Validity and Reliability of a Smart Band for Monitoring Cardiorespiratory Parameters in Children and Adolescents with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder frequently associated with respiratory and cardiac comorbidities, making the monitoring of heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) essential. This study examined the reliability and validity of Xiaomi Mi Band 6, compared with a clinical pulse oximeter, for measuring HR and SpO₂ in 35 children and adolescents with CP classified at GMFCS levels III-V. Mi Band 6 demonstrated good reliability for HR (ICC = 0.83), although the high measurement error (MDC₉₀ = 19.57 bpm) limits its usefulness for small physiological changes. SpO₂ results showed low reliability (ICC = 0.55) and substantial variability (MDC₉₀ = 18.85%), exceeding the clinically acceptable error margin of ±2-3%. Validity analyses revealed poor agreement between Mi Band 6 and clinical pulse oximeter for SpO₂, and moderate agreement for HR, with large variability in Bland-Altman analyses. Factors such involuntary movements, altered muscle tone, low body weight, and reflective sensors on the wrist may have affected the results. In conclusion, Xiaomi Mi Band 6 demonstrated good reliability and may be cautiously used for general HR monitoring, but it is not suitable for assessing SpO₂ in this pediatric population. Further research is needed to identify cost-effective and accurate wearable technologies.