The study population comprised 23 retrospectively identified pregnancies. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease were generally in clinical remission at pregnancy conception (74%) and received steady infliximab maintenance therapy (5 mg/kg q8w n = 17; q6w n = 4; q10w n = 1; 10 mg/kg q8w n = 1). Trough blood samples had been obtained in the same patients prior to pregnancy ( n = 119), the first trimester ( n = 16), second trimester ( n = 18), third trimester ( n = 7), and post-pregnancy ( n = 12). Data were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects population pharmacokinetic modelling. Results Dose-normalized infliximab concentrations were significantly higher during the second trimester (median 15 µg/mL/kg, interquartile range 10–21) compared to pre-pregnancy (7, 2–12; p = 0.003), the first trimester (9, 1–12; p = 0.04), or post-pregnancy (6, interquartile range 3–11; p > 0.05) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Similar trends were observed in the third trimester (13, 7–36; p > 0.05). A one-compartment model with linear elimination described the pharmacokinetics of infliximab (volume of distribution = 18.2 L; clearance 0.61 L/day). Maternal infliximab exposure was influenced by the second and third trimester of pregnancy and anti-infliximab antibodies, and not by pregnancy-imposed physiological changes in, for example, body weight or albumin. Infliximab clearance decreased significantly during the second and third trimesters by up to 15% as compared to pre- and post-pregnancy and the first trimester. The increased maternal infliximab exposure was weakly associated with lowered clinical disease activity. Pharmacokinetic model simulations of virtual patients indicated the increased maternal infliximab trough concentrations imposed by pregnancy will not completely counteract the decrease in infliximab concentration if therapy is paused in the third trimester. Conclusion Infliximab clearance decreases significantly in the second and third trimesters, leading to increasing maternal infliximab concentrations in any given regimen. Maternal infliximab levels may thus be maintained as constant in a de-intensified regimen by therapeutic drug monitoring guidance in inflammatory bowel disease.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Sun Park ◽  
Jeong-Kyu Hoh ◽  
Moon-Il Park

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Lu ◽  
Mingjuan Luo ◽  
Xiangnan Fang ◽  
Rong Zhang ◽  
Mengyang Tang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), one of the most common pregnancy complications, can lead to morbidity and mortality in both the mother and the infant. Metabolomics has provided new insights into the pathology of GDM and systemic analysis of GDM with metabolites is required for providing more clues for GDM diagnosis and mechanism research. This study aims to reveal metabolic differences between normal pregnant women and GDM patients in the second- and third-trimester stages and to confirm the clinical relevance of these new findings.Methods: Metabolites were quantitated with the serum samples of 200 healthy pregnant women and 200 GDM women in the second trimester, 199 normal controls, and 199 GDM patients in the third trimester. Both function and pathway analyses were applied to explore biological roles involved in the two sets of metabolites. Then the trimester stage-specific GDM metabolite biomarkers were identified by combining machine learning approaches, and the logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate predictive efficiency. Finally, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis method was used to further capture the associations between metabolite modules with biomarkers and clinical indices. Results: This study revealed that 57 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were discovered in the second-trimester group, among which the most significant one was 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid. Similarly, 72 DEMs were found in the third-trimester group, and the most significant metabolites were ketoleucine and alpha-ketoisovaleric acid. These DEMs were mainly involved in the metabolism pathway of amino acids, fatty acids and bile acids. The logistic regression models for selected metabolite biomarkers achieved the area under the curve values of 0.807 and 0.81 for the second- and third-trimester groups. Furthermore, significant associations were found between DEMs/biomarkers and GDM-related indices. Conclusions: Metabolic differences between healthy pregnant women and GDM patients were found. Associations between biomarkers and clinical indices were also investigated, which may provide insights into pathology of GDM.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuoxi He ◽  
Chuan Xie ◽  
Xiaorong Qi ◽  
Zhengjun Hu ◽  
Yuedong He

Abstract ObjectiveCervical cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a rare event, and data regarding efficacy of cancer treatment during pregnancy is limited. This study aimed to assess the safety of continuation of the pregnancy for mother and fetus when concomitantly diagnosed with cervical cancer.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed all cervical cancer patients diagnosed while pregnant or immediately postpartum, inclusive from Jan 2010 to June 2019 at our institute. Patient clinical details and follow-up were obtained from hospital records. ResultsThe study comprised 40 patients with clinical cancer stages of ⅠA1 (1/40, 2.5%); ⅠB1 (15/40, 37.5%); IB2 (10/40, 25%); ⅡA (12/40, 30%); and ⅡB (2/40, 5%). There were 38 patients diagnosed during pregnancy, and 2 diagnosed in the postpartum period. Of the 38 patients, 17 were diagnosed in the first trimester, 13 in the second trimester, and 8 in the third trimester. Ten of 38 patients (26.3%) continued their pregnancy after learning of their diagnosis; 7 (70%) in the third trimester and 3 (30%) in the second trimester. The mean time from diagnosis to surgery in the patients who continued their pregnancy was 52.7 days, which was statistically significantly greater than the termination of pregnancy group (52.7 vs 16.3 days, P < 0.01). Notably, there was no survival difference between the 2 groups (100% vs 90.91%, P =0.54), and none of the pregnant women who ultimately died had delayed treatment due to pregnancy. Similarly, the surgical estimated blood loss and operative duration comparing the 2 groups were not significantly different. ConclusionsIn the present study, the gestational age of pregnancy at the time of initial diagnosis of cervical cancer was an important determinant in the disease management. Continuation of the pregnancy when diagnosed with cervical cancer did not affect the oncologic outcome of the mother nor increase either surgical or obstetric complications. Additionally, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not threaten the health of the fetus. These results may be useful in counseling patients facing the diagnosis of cervical cancer during pregnancy.


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