According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the number one killer amongst residents in the United States and most are unaware of this statistic. There may be no symptoms early in the disease and some are not diagnosed until an emergency happens. Diseases like heart attacks, arrhythmias, and heart failure are among the leading heart diseases.[2] Undiagnosed disease can lead to undertreatment. [1]
In addition to interventions like stress management, not smoking, having a healthy blood pressure, physical activity and good nutrition, technology is helping to manage and prevent heart disease. [3] Wearable technology has had a boom over the past decade. “Digital health (also known as electronic health or eHealth) is a broad term which refers to information technology devices and modalities used to manage patient health and promote wellness” [1] Wearable technology such as biometric monitoring like fitness trackers, smart watches that have EKG, oximeter capabilities and personalized health tools such as mobile health open up communication, transfer data and other information between a patient and provider. [1]
But the question: is this a valid option for treatment? Traditionally, providers use subjective data from patients experiencing symptoms to help guide their treatment decisions. Sometimes, this information can be inaccurate, especially for patients with communication or cognitive decline. These devices can give a glimpse into what the conditions were surrounding the symptom event such as if the patient was moving, type of terrain they were on and how long they were moving. [4]
Even though wearable technology has its advantages there are some challenges to using wearable technology. These include cost, difficulty understanding technology and other health challenges that might make using wearable technologies difficult, such as arthritic hands and putting on a smart watch. [4] The data for wearable technology use is promising, however, the research and validation of its use is in its infancy and more research is needed. [4]
Having access to these types of tools promotes primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, promotes a healthy lifestyle and increases health awareness on a broad scale. [1] It is the hope that with continued research the use and data collection of wearable technology will continue to improve thus improving health outcomes for patients. It could potentially lower overall mortality rates and overall health costs [4]
References
[1]Azizi, Z., Adedinsewo, D., Rodriguez, F., Lewey, J., Merchant, R.M., Brewer, L.C. (2023) Leveraging Digital Health to Improve the Cardiovascular Health of Women. Current cardiovascular risk reports 17(11): 205–214. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10587029/
[2] CDC, (2024). Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/womens-health/features/heart-disease.html
[3] Tsao, C.W., Aday, A.W. Almazooq, Z.I., Anderson, C.A., Arora, P., Avery, C.L., Baker-Smith, C.M., Beaton, A.Z., Boehme, A.K., Buxton, A.E., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Elkind, M.S., Evenson, K.R., Eze-Nliam, C., Fugar, S., Generoso, G., Heard, D.G., Hiremath, S., Ho, J.E.,….Martin, S.S. (2023) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation147(8) p. 93-621. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36695182/
[4] Williams, G.J., Al-Baraikan, A., Rademakers, F.E., Ciravegna, F., van de Vosse, F., Lawrie, A., Rothmans, A…Morris, P.D., (2023). Wearable Technology and the Cardiovascular System: The Future of Patient Assessment. The Lancet Digital Health 5(7) p. 467-476. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(23)00087-0/fulltext Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board