Wearable Devices Show Potential in Enhancing Cardiovascular Outcomes

March 29, 2023 - New research shows that the use of wearable devices may help improve the physical activity levels of cardiovascular disease patients, but there was a limited correlation between their use and other facets of health.

Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 650,000 deaths in the US were linked to hypertension as a primary cause in 2020, the study noted.

Over the last few years, the use of wearable devices has grown prevalent. Amid their rapid expansion, the World Health Organization recommends research on the use of the devices and their relationship with modifiable risk factors such as physical activity.

Using data within five databases from ResearcherGate, Science.gov, ScienceDirect, and PubMed Medical Subject Headings database, researchers conducted a systematic review to determine how physical activity levels and other factors, such as waist circumference, obesity, glycated hemoglobin, and lipid levels, varied in relation to wearable device use.

Of 20 articles included in the study, four were systematic reviews and meta-analyses, nine were observational studies, one was a case report, and five were randomized controlled trials.

Following a review of the data, researchers found that improving physical activity, tracking changes in sleep, gathering data on various health indices, and easing access to health professionals are the most common uses of wearable devices.

Physical activity levels appeared to benefit significantly from device use. But researchers noted that it is possible that they are not the key player, suggesting that further interventions are needed to gain more insight.

Beyond this, various studies indicated inconsistencies in the effects of wearable device use on facets of health such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, and weight loss. There were, however, noted improvements in systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, weight loss, cholesterol, and diabetes control.

Also, the researchers noted that while devices are being developed to improve behavioral health components impacting cardiovascular health, such as sleep, diet, and smoking cessation, they remain underdeveloped and lack utility.

They further noted that despite these inconsistencies in utility, patients continue to seek options for wearable devices to achieve health improvements.

Thus, as of now, these wearable devices serve more as a motivational tool for increasing physical activity rather than primary tools for improving health, researchers stated. Further studies are required to determine their effects on cardiovascular health and whether they would be applicable within the primary care setting.

The use of wearable devices in treating and monitoring cardiovascular disease displays potential promise.

Research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology in March described how a wearable wrist-worn sensor could determine troponin-I levels and obstructed arteries.

The press release described that a heart attack is caused by a blockage within arteries that supply blood to the heart, leading to a lack of oxygen reaching the heart and body.

The wrist-worn sensor can detect the presence of a type of protein known as troponin-I in the blood, which is critical since this protein enters the bloodstream in the event of heart muscle damage. The sensor uses infrared light to locate this protein in the blood through the skin.