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Summary
Wearables have become increasingly popular among consumers, with about one in five Australians sporting one on their wrists. These days, wearables can collect a multitude of measurements, from the basic step count to ones as detailed as oxygen saturation, energy expenditure, blood pressure and sleep patterns. This means less light reaches the blood vessels of people with darker skin, weakening the signal and making it prone to error. In addition to skin tone, things like tattoos and the fit of the device around the wrist can also interfere with the accuracy of heart-rate monitoring by wearables. Moreover, some wearables promise to track VO2 max, a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen the body utilises during exercise. According to a 2022 study, VO2 max calculated by wearables can have varying degrees of accuracy, and are likely not accurate enough to be used in the sports or healthcare industries compared to a VO2 max test in a laboratory by qualified practitioners.
Show Notes
And what role do they play in healthcare?
Another study found that wearables are accurate when at rest, but the error rate increases with movement, when compared to traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) assessments.
So, if wearables are accurate when at rest, does this mean they accurately track sleep?
Consumers should be aware that wearables are not designed to indicate inconsistencies that can diagnose sleep disorders or other health issues.
Wearables have revolutionised consumer health by giving people access to their health data in a streamlined way.
