The Role of Wearable Devices in Promoting Health and Wellness

"We are scraping the tip of the iceberg in terms of generating, collecting, and utilizing personalized healthcare data. Wearables have the potential to revolutionize evidence-based diagnosis and prevention of adverse health-related episodes, helping create healthier communities. " - Khurram Bugvi, Director Solutions Engineering

The global market for wearable medical and healthcare devices has witnessed a boom in the years following worldwide industrialization, with units rising from 320 million in 2022 to a projected number of 440 million in 2024.?

Revolutionizing healthcare by providing ease for patients, caregivers, and hospital staff, wearable devices pose a myriad of benefits and come in many types. In today’s edition of VenD Pulse, we explore the development, advancements, benefits, and trends associated with smart healthcare devices.

What are Wearable Devices in Healthcare?

Smart healthcare/medical devices, also called wearable devices, are designed in such a manner that they are worn on the human body, embedded into the body’s clothing, or implanted in the human body. Materials that go into their development generally include plastics, polymers, silicones, metals, electronics, batteries, biocompatible materials, and adhesives. The primary function of these devices is to detect and track bodily changes, collect data, monitor health conditions, and provide real-time updates.?

The history of wearable medical devices can be traced back to ancient times when people used tools such as pedometers, eyeglasses, and hearing aids to improve their physical functions. The concept of modern wearable technology can be traced back to 1956 when biosensors were used to detect blood-oxygen levels through electrodes. These biosensors are the first wearable technology in healthcare and were designed to assist in operating rooms during cardiovascular procedures.

A prominent advancement in healthcare IT, wearable medical devices are over time, becoming more sophisticated and diverse, incorporating sensors, wireless communication, and data analysis.

Top Examples of Wearable Medical Technologies

The top ten examples of wearable healthcare technologies include the following.

1. Fitness Trackers: use sensors like accelerometers, heart rate monitors, and gyroscopes to monitor physical activity, such as steps taken, distance traveled, heart rate, sleep patterns, and calories burned.
2. Smartwatches: a popular mobile accessory as well nowadays, smartwatches offer a plethora of options from heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, sleep tracking, and ECG (electrocardiogram) recording to integration with fitness and healthcare apps too.
3. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): used to check blood glucose levels, mostly by diabetics. Their usage involves placing a small sensor under the skin that measures the glucose levels and sends the data to a paired device, like an insulin pump or smartphone.
4. Wearable ECG Monitors: record the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time for detecting cardiac abnormalities and irregular heart rhythms. Used by individuals with heart conditions.
5. Wearable Blood Pressure Monitors: individuals with hypertension and irregular cardiovascular health use these devices to measure blood pressure continuously.
6. Wearable Respiratory Monitors: smart inhalers or respiratory rate monitors are used by individuals with respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma to manage their symptoms and medications better.?
7. Posture Correctors: used for maintaining proper posture. They are growing popular in today’s era, where most jobs require sitting at desks for long periods. Posture correctors provide reminders and feedback when the person is slouching or sitting incorrectly.
8. Remote Patient Monitoring Systems: comprehensive systems used to remotely monitor the patient's vital signs, activities, and health conditions. These systems incorporate multiple wearable devices and sensors and enable healthcare professionals to monitor patients and track their progress with ease remotely.
9. Hearing Aids: small electronic devices that make sounds louder for people with hearing loss. Worn in or behind the ears and help enhance everyday communication. Modern hearing aids come with features like wireless smartphone connectivity, noise cancellation, and customizable sound settings.
10. Smart Clothing: garments embedded with sensors to track health metrics such as body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, and body movement. Useful for remote patient monitoring and sports performance tracking.
11. Wearable/Smart Implants: a relatively new technology, wearable/smart implants are electronic devices implanted in the human body that can be worn like a piece of clothing or an accessory. They are designed to monitor and track various health metrics, provide targeted drug delivery, and enhance sensory capabilities. A rising example of this is Neuralink, which has also received approval from the FDA for clinical trials.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wearable Devices in Healthcare

Now that we have explored the history and popular types of wearable devices in healthcare, we can discuss the benefits and drawbacks they come with.

Pros?of Wearable Devices in Healthcare

Wearable devices in healthcare pose several benefits, such as:

1. Remote Monitoring: allowing healthcare providers to track patients' health metrics in real-time from a distance. This is particularly beneficial for managing chronic conditions and providing timely interventions.
2. Early Detection and Prevention: Continuous monitoring of vital signs and health data can facilitate early detection of health issues, enabling prompt medical attention and preventive measures.
3. Improved Patient Engagement: Providing patients with easy access to their health data and insights, wearable devices encourage patients to take an active role in their health management.
4. Enhanced Data Collection: Generating data to help improve research and healthcare practices, leading to tailored healthcare interventions too.
5. Accessibility and Convenience: since they are portable and easy to use, wearable devices prove convenient for individuals to track their health on the go.

Cons of Wearable Devices in Healthcare

While wearable medical devices offer many benefits, they come with their own set of challenges too. These cons include:

1. Data Accuracy and Reliability: some wearable devices may not always provide accurate and reliable data, leading to potential misinterpretations and incorrect medical decisions.
2. Privacy and Security Concerns: since wearable devices collect sensitive health data, there are rising concerns about data privacy and security, such as unauthorized access or hacking.
3. Cost: it is undeniable that medical wearable devices are expensive, especially the high-quality and latest ones, hence limiting access to underprivileged patients.
4. Complex User Interfaces and Usability: the elderly or those with limited technological exposure may have difficulty understanding the user interfaces and features of wearable medical devices.?
5. Overdiagnosis and Over-treatment: with continuous monitoring, there can be unnecessary medical treatments resulting from minor fluctuations in the patient’s vitals.?
6. Regulatory Challenges: the rapidly evolving nature of wearable technology can sometimes outpace regulatory guidelines, leading to uncertainties about safety, accuracy, and data usage.

The Future of Wearable Technology in Healthcare - Trends & Predictions

With the potential to revolutionize healthcare with data and emerging technologies, wearable devices will continue to empower healthcare professionals to impart better medical care. One of the key emerging technologies is the integration of wearable devices with artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI and ML) platforms to provide personalized healthcare solutions. Another prediction is the development of more advanced wearable devices that can monitor physical and mental health.?

As far as the costs are concerned, it is expected that wearable technologies will reduce hospital costs by up to 16% by the year 2027 and save up to $200 billion by 2037 with the help of remote patient monitoring devices. These statistics and predictions stand as a testament to the rising industry of wearable healthcare technology and how healthcare facilities worldwide must reap the benefits of this technology by investing in them or increasing their focus.