title: Feasibility of actigraphy wristband monitoring of atopic dermatitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Actigraphy monitors are used to monitor sleep and scratching. Previous studies have implemented these monitors to evaluate behavior in adult patients with atopic dermatitis. However, such monitoring devices have been implemented in a paucity of studies involving pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of actigraphy monitoring in children with mild-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of six pediatric subjects were recruited. The severity of atopic dermatitis at the wrist area was assessed prior to placement of the wristband monitor. After wearing the wristbands for 7 days, subjects returned to clinic to undergo reassessment of the wrist area to determine if atopic dermatitis was exacerbated by the wrist-worn device. Data on sleep quality and how often patients wore the wristband monitors were also collected. No subjective data from the subjects or parents/caregivers were collected on tolerability of the monitors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the subjects exhibited exacerbation of atopic dermatitis at the wrist area after wearing the actigraphy monitors for 7 days. No adverse events were reported. Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis exhibited less total sleep time compared with children evaluated in previous actigraphy studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Actigraphy wristband monitoring can be used to continuously assess disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis.
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Gustafson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: O'Neill
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hix
authors: D T
authors: DT
authors: McLaren
authors: O M
authors: OM
authors: Buxton
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Feldman
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014953:Wrist / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: adolescents; itch; scratch; sleep