Consumer Wearable Health and Fitness Technology in Cardiovascular Medicine: JACC State-of-the-Art Review (JACC July 2023-2)-Article: Consumer Wearable Health and Fitness Technology in Cardiovascular Medicine: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Article: Consumer Wearable Health and Fitness Technology in Cardiovascular Medicine: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

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Consumer wearable devices, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, have gained popularity in recent years for monitoring various health metrics, including heart rate, sleep quality, and physical activity level. These devices use technologies such as photoplethysmography (PPG) to measure and track these metrics. While consumer wearable devices can provide valuable insights into an individual's health, there are several factors that can affect the accuracy and reliability of the data they provide.<br /><br />One of the challenges with using consumer wearable devices is the variability in accuracy among different devices and manufacturers. Studies have shown that some wearable devices have higher accuracy than others when it comes to measuring metrics such as heart rate and sleep quality. The accuracy of these devices can also be affected by factors such as body size, skin tone, and the positioning of the device on the body.<br /><br />Another limitation of consumer wearable devices is their inability to provide accurate measurements of certain health parameters. For example, while these devices can estimate peak oxygen consumption (VO2max) during exercise, the accuracy is often lower compared to direct measurement methods. Additionally, these devices may not provide accurate measurements of submaximal exercise parameters such as ventilatory threshold.<br /><br />The interpretation of data from consumer wearable devices can also be challenging. There may be significant errors in the measurement of PPG signals, which can affect the accuracy of the data provided. Factors such as poor device fit, motion artifact, and environmental conditions can contribute to these errors. Clinicians should carefully consider possible failures of the device to acquire data and the presence of motion artifacts when interpreting data from consumer wearable devices.<br /><br />Despite these limitations, consumer wearable devices have a range of applications in cardiovascular health, including monitoring physical activity, assessing heart rate variability, and detecting atrial fibrillation. They can also be used in exercise prescription and monitoring the progress of patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, further research is needed to improve the accuracy and reliability of these devices and to ensure equitable access to and use of these technologies.<br /><br />In conclusion, consumer wearable devices have the potential to provide valuable insights into an individual's health and can be used in various clinical and performance settings. However, clinicians should be aware of the limitations and challenges associated with these devices and interpret the data with caution. Continued research and development are needed to optimize the accuracy and reliability of consumer wearable devices and to ensure their effective implementation in clinical practice.

Keywords

consumer wearable devices

fitness trackers

smartwatches

health metrics

heart rate

sleep quality

physical activity level

photoplethysmography

accuracy

reliability