The Guide for Wearables in Healthcare Industry

Healthcare wearables are changing the face of medicine by giving real-time insights into patient health and remote monitoring. These small, sensor-packed healthcare devices are worn on the wrist, chest, or even in clothing, and they track vital signs like heart rate, sleep patterns, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation.

According to a Deloitte report, the global market for wearables in healthcare is expected to reach $60 billion by 2025, driven by the growing demand for remote patient individual monitoring and personalized care. 

Nearly in the US, consumers who now own a wearable health device are expected to spend up to USD 84.2 billion in 2024 and are anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 13.6% from 2025 to 2030. This will easily grow beyond billions by 2028 for sure.

Digital transformation in healthcare and fitness trackers empowers patients. It gives them control over their wellness, encouraging lifestyle changes and proactive care. From chronic disease management to early diagnostics and post-op monitoring, these tools are changing the way care is delivered, and they bridge the gap between clinical environments and daily activities of life.

Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/

What Are Healthcare Wearables?

Healthcare smart wearables are sensor-enabled wearable devices. They continuously monitor health and physiological parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels (SpO2), sleep patterns, and blood glucose levels. They gather data, analyze it, and give access to data in real-time. This supports individual wellness goals. It also has an impact on clinical decision-making too.

Broadly, wearable health devices come under two categories,

Consumer Fitness Wearables

Devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Samsung Galaxy Watch fall under this category. They focus on general health and wellness tracking/counting steps, monitoring sleep quality, and basic heart rate monitoring. According to a 2023 report by Insider Intelligence, more than 1 in 5 US older adults are using fitness wearables. What more can reflect the public’s growing interest in self-tracking and preventive health?

Clinical-Grade Wearables

These are devices designed for medical-grade diagnostics, chronic disease management, and post-acute monitoring. Examples are the Dexcom G6, a wearable to monitor individuals with diabetes, or the Zio XT Patch,  a wearable electronic device like an ECG device for detecting cardiac arrhythmias.

The wearable healthcare landscape is changing fast. As of 2024, a MarketsandMarkets study estimates the clinical-grade wearable segment is growing at over 21% CAGR, driven by the growing demand for remote patient monitoring post-pandemic. 

These devices are a key tool in telemedicine. They allow clinicians to collect long-term health data without patients having to be in a hospital setting. From simple fitness trackers to AI-integrated diagnostic tools, healthcare wearables are smoothly combining consumer electronics and regulated medical devices. They are the intersection of lifestyle, health technology, and clinical care. With a scalable solution for personalized health management.

Source: https://www.scnsoft.com/

AI Wearables in Healthcare

AI wearables are accurate in identifying patterns and anomalies. For example, ECG-based AI algorithms in  Apple Watch Series 8 and even in  Withings ScanWatch can detect irregular heart rhythms. These could be rhythms like AFib and ventricular tachycardia. Unlike traditional wearables that just collect raw personal data, AI-enabled devices are unique. They process, interpret, and act on the data to give insights that can prevent critical health events, manage chronic diseases, and improve overall well-being.

According to Accenture, AI in healthcare, including wearables, virtual nursing assistants, and administrative workflow automation, will generate up to $150 billion in annual savings for the US healthcare economy by 2026.

Predictive and Early Detection

AI wearables are great at identifying patterns and anomalies in real-time. For example:

• ECG-based AI algorithms in devices like Apple Watch Series 8 can detect irregular heart rhythms like AFib and ventricular tachycardia even before symptoms show up. These alerts empower users to get medical attention early and potentially avoid strokes or cardiac arrests.
  
• AI-powered fall detection in wearables like FallCall Detect smartwatch uses a combination of motion sensors and AI to accurately detect falls in elderly users, send automatic alerts to emergency contacts or caregivers.
  

Personalization at Scale

One of the best factors about AI wearables is their ability to deliver hyper-personalization. They learn this from a user’s historical data, these devices,

• Set a personal health baseline.
  
• Adapt recommendations on exercise intensity, diet, medication timing, and sleep cycles based on individual biometrics and lifestyle patterns.
  
• Give dynamic insights like suggesting reduced physical activity during periods of high stress or recommending hydration and rest based on body temperature fluctuations.
  

Clinical Integration and Patient Engagement

Many AI-enabled wearables are now being integrated into clinical workflows. This lets physicians access real-time patient data through cloud-based dashboards or electronic health records (EHRs). This improves continuity of care and supports data-driven treatment decisions. And patients are more engaged with their health. 80% of users felt more in control of their health when using an AI-enabled wearable, that too when they got real-time insights.

IoT Wearables in Healthcare

IoT wearables in healthcare are changing the way care is delivered by enabling continuous, real-time communication between patients, medical devices, and healthcare systems. These smart devices – from wristbands to biosensors – use the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a network of data flow that supports proactive care, early diagnosis, and remote treatment.

By 2028, the global IoT healthcare market is expected to reach $289 billion, according to MarketsandMarkets, with a big chunk driven by wearables that bridge the gap between home-based care and clinical expertise.

