Heyrex Remote Biometric Monitoring of dogs participating in the clinical trial of a nutraceutical for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. (New Zealand, 2012)
Under the terms of its agreement with the institution that undertook the following study, we are not permitted to provide client names. The client may decide to publish their clinical trial results at their own option. We are able to outline the following information pertaining to the process undertaken and the benefits of the use of the Heyrex service.
Abstract
The Heyrex Remote Biometric Monitoring System was developed to monitor long and short term health and wellbeing of canines by detecting changes in activity, scratching and resting behaviours. During a double blind, placebo controlled trial of a nutraceutical for the treatment of osetoarthritis 32 dogs were monitored with Heyrex to track changes in their activity in response to the supplement and to provide the opportunity to compare Heyrex monitoring with traditional methods. A detailed review of the data for seven of these dogs revealed that the results of the Heyrex monitoring were consistent with the findings from both owner observation and veterinary assessment in all bar two instances.
Introduction
Heyrex is a device allowing the remote monitoring of canine patients. Biosensors contained in a unit worn by the patient detect changes in activity and behaviour patterns and relay this information to the internet via a wireless receiving station. Since the device is worn at all times it provides constant feedback on the dog's activities. Being a remote monitor Heyrex allows for observations from a distance and without the presence of an observer influencing the patient's behaviour. As an automated system Heyrex provides reports that are not subject to bias or subjectivity. Therefore Heyrex can provide reliable, objective and quantifiable data that can be used to measure true response during a clinical trial.
Methodology
46 dogs participated in a double blind, placebo controlled trial of Artemisinin, a human dietary supplement for the alleviation of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of using Artemisinin in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis.
Of these 46 dogs, 32 were fitted with Heyrex Biometric Monitors to provide constant, reliable and objective records of their activity and mobility to accompany the assessments made their owners and veterinarians.
The monitors were attached to the dogs' regular collars, ventral to the mandible and were worn at all times. Collected data was transmitted to receivers wirelessly and then made available for viewing online.* Results could then be compared to owner and veterinary observations made based on a modified version of the Glasgow Pain Scale (see appendicies). Results for seven dogs are reviewed in detail here.
* Online access to Heyrex graphs was granted only to the research coordinator, not owners or veterinary assessors so as not to influence their own observations and reporting.
Participating dogs
All the dogs reviewed here received the supplement as opposed to the placebo.
Results
Dog Nine
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Results
Total activity increased by 15% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Results
Not available
Owner Observation Results
Improvement = 7.7%
(calculated by measuring progress from baseline average (first two weeks of trial) to average over remainder of trial).
Dog Eleven
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Results
Total activity increased by 47% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Results
Improvement = 14%
(calculated by measuring progress from pre average to post trial average)
Owner Obervation Results
Improvement = 86%
(calculated by measuring progress from baseline average (first two weeks of trial) to average over remainder of trial)
Dog Sixteen
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Results
Total activity increased by 23% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Results
Improvement = 19%
(calculated by measuring progress from pre average to post trial average)
Owner Observation Results
Improvement = -7.6%
(calculated by measuring progress from baseline average (first two weeks of trial) to average over remainder of trial)
Dog Seventeen
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Result
Total activity increased by 44% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Results
Improvement = 19%
(calculated by measuring progress from pre average to post trial average)
Owner Observation Results
Improvement = 38.5%
(calculated by measuring progress from baseline average (first two weeks of trial) to average over remainder of trial
Dog Twenty Two
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Results
Total activity increased by 22% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Results
Improvement = 17%
(calculated by measuring progress from pre average to post trial average)
Owner Observation Results
Not available
Dog Twenty Six
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Results
Total activity increased by 23% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Results
Improvement = - 12.5%
(calculated by measuring progress from pre average to post trial average)
Owner Observation Results
Improvement = 3.8%
(calculated by measuring progress from baseline average (first two weeks of trial) to average over remainder of trial)
Dog Thirty One
Heyrex Biometric Monitor Results
Total activity increased by 74% over a 59 day period.
Veterinary Assessment Result
Improvement = 20%
(calculated by measuring progress from pre average to post trial average)
Owner Observation Results
Improvement = 88%
(calculated by measuring progress from baseline average (first two weeks of trial) to average over remainder of trial)
Discussion
In all but two instances the results shown by the Heyrex Biometric Monitors correlated with the owner and veterinary observations (see table below). Reasons posited for the discrepancies are as follows:
In case of owner reporting discrepancies
Owners can be unreliable, inconsistent and subject to bias when observing and reporting on their dog's behaviour. This makes them unreliable observers and while their opinions are valuable they should, where possible, be measured against an objective standard. Taking this in to account it is perhaps unsurprising that there is an instance during this review where owner reporting does not correlate with Heyrex and veterinary assessment.
In case of veterinary reporting discrepancies
Veterinary assessment is restricted to occasions on which the veterinarian can examine the patient. As such, and as was the case in this trial, whereby dogs were examined only twice in a ten week period, once prior to the commencement of the trial and once at its conclusion, veterinary assessment provides a 'snap shot' of a patient's health and wellbeing at the time of the examination.
The limitations of this are that, on the day on which a patient is presented for examination its health status may not be representative of its overall wellbeing. In the instance where veterinary assessment did not correlate with Heyrex and owner reporting it is plausible that the dog in question was uncharacteristically 'well' on the day of presentation prior to the commencement of the trial and / or uncharacteristically 'unwell' on the day of examination after the trial had been concluded.
Taking this in to account it is again unsurprising that there is an instance where there is a difference between the veterinary assessment and the constant recording of Heyrex and owner observations. This theory gains substance from the fact that the dog in question exhibits a 'spiky' activity profile.
Table comparing Heyrex, veterinary and owner reporting across participating dogs.
Conclusions and recommendations
The results from this trial demonstrate Heyrex's usefulness in providing constant, reliable, objective monitoring that is not subject to the limitations of owner observation and veterinary assessment reporting techniques. As such its use is recommended for use in research projects where the long term recording of canine activity and behaviour are required.
Appendices
Modified Glasgow Pain Scale used during veterinary assessment
0 = Very bad, 4 = Very good
Modified Glasgow Pain Scale used during owner observations
0 = Very bad, 4 = Very good