Can your smartwatch help detect heart conditions, stress levels and sleep patterns?
In today’s tech-driven world, wearable devices are emerging as transformative tools in healthcare. From tracking steps and heart rates to monitoring sleep patterns and stress levels, wearables hold the promise of early detection and improved health management. Some doctors are excited about catching health problems early using these devices, but this potential comes with challenges that must be addressed to fully integrate these tools into the healthcare ecosystem.
In conversation with indianexpress.com, experts weigh in on both the promise and limitations of this rapidly evolving technology.
The promise and limitations of cardiac monitoring
Wearable ECG (electrocardiogram) and PPG (photoplethysmography) technologies have made significant strides in cardiac monitoring, but their capabilities come with important caveats. “Wearable ECGs often provide single-lead readings, unlike the ECGs used in clinical settings, which limits their diagnostic accuracy,” Dr C M Nagesh, senior consultant cardiologist, told indianexpress.com. He pointed out that while wearables can effectively detect conditions like atrial fibrillation, they may miss other arrhythmias.
Dr Ajay Kaul, chairman of cardiac sciences at Fortis Hospital, Noida, said, “These devices should be seen as tools to raise awareness rather than definitive diagnostic solutions, and patients should be cautious of over-reliance and misinterpretation.”
Newer technologies like extended loop recorders (ELRs) provide more precise, continuous monitoring, surpassing the capabilities of wearables, says Dr Anjan Siotia, consultant interventional cardiologist. “Wearables offer convenience but lack the sensitivity of clinical tools,” he said.
According to Dr Praneeth Polamuri, cardiologist at Care Hospital Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, and member of Doctube, healthcare professionals (HCPs) should play a key role in designing wearable devices to ensure they provide accurate health data, maintain patient date safety, and are accessible to doctors. He also stressed the need to evaluate telemonitoring for heart disease patients and explore how AI can improve health data analysis and interpretation for better results.
Wearable ECG (electrocardiogram) and PPG (photoplethysmography) technologies have made significant strides in cardiac monitoring. (Source: Freepik)
Respiratory health monitoring: current capabilities and future potential
Wearables face similar limitations in the realm of respiratory health. Dr Shivakumar K, MD respiratory medicine and chief consultant at Kauvery Hospital, Marathahalli, said, “Currently, wearables cannot diagnose conditions like asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which require clinical assessments such as spirometry and lung function tests.”
While features like biosensors and pulse oximetry aid continuous monitoring, their accuracy can vary. “Measurements like VO2 max and SpO2 levels may have error margins of 2–15 per cent,” said Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, consultant, Pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram. These features are valuable tools for continuous health monitoring.
He adds that although wearables offer promising capabilities, they are not always entirely accurate. “For instance, they may have a margin of error of ±3% in certain measurements. VO2 max values may be overestimated by as much as 15%, while SpO2 levels can have an error margin of around 2%.”
Dr Vikas Mittal, pulmonologist and director, Wellness Home Clinic and Sleep Centre Pashim Vihar, and director, department of respiratory medicine, C K Birla Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, acknowledges the potential of wearable devices as supplementary tools. “While wearables are helpful for tracking respiratory metrics, there is still room for improvement in their reliability, especially in real-time detection of early respiratory issues.”
Variables like movement, temperature, or battery levels can influence readings, he said. Enhancing the reliability of wearables, especially for real-time monitoring, could involve improving sensor technology and refining the algorithms that interpret this data.
The Artificial Intelligence revolution in wearable technology
The integration of artificial intelligence could be the key to unlocking the full potential of wearable health technology. Sajeev Nair, founder and chairman of Vieroots, offers an optimistic perspective on this convergence: “AI can definitely improve the accuracy of analysing the data from these devices, as due to their 24×7 monitoring of metrics like heart beats, blood sugar or sleep patterns, these wearables tend to generate a lot of data noise.”
He said that remarkable innovations like the advent of AI based health super apps that use a typical camera to do an AI Face Scan “that works like a bloodless blood test,” reveal “vital health metrics including blood glucose and heart rate variability.”
Wearables are increasingly effective in assessing certain neurological indicators like sleep patterns and stress levels. (Source: Freepik)
Neurological monitoring: A new frontier
Wearables are increasingly used to assess neurological health, tracking sleep patterns, stress levels, and even early signs of disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
“By monitoring motor patterns and cognitive shifts, wearables can flag abnormalities for further investigation,” said Dr Chandril Chugh, senior neurologist and director of Dr Good Deed Clinic. However, challenges remain in tailoring devices to individual needs and ensuring data accuracy.
Concurring, Dr Sandip Pal, a neurologist from Kolkata and a member of Doctube, said that this, in turn, will help the patients to manage their condition more effectively while proactively reducing stress-related neurological symptoms. “Algorithms may miss subtle changes in neurological function, especially in early disease stages,” cautions neurologist Dr Pal.
Advanced sensors and data security
Innovations in sensor technology are expanding wearable capabilities. “Flexible micro-nano fibre (MNFs) sensors, packed in a 10-µm film, can detect subtle changes in pressure, temperature, and strain, enabling more precise monitoring,” said Ashu Kasera, co-founder and CTO at Clirnet. Manish Tewari, co-founder, Spydra Technologies, said that “new technologies that could accommodate the development of miniaturised sensors capable of monitoring a variety of biological markers, including glucose, hydration, and even lactate in sweat, are becoming available.”
However, as wearables collect sensitive health data, data security becomes paramount. Kasera said there is a need for “setting up a structured data management system with layered security for data protection and flow control.”
Tewari said that security can be achieved through “data encryption technologies that secure information, secure clouds, even through compliance with legal norms and regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act),” introduced in the United States.
The future of healthcare monitoring
While wearables cannot replace clinical diagnostics, they are carving out a niche in preventive healthcare and continuous monitoring.
Future advancements could include sensors capable of measuring lung function and respiratory distress markers, according to Dr Shivakumar. Meanwhile, improving sensor technology and refining algorithms will enhance real-time monitoring.
“Patients should understand the limitations of wearable technology and consult healthcare providers for concerns,” said Dr Mittal. Conditions affecting blood flow, for example, can skew readings, underscoring the importance of professional oversight.
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