Improving Sleep for Older Adults in the Emergency Department
Run by University Health Network, Toronto · NCT07928141 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether wearing a Fitbit overnight can help understand and improve sleep for adults 70 and older in the emergency department who are likely to be admitted.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 70 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 78 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Health Network, Toronto Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Toronto, Ontario and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | November 10, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07928141 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 70 years or older who are in or awaiting admission to the ED at Toronto General or Toronto Western Hospital and are likely to be admitted to General Internal Medicine.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not consent, cannot wear the device safely, or have conditions making wearable monitoring inappropriate may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational quality improvement project tracks sleep, heart rate, and activity data from Fitbit Sense 2 wearables in adults aged 70+ staying overnight in the ED and admitted or likely to be admitted to Medicine. Researchers collect sleep metrics alongside clinical and environmental factors from charts and patient questionnaires to identify patterns that disrupt sleep, such as ED location, overnight vitals, lab results, imaging, medications, and delirium documentation. The first phase focuses on baseline measurements over about 24 hours to inform future interventions aimed at improving overnight comfort and physiologic stability. Data collection includes consented participation, wearable data, and Epic chart review to explore associations between sleep quality and clinical factors. The study is conducted at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital under the University Health Network.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could identify modifiable factors that improve overnight sleep and reduce delirium risk for elderly ED patients.
How similar studies have gone: This is a quality improvement observational effort with wearable sleep data; prior similar approaches have yielded actionable sleep-pattern insights in acute care settings, but findings from this exact setup are not yet established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 70 years or older. * Patient is in the Emergency Department at Toronto General Hospital or Toronto Western Hospital. * Patient is admitted, or likely to be admitted, to the General Internal Medicine service. * Patient is expected to remain in the Emergency Department overnight. * Patient is able and willing to wear a wrist-worn wearable monitoring device for approximately 24 hours. * Patient provides consent to participate in the quality improvement project. Exclusion Criteria: * Patient declines or is unable to provide consent. * Patient is unable to wear the wearable device safely or comfortably. * Patient has a clinical condition or care requirement that makes wearable monitoring inappropriate, as determined by the clinical or project team. * Patient is expected to leave the Emergency Department before overnight monitoring can occur.
Where it's running
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Toronto General Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Canada Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.