Abstract Introduction Fitness-based wearables and other emerging sensor technologies have the potential to track sleep across large populations longitudinally in at-home environments. To understand how these devices can inform research studies, limitations of available trackers need to be compared to traditional polysomnography (PSG). Here we assessed discrepancies in sleep staging in activity trackers vs. PSG in subjects with various sleep disorders. Methods Twelve subjects (age 41-78, 7f, 5m) wore a Fitbit Charge 3 while undergoing a scheduled sleep study. Six subjects had been previously diagnosed with a sleep disorder (5 OSA, 1 CSA). 4 subjects used CPAP throughout the night, 2 had a split night (CPAP 2nd half of the night), and 6 had a PSG only. Activity tracker staging was compared to 2 RPSGTs staging. Results Of the 12 subjects, eight subjects’ sleep was detected in the activity tracker, and compared across sleep stages to the PSG (7 female, 1 male, ages 41-78, AHI 0.3-87, RDI 0.5-94.4, sleep efficiency 74%+/-18, 4 PSG, 1 split, 3 CPAP). The activity tracker matched either tech 52% (+/- 13). The average difference in score tech and activity tracker staging for sleep onset (SO) was 16 +/- 15 minutes and wake after sleep onset was 43.5 +/- 44 minutes. Sensitivity, specificity, and balanced accuracy were found for each sleep stage. Respectively, Wake: 0.45+/-0.27, 0.97+/-0.03, 0.71+/-0.12, REM: 0.41+/-0.30, 0.90+/-0.06, 0.60+/-0.28, Light: 0.71+/-0.09, 0.58+/-0.19, 0.65+/-0.10, Deep: 0.63+/-0.52, 0.88+/-0.05, 0.59+/-0.49. Conclusion From this study of 12 subjects seen at a sleep clinic for suspected sleep disorders, activity trackers performed best in wake, REM and deep sleep specificity (>=88%), while they lacked sensitivity to REM and wake (<=45%) stages. The tracker did not detect sleep in 4 subjects who had elevated AHI or low sleep efficiency. Further analysis can identify whether discrepancies between the Fitbit and PSG can be predicted by distinct patterns in sleep staging and/or identify subject exclusion criteria for activity tracking studies. Support This project in on-going with the support of Academy Diagnostics Sleep and EEG Center and staff.
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