Wearable devices and cardiovascular health: revolutionizing remote monitoring and disease prevention
Clinical Snapshot
PICO Framework
| P — Population | Patients with cardiovascular disease or at cardiovascular risk requiring monitoring |
| I — Intervention | Wearable devices (smartwatches, activity trackers) for continuous physiologic monitoring |
| C — Comparator | Traditional clinical monitoring methods |
| O — Outcomes | Cardiovascular health outcomes, disease prevention, remote monitoring effectiveness |
Bottom Line
This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of wearable devices in cardiovascular medicine but lacks the rigorous methodology of a systematic review. While wearable technology shows promise for continuous monitoring and patient engagement, the authors appropriately highlight significant implementation barriers including device validation variability, electronic health record integration challenges, and absence of evidence-based clinical workflows. The review identifies key applications across the cardiovascular continuum from lifestyle interventions to chronic disease management, but acknowledges substantial evidence gaps. For Australian clinicians, the technology's potential is clear, but widespread adoption requires addressing regulatory validation, data standardisation, and integration with existing healthcare systems. Current evidence suggests cautious, selective implementation rather than wholesale adoption.
Key Findings
Effect Size: Not quantified - narrative synthesis only
Primary Outcome: Current state of wearable device integration in cardiovascular care
Nnt Or Sensitivity: Variable accuracy reported across devices but no pooled estimates provided
Clinical Application
Limited by device validation, data integration challenges, and lack of standardized clinical workflows Relevant to Australian practice but TGA approval status of specific devices not addressed; potential PBS implications for device subsidisation unclear Patients with cardiovascular disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and those requiring lifestyle modification
Abstract
Wearable devices are transforming cardiovascular medicine by enabling continuous monitoring of physiologic and behavioural measures outside of traditional clinical settings. Smartwatches and activity trackers, the most widely used wearables, employ motion and biometric sensors to measure physical activity, sleep quality, heart rate, and rhythm. By converting health goals into objective, quantifiable measures, wearable devices empower patients to assume a more active role in their health while providing clinicians with novel opportunities for longitudinal, real-world assessment. Clinical applications span the cardiovascular continuum from lifestyle interventions targeting physical activity and sleep to the remote management of chronic conditions such as heart failure. Widespread clinical adoption of wearables remains limited by challenges, such as variability in device methodology, data outputs, validation, and intended use; incompatibility with existing electronic health records; and the lack of standardized, evidence-based workflows for clinicians to efficiently interpret and act upon wearable data. This review summarizes the current landscape of wearable technologies in cardiovascular medicine by highlighting key clinical applications, evidence gaps in the existing literature, the role of artificial intelligence, and barriers to implementation. We discuss strategies to enhance clinical integration and strengthen the current evidence base while also providing practical guidance to help clinicians navigate commonly encountered clinical scenarios.
References
- 1.Hughes, A. M., Taylor, D. J., Morris, P. D., & Brittain, E. L. (2026). Wearable devices and cardiovascular health: revolutionizing remote monitoring and disease prevention. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag189
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