Abstract P470: The Virtual Home Clinic: Feasibility and Challenges for Longitudinal Cohorts

Abstract

Longitudinal studies provide rich sources of data to explore early risk factors for future CV diseases. However, cohort participants often move away from their initial recruitment site. Our study assesses feasibility of mailing of devices to the home for collection of biometric data and user acceptability of this approach. Participants (N=308) from the Bogalusa Heart Study, National Growth & Health Study and the Princeton Lipid Research Study who were initially enrolled as children in the 1970s and 1980s were recruited to conduct on-line surveys. A subset (N=74) had biometric measurement devices sent to the home ( Table ) for anthropometrics, BP, HR, heart rhythm, resting metabolic rate, O 2 saturation, glucose, total cholesterol, physical activity, diet, sleep duration/quality, and arterial stiffness. Stool and saliva were also collected for microbiome, and DNA. Of the 74 agreeing to participate in the home study, 62 (84%) successfully completed at least some testing. Among those 62, 72% of participants on average (range: 23% for AimStrip total cholesterol to 97% for Oragene) completed all requested readings for a given device. The total cholesterol test had the highest proportion of missing requested readings (45%). Of the 46 of 62 (74%) participants who completed the user acceptability survey, 28% preferred an in-clinic visit, 46% preferred home, and 26% did not have a preference. More males (63% vs 42% females) preferred home assessment. There was little difference between Black and White participants. On a scale of 1 (hard to use, poor directions, took too long) to 5 (easy to use, easy to follow directions, took little time), most devices scored near 4.5. The cholesterol test elicited the most negative responses, and several devices scored lower on the impression of the time it took to complete the at-home test. This feasibility study demonstrates that home biometric assessment is feasible and acceptable as we continue to follow our participants who have provided invaluable contributions to science for the last 40 years.