Integrating Wearable Technologies into Preventive Healthcare: A Narrative Review of Emerging Clinical Applications

Abstract

Background: Wearable technologies can continuously capture physiological and behavioral data and are becoming more capable of being applied to preventive health care. They may enable the ability for risk factor modification, early detection, longitudinal risk stratification, and alerts for deterioration when integrated to clinical pathways. Methods: The methods used in this narrative review were to conduct a search of the literature to identify relevant clinical applications of wearables in preventive health and to summarize them. The following types of studies were taken into account: reviews and clinical trials, validation studies and cohort studies. Evidence was classified based on its preventive function and clinical effectiveness, validity of measurement, and requirements for implementation. Results: Wearable technologies were associated with increased physical activity and showed potential for scalable atrial fibrillation detection. Cuffless blood pressure, metabolic prevention, sleep monitoring and circadian rhythms, fall-risk, and infection monitoring also showed promising potential. However, the evidence was of limited quality due to the low accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of tests; limited durations of follow-up and limited implementation into clinical workflows. Increased clinical benefit was found when wearable derived data were validated and fed into professional decision making. Conclusions: Wearables can play a positive role in reinforcing preventative care, when used within a clinically driven care pathway. Outcome based trials, interoperability, health equity, data minimization and continued clinical engagement should be the focus of future studies.