The Scripps Research Translational Institute has launched an app-based research program that will analyze participants’ wearable health data—including heart rates, sleep and activity levels—with the goal of more quickly detecting the emergence of influenza, coronavirus and other fast-spreading viral illnesses.
Members of the public who are 18 or older and use a smartwatch or activity tracker, such as a Fitbit, Apple Watch, Amazfit or Garmin Watch, can join the study and consent to share their data by downloading the MyDataHelps mobile app. By harnessing key data points from these users’ wearable devices, Scripps scientists believe they can improve real-time surveillance of contagious respiratory illnesses. Early detection is critical for effective public health response to infectious disease outbreaks and for improving treatments.
"In light of the ongoing flu season and the global pandemic of COVID-19, we see enormous opportunity to enhance disease tracking for improved population health,” said Jennifer Radin, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, in a prepared statement. “One way to do this is to leverage and analyze the rich health data that’s already being collected by the millions of Americans who regularly use wearable devices.”
At least 1 in 5 U.S. adults uses a mobile health app or wearable device—a trend that cuts across nearly all demographic groups and is projected to continue its growth in coming years. La Jolla, Calif.-based Scripps Research developed the app-based study in partnership with CareEvolution, a health technology company.
Earlier this year, a study by Scripps Research Translational Institute showed that by analyzing de-identified data from approximately 47,000 users of Fitbit devices equipped with heart rate tracking capabilities, they could improve predictions of influenza-like illness at the state level when compared with data from the CDC. The study took into account factors such as resting heart rate—which tends to rise when the body is fighting an infection—as well as sleep above a minimum threshold.
The DETECT study researchers will work with numerous partners in the digital health industry, including Fitbit, to encourage the public to participate in the study.
A better method of surveillance
Volunteers who participate in the DETECT study can donate their heart rate, activity levels and sleep data, as well as logged respiratory symptoms, timing of treatments they’ve taken, and diagnostic test results. Participants also have the option to share electronic health record data. This real-time, crowdsourced information is meant to complement traditional public health surveillance methods, potentially leading to earlier detection and containment of current and future outbreaks in various geographical locations. By evaluating individual changes on a day-to-day basis, researchers hope it also will be possible to help people identify when they may have a viral infection much earlier in its course, enabling earlier initiation of treatment and isolation.
The study is designed to be as passive and non-invasive as possible, with minimum effort required to join. The program will provide participants with a regular summary of their data and aggregated population-level summaries. Participants can leave the study at any time.
