Health Monitoring Through Wearables: A Systematic Review of Innovations In Cardiovascular Disease Detection And Prevention

Abstract

Wearable technology has rapidly evolved, becoming an integral tool in healthcare, particularly for cardiovascular health monitoring and disease prevention. This systematic review evaluates wearable device advancements, applications, and limitations, emphasizing their role in real-time health tracking, early detection of cardiovascular diseases, and lifestyle interventions. The study reviewed 112 peer-reviewed articles, applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a rigorous and transparent approach. The findings highlight the integration of advanced sensors, such as photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrocardiography (ECG), and artificial intelligence-powered algorithms that enable enhanced diagnostic accuracy and predictive capabilities. Wearable devices have proven effective in remote patient monitoring, reducing hospital readmissions, and promoting proactive health management by empowering users to adopt and sustain healthier behaviors. However, challenges persist in ensuring device accuracy, particularly across diverse populations, with issues such as motion artifacts, signal noise, and variability in sensor performance noted. Furthermore, the review identifies a critical gap in the inclusion of underrepresented populations, such as older adults, individuals with darker skin tones, and those from low-resource settings, which limits the generalizability of findings. Despite these challenges, the study concludes that wearable technology has immense potential to revolutionize healthcare by enhancing accessibility, patient engagement, and preventive care. Addressing the identified gaps will be crucial for maximizing wearable health technologies' equitable adoption and impact.