IoT wearables track health parameters like heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, temperature, glucose levels, and sleep cycles. But apart from being keen to collect data, these devices automatically send information to cloud platforms or hospital databases, making patient monitoring efficient, especially in large-scale or resource-constrained environments.

For example, the BioIntelliSense BioSticker is a disposable, FDA-cleared wearable that monitors over 20 physiological and symptomatic parameters. It makes it easy for clinicians to track post-surgery recovery, COVID-19 symptoms, or chronic disease progression from afar. Obviously, reducing the need for follow-up hospital visits.

Source: https://sam-solutions.com/

In elder care and chronic disease management, IoT-enabled smartwatches or patches are super valuable. Devices like the Omron HeartGuide are combined with blood pressure monitoring with fitness tracking, syncing data with caregiver apps. If the device senses a spike in blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat, it sends real-time alerts to family members or doctors. This way, quick action can be taken immediately.

Another big advantage of IoT is real-time synchronization with Electronic Health Records (EHRs). When a patient uses a wearable to measure their vitals, the readings are reflected in their medical records. Now this allows doctors to track changes over time. Healthcare providers also make data-driven decisions during virtual consultations or in-clinic visits.

And these wearables are changing hospital operations. By deploying IoT into the clinical workflow, hospitals can track patient vitals without frequent manual checks, freeing up healthcare workers for more critical tasks

IoT wearables are also contributing to population health management. By aggregating data from multiple users, healthcare organizations can identify disease trends. They can forecast outbreaks and optimize public health strategies. But that’s only possible if interoperability, data security, and standardization are in place so devices from different vendors can talk to each other and share patient data across platforms.

Digital Wearables & Remote Monitoring

Digital wearables in healthcare are no longer just step counters and fitness bands – they’re sophisticated health monitoring tools that are changing how we track and manage health in real time. These devices, worn on the body or embedded in accessories, give us continuous insight into our physiological state, remote care, early detection of medical issues, and personalized treatment plans.

Smartwatches are Mini Health Hubs on Your Wrist

Modern smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 9, Fitbit Sense 2, and Samsung Galaxy Watch are health hubs. With built-in biosensors and advanced software, they offer:

• ECG readings, detecting irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation.
  
• Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring is, of the key health metrics for respiratory health.
  
• Heart rate variability (HRV) tracking for stress and sleep assessment.
  
• Fall detection and emergency SOS alerts, especially for elderly users.
  

In many cases, smartwatches are early diagnostic tools. Apple’s ECG feature, for instance, has FDA clearance and has helped thousands of users detect heart conditions early and get medical attention.

Source: https://www.nejm.org/

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

For diabetics, CGMs are a game-changer. Devices like the Dexcom G7, FreeStyle Libre 2 and Eversense E3 offer:

• Real-time glucose level tracking, with data updated every few minutes.
  
• Smartphone connectivity, so you can see trends and get alerts for high or low blood sugar.
  
• Cloud-based sharing, so caregivers and healthcare providers can see live readings.
  

These wearables reduce the need for fingerstick testing, making it more convenient and patient compliant while giving more accurate and consistent glucose data to inform treatment decisions.

ECG Trackers and Patches

Wearable ECG trackers like the Zio Patch by iRhythm and Withings ScanWatch allow continuous cardiac monitoring outside of a hospital environment. These devices are for patients at risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, or post-surgical complications.

• Zio Patch: Devices that are worn on the chest for up to 14 days. It collects detailed cardiac rhythm data, which is later analyzed using AI to detect abnormalities.
  
• Withings ScanWatch: On-demand ECG, SpO2, and sleep apnea detection in wristwatch.

Non-invasive and user-friendly, this reduces the need for in-clinic visits and captures data over longer periods, improving diagnosis for conditions like atrial fibrillation or bradycardia.

Whether it’s a smartwatch detecting early signs of heart disease, a CGM for diabetes, or an ECG patch for a post-operative cardiac patient, these are changing healthcare for the better.

Benefits of Healthcare Wearables

Healthcare wearables offer convenience, accuracy, and control for individual health services and systemic health outcomes. So, when it comes to the benefits of wearables, these smart devices provide continuous monitoring, timely alerts, and data-driven insights to turn reactive care into proactive health management.

1. Early Detection and Prevention

By monitoring vital signs like heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood glucose levels, healthcare wearables can catch health issues early. For example, smartwatches with ECG can detect arrhythmias before they become serious cardiac events. This real-time monitoring often leads to earlier interventions and fewer hospitalizations and medical emergencies.

2. Patient Engagement

Patients have more control over their health. Instead of scheduling in-person appointments for check-ups, users can track their vitals at home, get automated alerts, and share data with providers digitally. This convenience means better treatment adherence, especially for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

3. Chronic Disease Management

Wearables like CGMs and blood pressure trackers are the key to chronic disease management. Real-time data allows doctors to adjust meds, diets, and routines for more personalized care.

