Preprint / Version 1

Changes in Continuous, Long-Term Heart Rate Variability and Individualized Physiological Responses to Wellness and Vacation Interventions Using a Wearable Sensor

Authors

  • Abhishek Pratap Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA, United States
  • Steve Steinhubl Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
  • Elias Neto Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA, United States
  • Stephan Wegerich PhysIQ, Chicago, IL, United States
  • Christine Peterson Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • Lizzy Weiss The Chopra Foundation, Carlsbad, CA, United States
  • Sheila Patel Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • Deepak Chopra Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • Paul Mills Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States

Keywords:

remote monitoring, cardiovascular medicine, stress, wellness, digital health, wearable, intervention

Abstract

There are many approaches to maintaining wellness, including taking a simple vacation to attending highly structured wellness retreats, which typically regulate the attendee's personal time and activities. In a healthy English-speaking cohort of 112 women and men (aged 30–80 years), this study examined the effects of participating in either a 6-days intensive wellness retreat based on Ayurvedic medicine principles or unstructured 6-days vacation at the same wellness center setting. Heart rate variability (HRV) was monitored continuously using a wearable ECG sensor patch for up to 7 days prior to, during, and 1-month following participation in the interventions. Additionally, salivary cortisol levels were assessed for all participants at multiple times during the day. Continual HRV monitoring data in the real-world setting was seen to be associated with demographic [HRVALF: βAge = 0.98 (95% CI = 0.96–0.98), false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.001] and physiological characteristics [HRVPLF: β = 0.98 (95% CI = 0.98–1), FDR =0.005] of participants. HRV features were also able to quantify known diurnal variations [HRVLF/HF: βACT:night vs. early−morning = 2.69 (SE = 1.26), FDR < 0.001] along with notable inter- and intraperson heterogeneity in response to intervention. A statistically significant increase in HRVALF [β = 1.48 (SE = 1.1), FDR < 0.001] was observed for all participants during the resort visit. Personalized HRV analysis at an individual level showed a distinct individualized response to intervention, further supporting the utility of using continuous real-world tracking of HRV at an individual level to objectively measure responses to potentially stressful or relaxing settings. Keywords: remote monitoring, cardiovascular medicine, stress, wellness, digital health, wearable, intervention

Author Biographies

Abhishek Pratap, Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA, United States

Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States

Sheila Patel, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States

Chopra Global, New York, NY, United States

Deepak Chopra, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States

The Chopra Foundation, Carlsbad, CA, United States

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