title: Accelerometer-based devices can be used to monitor sedation/agitation in the intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monitoring sedation/agitation levels in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are important to direct treatment and to improve outcomes. This study was designed to determine the potential use of accelerometer-based sensors/devices to objectively measure sedation/agitation in patients admitted to the ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Accelerometer-based devices (actigraphs) were placed on nondominant wrists of 86 patients in the ICU after informed consent. The sedation/agitation levels were classified as deep sedation, light sedation, alert and calm, mild agitation and severe agitation, and measured at regular intervals. The sedation/agitation levels were correlated with the accelerometer data (downloaded raw actigraphy data).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sedation/agitation levels correlated strongly with the accelerometer readings represented by mean actigraphy counts (r = 0.968; P = .007) and the proportion of time spent moving as determined by actigraphy (r = 0.979; P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accelerometer data correlate strongly with the sedation/agitation levels of patients in the ICUs, and appropriately designed accelerometer-based sensors/devices have the potential to be used for automating objective and continuous monitoring of sedation/agitation levels in patients in the ICU.
authors: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: rishi.raj@northwestern.edu.
authors: Rishi
authors: R
authors: Raj
authors: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.
authors: Kamonpun
authors: K
authors: Ussavarungsi
authors: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Nugent
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D054810:Deep Sedation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Accelerometer; Actigraphy; Agitation; Intensive care unit; Monitoring; Sedation