Miniature hygrometric hot flash recorder

Objective: To design and test a miniature ambulatory hot flash recorder that uses neither electrodes nor gel. Design: In the first study, putative hot flashes recorded by using a relative humidity sensor were compared with patient event marks. In the second study, relative. humidity recorded by using a complete prototype recorder was compared with sternal skin conductance recordings made on a Biolog recorder, as well as with event marks. Setting: University medical center. Patient(s): Ten healthy postmenopausal women reporting frequent hot flashes and using no medication. Intervention(S): Body heating in laboratory. Main Outcome Measure(s): Positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, specificity. Result(s): In both laboratory studies, the PPV, sensitivity, and specificity among all three measures (relative humidity, skin conductance level, event) were 100%. In the field, a relative humidity increase of 3% per minute compared with skin conductance level-detected hot flashes yielded a PPV of 95.6%, a specificity of 95.2%, and a sensitivity of 90.9%. Conclusion(S): This device should be useful as an endpoint in clinical trials of treatments for hot flashes. (Fertil Steril((R)) 2007;88:494-6. (c) 2007 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).