How wearable sensors have been utilised to evaluate frailty in older adults: a systematic review.
Grainne Vavasour, Oonagh M Giggins, Julie Doyle and 1 others
PMID 34238323WHAT IT FOUND
Wearable sensors show promise for objectively identifying frailty in older adults, but current evidence is too varied to recommend a specific device or placement.
Physical activity and gait speed appear most useful, though definitions differ widely across studies.
Key findings
01The review included 29 studies using 13 different sensor brands placed on eight different body locations, creating significant heterogeneity that prevents meta-analysis.
02Physical activity measures were the most commonly examined parameters, with moderate-to-vigorous activity and step counts showing the most frequent association with frailty levels.
03Gait speed was the second most prevalent parameter and all included studies demonstrated a correlation between walking speed and frailty levels, though effect sizes varied considerably.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
High heterogeneity in sensor types, body locations, and data analysis methods prevented meta-analysis and specific device recommendations. Definitions of physical activity intensity (e.g., moderate vs. vigorous) varied widely across studies, making comparisons difficult. Only English-language publications were included, potentially missing relevant studies. Many included studies had small sample sizes or combined frail and pre-frail cohorts, reducing the ability to distinguish between these stages. The review only included observational studies; no studies tested whether wearable sensor data changed clinical outcomes or interventions.
Declared interests
The authors declare no competing interests. The research was supported by non-U.S. government funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a consumer wearable's step count or activity score can diagnose frailty. The review found that definitions of activity intensity and sensor placements vary so widely across studies that no single metric or device is validated for this purpose. A 'low' score on one device may not mean the same thing as on another, and none are proven to change patient outcomes.