Wrist-worn actigraphy in agitated late-stage dementia patients: A feasibility study on digital inclusion

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wrist-worn actigraphy in agitated late-stage dementia patients: A feasibility study on digital inclusion

AU - Guu, Ta-Wei

AU - Brem, Anna-Katharine

AU - Albertyn, Chris

AU - Kandangwa, Pooja

AU - Aarsland, Dag

AU - Ffytche, Dominic

PY - 2024/3/18

Y1 - 2024/3/18

N2 - BACKGROUNDWrist-worn actigraphy can be an objective tool to assess sleep and other behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD). We investigated the feasibility of using wearable actigraphy in agitated late-stage dementia patients.METHODSAgitated, late-stage Alzheimer's dementia care home residents in Greater London area (n = 29; 14 females, mean age ± SD: 80.8 ± 8.2; 93.1% White) were recruited to wear an actigraphy watch for 4 weeks. Wearing time was extracted to evaluate compliance, and factors influencing compliance were explored.RESULTSA high watch-acceptance (96.6%) and compliance rate (88.0%) was noted. Non-compliance was not associated with age or BPSD symptomatology. However, participants with “better” cognitive function (R = 0.42, p = 0.022) and during nightshift (F1.240, 33.475 = 8.075, p = 0.005) were less compliant. Female participants were also marginally less compliant (F1, 26 = 3.790, p = 0.062).DISCUSSIONSWrist-worn actigraphy appears acceptable and feasible in late-stage agitated dementia patients. Accommodating the needs of both the patients and their carers may further improve compliance.

AB - BACKGROUNDWrist-worn actigraphy can be an objective tool to assess sleep and other behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD). We investigated the feasibility of using wearable actigraphy in agitated late-stage dementia patients.METHODSAgitated, late-stage Alzheimer's dementia care home residents in Greater London area (n = 29; 14 females, mean age ± SD: 80.8 ± 8.2; 93.1% White) were recruited to wear an actigraphy watch for 4 weeks. Wearing time was extracted to evaluate compliance, and factors influencing compliance were explored.RESULTSA high watch-acceptance (96.6%) and compliance rate (88.0%) was noted. Non-compliance was not associated with age or BPSD symptomatology. However, participants with “better” cognitive function (R = 0.42, p = 0.022) and during nightshift (F1.240, 33.475 = 8.075, p = 0.005) were less compliant. Female participants were also marginally less compliant (F1, 26 = 3.790, p = 0.062).DISCUSSIONSWrist-worn actigraphy appears acceptable and feasible in late-stage agitated dementia patients. Accommodating the needs of both the patients and their carers may further improve compliance.

KW - Actigraphy

KW - BPSD

KW - Dementia

KW - Feasibility

KW - compliance

M3 - Article

SN - 1552-5260

JO - Alzheimer's & Dementia

JF - Alzheimer's & Dementia

ER -