Wearable‐Based Monitoring of Autonomic and Gastrointestinal Function in Disorders of Gut‐Brain Interaction: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses

TL;DR

Wearable devices may help detect issues with the autonomic nervous system and gut function in gut-brain interaction disorders, especially through heart rate variability.

Contribution

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the clinical potential of wearables in monitoring autonomic and gastrointestinal function in disorders of gut-brain interaction.

Findings

Wearables show potential for detecting altered heart rate variability in disorders of gut-brain interaction compared to healthy controls.

No consistent differences were found in sleep or skin conductance metrics between DGBI patients and healthy controls.

Normal gastric slow waves were reduced in DGBI patients based on meta-analysis results.

Abstract

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is implicated in the pathogenesis of disorders of gut‐brain interaction (DGBI). Technological advances enable more accurate investigation of ANS function.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of wearable devices in monitoring autonomic and gastrointestinal (GI) function in DGBI.

A systematic search identified studies in adults with DGBI using wearables to assess heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, skin conductance, or gastric myoelectric activity as clinical readouts for ANS and GI function. The review provides an overview of available devices, while the meta‐analysis evaluates consistency in detecting differences between DGBI and healthy controls (HCs). Associations between autonomic function and GI symptom severity were explored. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and ROBINS‐I. Meta‐analyses used random‐effects models with standardized mean differences (SMDs).

Thirty‐six studies (3 RCTs, 33 observational) involving 3986 DGBI patients were included (HRV: n = 16, sleep: n = 7, gastric myoelectric activity: n = 14, skin conductance: n = 0). Meta‐analyses showed lower Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (SMD = −0.503, SE 0.189, 95% CI [−0.873, −0.132]) and percentage of successive RR intervals differing by > 50 ms (SMD = −0.430, SE 0.176, 95% CI [−0.775, −0.085]), reflecting HRV alterations in DGBI versus HCs. No consistent differences were found for other metrics, except normal gastric slow waves (SMD = −0.722, SE 0.216, 95% CI [−1.146, −0.298]). Heterogeneous ANS‐symptom associations precluded definitive conclusions.

Wearables show potential for detecting altered ANS and GI function in DGBI, particularly via HRV. Result variability highlights need for further research to confirm accuracy and clinical utility.

Wearable devices hold potential for detecting altered autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function in disorders of gut‐brain interaction, particularly via HRV.Further standardized research is needed to confirm the accuracy and clinical utility of wearable devices.

Wearable devices hold potential for detecting altered autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function in disorders of gut‐brain interaction, particularly via HRV.

Further standardized research is needed to confirm the accuracy and clinical utility of wearable devices.

Wearables show promise for identifying autonomic and GI dysfunction in disorders of gut–brain interaction, particularly via HRV, though further standardized studies are required to validate their clinical use.

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