Sleep Tracking: a Systematic Review of the Research Using Commercially Available Technology

Abstract

Purpose of Review: To systematically review the available research studies that characterize the benefits, uncertainty, or weaknesses of commercially available sleep-tracking technology. Recent Findings: Sleep is a vital component of health and well-being. Research shows that tracking sleep using commercially available sleep-tracking technology (e.g., wearable or smartphone-based) is increasingly popular in the general population. Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase (Ovid) the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL, and Web of Science Plus (which included results from BIOSIS Citation Index, InSpec, and Food, Science and Technology Abstracts) (n = 842). Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Three independent reviewers reviewed eligible articles that administered a commercially available sleep tracker to participants and reported on sleep parameters as captured by the tracker, including either sleep duration or quality. Eligible articles had to include sleep data from users for > = 4 nights. Summary: Seven articles met criteria for review. A wearable sleep tracker (e.g., wrist-based) was utilized to track sleep in five of the seven studies, a smartphone-based sleep tracker app was used to record sleep in two of the seven studies. Studies in this review may be characterized in several broad categories, including studies that examined: (1) sleep before and after a clinical procedure (e.g., surgery) (two studies); (2) sleep and a health-related outcome (e.g., asthma symptoms (two studies); (3) the relationship between sleep tracker data and self-reported sleep (one study); and (4) sleep tracker data before and after major political events (one study). Among the studies examining sleep tracker data and health-related outcomes, sleep tracker data was associated with health outcomes, including asthma symptoms, blood pressure, and mood.