The emerging role of wearables in cardiac care

• Published in: University of Toronto medical journal (1982) Vol. 100; no. 2; pp. 22 - 26
• Main Authors: Sigfstead, Sophie, Cheung, Christopher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 31.07.2023
• ISSN: 0833-2207; 1913-5440
• DOI: 10.33137/utmj.v100i2.41461

In recent years the consumer wearable technology market has experienced remarkable growth, offering consumers an increasing variety of health-related metrics, which include heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) data. This development has prompted significant investigation into the role of these devices in cardiac care, revealing numerous advantages and possibilities for innovation. Specifically, wearables have demonstrated value in diagnosing cardiac conditions, assisting with personalized disease management, improving health outcomes, and providing continual monitoring. Current limitations are related to issues such as inaccessibility and device inaccuracy, both of which are significant concerns, due to their impacts on patient well-being and appropriate health resource utilization. Despite these issues, wearables remain an incredibly promising frontier in cardiac care, capable of driving innovation in multiple aspects of cardiovascular practice. This article aims to provide an overview of the current technology available, its demonstrated benefits and limitations, and its future advancement opportunities.