An estimated 4 million children undergo surgical procedures in hospitals across the U.S. each year. Postoperative complications, such as infections, pose significant health risks to these children, and timely detection following hospital discharge can be challenging.
A new study published in Science Advances and led by researchers at Northwestern University, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham is pioneering the use of consumer wearables to predict postoperative complications in children. This study shows potential for facilitating faster treatment and care.
“Today, consumer wearables are ubiquitous, with many of us relying on them to count our steps, measure our sleep and more,” said senior author Arun Jayaraman from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. “Our study is the first to take this widely available technology and train the algorithm using new metrics that are more sensitive in detecting complications. Our results suggest great promise for better patient outcomes and have broad implications for pediatric health monitoring across various care settings.”
In the study, commercially available Fitbit devices were given to 103 children for 21 days immediately after appendectomy — a common surgery in children with a complication rate of up to 38%. Scientists trained an algorithm using new metrics related to circadian rhythms of activity and heart rate patterns rather than just relying on traditional metrics like low activity or high heart rate.
The analysis showed that these new metrics were more sensitive in picking up complications. Scientists could retrospectively predict postoperative complications up to three days before formal diagnosis with 91% sensitivity and 74% specificity.
“Historically, we have been reliant upon subjective reporting from children — who often have greater difficulty articulating their symptoms — and their caregivers following hospital discharge. As a result, complications are not always caught right away,” said Dr. Fizan Abdullah from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “By using widely available wearables coupled with this novel algorithm, we have an opportunity to change the paradigm of postoperative monitoring and care — and improve outcomes for kids in the process.”
This research is part of a four-year National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded project. The next step involves transitioning this approach into a real-time system that analyzes data automatically and sends alerts to clinical teams.
“This study reinforces wearables’ potential to complement clinical care for better patient recoveries,” said Hassan M.K. Ghomrawi from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Our team is eager to enter the next phase of research exploration.”