Effectiveness of continuous monitoring by activity tracker of patients undergoing chemotherapy for urothelial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND:It is difficult to objectively evaluate chemotherapy-related adverse events early in elderly patients with urothelial carcinoma. A delayed response causes a reduction in quality of life (QoL). Wearable activity systems that objectively record life logs have recently been used. OBJECTIVES:This study was undertaken to verify the reliability and effectiveness of a wearable activity system (Fitbit) to monitor subjective symptoms in an objective manner during chemotherapy for elderly patients with urothelial cancer (UC). MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a cohort prospective study. Elderly patients with UC were enrolled who received short hydration gemcitabine and cisplatin (shGC) combination therapy at Nagoya City University Hospital from January 2018 to March 2020. A Fitbit was used to monitor heart rate, distance moved, and cardio zone time. Heart rate was also monitored by an oscillometric method. The relationship between Fitbit recordings and perceived adverse events, such as fatigue, constipation and nausea, observed during chemotherapy was investigated using a general linear mixed effects model. RESULTS:Twenty-one of 28 inpatients were enrolled and observed for a total of 824 days. A significant, moderately strong correlation was found between two measurements of heart rate (Pearson's r = 0.65, p < 0.05). The measurement of fatigue using Fitbit was effective (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION:Fitbit monitoring can measure the QoL of a patient and was useful for monitoring elderly patients with UC undergoing shGC therapy in an outpatient setting. Fitbit may be useful for monitoring outpatients and their QoL during chemotherapy.