Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract BackgroundWearable devices are increasingly used for monitoring health and detecting digital biomarkers related to chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). Although circadian rhythm disturbances are known to contribute to MetS, few studies have explored wea...

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Main Authors: Jeong-Kyun Kim, Sujeong Mun, Siwoo Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-07-01
Series:JMIR Medical Informatics
Online Access:https://medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e69328
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author Jeong-Kyun Kim
Sujeong Mun
Siwoo Lee
author_facet Jeong-Kyun Kim
Sujeong Mun
Siwoo Lee
author_sort Jeong-Kyun Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundWearable devices are increasingly used for monitoring health and detecting digital biomarkers related to chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). Although circadian rhythm disturbances are known to contribute to MetS, few studies have explored wearable-derived circadian biomarkers for MetS identification. ObjectiveThis study aimed to detect and analyze sleep and circadian rhythm biomarkers associated with MetS using step count and heart rate data from wearable devices and to identify the key biomarkers using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). MethodsData were analyzed from 272 participants in the Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort, collected between 2020 and 2023, including 88 participants with MetS and 184 without any MetS diagnostic criteria. Participants wore Fitbit Versa or Inspire 2 devices for at least 5 weekdays, providing minute-level heart rate, step count, and sleep data. A total of 26 indicators were derived, including sleep markers (midsleep time and total sleep time) and circadian rhythm markers (midline estimating statistic of rhythm, amplitude, interdaily stability, and relative amplitude). In addition, a novel circadian rhythm marker, continuous wavelet circadian rhythm energy (CCE), was proposed using continuous wavelet transform of heart rate signals. Statistical tests (t ResultsCircadian rhythm markers, especially heart rate–based indicators, showed stronger associations with MetS than sleep markers. The newly proposed CCE demonstrated the highest importance for MetS identification across all XAI models, with significantly lower values observed in the MetS group (P ConclusionsThis study identified CCE and relative amplitude of heart rate as key circadian rhythm biomarkers for MetS monitoring, demonstrating their high importance across multiple XAI models. In contrast, traditional sleep markers showed limited significance, suggesting that circadian rhythm analysis may offer additional insights into MetS beyond sleep-related indicators. These findings highlight the potential of wearable-based circadian biomarkers for improving MetS assessment and management.
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spelling doaj-art-6fc2bc0ecdb248ae8d078dbc1d18a2f02025-08-20T03:55:59ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Medical Informatics2291-96942025-07-0113e69328e6932810.2196/69328Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional StudyJeong-Kyun Kimhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1822-1752Sujeong Munhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3573-8916Siwoo Leehttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2658-8175 Abstract BackgroundWearable devices are increasingly used for monitoring health and detecting digital biomarkers related to chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). Although circadian rhythm disturbances are known to contribute to MetS, few studies have explored wearable-derived circadian biomarkers for MetS identification. ObjectiveThis study aimed to detect and analyze sleep and circadian rhythm biomarkers associated with MetS using step count and heart rate data from wearable devices and to identify the key biomarkers using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). MethodsData were analyzed from 272 participants in the Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort, collected between 2020 and 2023, including 88 participants with MetS and 184 without any MetS diagnostic criteria. Participants wore Fitbit Versa or Inspire 2 devices for at least 5 weekdays, providing minute-level heart rate, step count, and sleep data. A total of 26 indicators were derived, including sleep markers (midsleep time and total sleep time) and circadian rhythm markers (midline estimating statistic of rhythm, amplitude, interdaily stability, and relative amplitude). In addition, a novel circadian rhythm marker, continuous wavelet circadian rhythm energy (CCE), was proposed using continuous wavelet transform of heart rate signals. Statistical tests (t ResultsCircadian rhythm markers, especially heart rate–based indicators, showed stronger associations with MetS than sleep markers. The newly proposed CCE demonstrated the highest importance for MetS identification across all XAI models, with significantly lower values observed in the MetS group (P ConclusionsThis study identified CCE and relative amplitude of heart rate as key circadian rhythm biomarkers for MetS monitoring, demonstrating their high importance across multiple XAI models. In contrast, traditional sleep markers showed limited significance, suggesting that circadian rhythm analysis may offer additional insights into MetS beyond sleep-related indicators. These findings highlight the potential of wearable-based circadian biomarkers for improving MetS assessment and management.https://medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e69328
spellingShingle Jeong-Kyun Kim
Sujeong Mun
Siwoo Lee
Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study
JMIR Medical Informatics
title Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Detection and Analysis of Circadian Biomarkers for Metabolic Syndrome Using Wearable Data: Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort detection and analysis of circadian biomarkers for metabolic syndrome using wearable data cross sectional study
url https://medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e69328
work_keys_str_mv AT jeongkyunkim detectionandanalysisofcircadianbiomarkersformetabolicsyndromeusingwearabledatacrosssectionalstudy
AT sujeongmun detectionandanalysisofcircadianbiomarkersformetabolicsyndromeusingwearabledatacrosssectionalstudy
AT siwoolee detectionandanalysisofcircadianbiomarkersformetabolicsyndromeusingwearabledatacrosssectionalstudy