4. Cost Savings and Resource Optimization

For providers and systems, wearables reduce hospital and clinic burden. Fewer in-person visits, lower readmission rates, and early diagnosis and treatment mean less operational costs. In rural or underserved areas, wearables bridge the gap, bringing quality care to patients who otherwise face logistical barriers.

5. Empowered Patients

With visualizations and actionable insights, patients become active participants in their health journey. This empowerment makes users feel accountable for adopting healthier habits and communicating better with providers.

Source: https://www.narolainfotech.com/

Challenges & Concerns with Healthcare Wearables

Despite the amazing benefits, healthcare wearables also have big problems that need to be addressed for wider adoption and long-term use.

1. Data Privacy and Security

Wearables collect super sensitive health data – heart rhythms, glucose levels, sleep patterns, etc. If this data is not secured properly, it can be hacked or misused. Compliance with global data privacy laws like HIPAA (USA) or GDPR (EU) is crucial, especially as data moves between devices, cloud platforms, and hospital systems.

2. Accuracy and Clinical Reliability

Many consumer-grade wearables are not FDA-approved or clinically validated. This can lead to false positives, missed diagnoses, or over-reliance on inaccurate readings. For example, a smartwatch might misdiagnose atrial fibrillation or not detect it at all, leading to either panic or complacency.

3. Battery Life and Device Limitations

A common pain point for users is the short battery life of wearables, especially those that offer continuous monitoring. If a device dies frequently or needs daily charging, it interrupts the data flow, potentially missing important health indicators. Wearables can also have durability issues, especially in harsh environments or long-term use.

4. System Integration Challenges

Seamlessly integrating wearable data into Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is still a work in progress. Different devices use proprietary data formats and lack standard communication protocols, making it hard for healthcare systems to interpret and act on incoming data in real time. This fragmentation can limit the clinical utility of wearables, despite the data richness.

5. Health Inequality and Accessibility

There’s also a digital divide – not all patients can afford or use wearables effectively. Elderly users, low-income communities, or individuals with low tech literacy may not be able to use or trust these devices, which can inadvertently widen health disparities.

Source: https://www.tdk.com/

Future of Digital Health Tracking

The future of digital health tracking is looking amazing with AI, IoT, biosensors, and next-gen wearables. What started as simple step counters and heart rate monitors is now becoming a dynamic ecosystem of predictive, personalized, and proactive health solutions.

Wearables will move beyond the wrist and become embedded in everyday items like smart clothing. These garments with flexible wearable sensors will be able to track posture, respiratory rate, muscle movement, and even hydration levels. This could revolutionize physical therapy, rehabilitation, and sports medicine with real-time biomechanical feedback and reduce injury risk.

Meanwhile, predictive care will reach new heights. With more advanced machine learning, wearables will not only monitor vitals but also detect subtle changes in user behavior or physiology – long before symptoms appear. This will be huge for managing chronic conditions like COPD, heart disease, or diabetes, where early warning signs go unnoticed.

Virtual health assistants will also grow in importance. These AI-powered companions built into wearables will offer context-aware guidance—remind you to take meds, suggest breathing exercises during stressful moments, or encourage hydration based on activity and temperature.

In mental health, these assistants will provide real-time emotional support, detect early signs of depression or anxiety, and connect you to telehealth professionals when needed.

Plus, the convergence of AI and IoT with wearables will create a hyper-connected healthcare environment. Devices will not just collect and analyze data but also talk to another smart health systems like home health devices, fitness apps, or EHR platforms to give a 360-degree view of patient health. 

For example, a wearable will detect poor sleep, sync with a smart home system to adjust lighting and temperature, and alert a doctor if the pattern continues.

As these wearable technologies evolve, data security and ethics will become even more important. The future will demand robust frameworks to ensure that, as digital health tracking gets more precise and personalized, it also remains private and fair.

In the end, the next generation of digital health trackers will go beyond passive monitoring to become active health partners, empowering you to take control of your health like never before.

Conclusion

Healthcare wearables are bringing patient empowerment and connected care to the fore. With AI, IoT, and digital health trackers working together, these devices go beyond data collection to real-time monitoring, predictive care, and individualised treatment, all outside of clinical settings. As demand grows, technology companies are racing to create smarter, more intuitive solutions that change how healthcare is delivered and experienced.

If you’re looking to innovate in this space, then opt for leading technology companies. Appkodes has the digital tools and expertise to help you launch wearable integrated healthcare apps that are scalable, secure, and user-centric. Whether you’re building for chronic care, remote diagnostics, or wellness tracking, Appkodes can help bring your digital health vision to life faster and with more impact.

Devices are being developed and distributed under open models under a Creative Commons Attribution License. This license permits unrestricted adaptation and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors are credited

If you’re exploring opportunities in the digital health space or want to understand how to integrate wearables into your healthcare ecosystem, we’re here to help. Schedule a conversation with our CTO to gain expert insights and move your vision forward with confidence.

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