How Guardian Angel Tech Will Transform the Wearable Tech Space

Author

Jared Dashevsky, MD
August 11, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

GRAND ROUNDS

How Guardian Angel Tech Will Transform the Wearable Tech Space

I remember inserting a little pod into the bottom of my Nike shoes to track my step count throughout the day. This wearable tech was called the Nike+ iPod Pedometer—it was revolutionary!

Nearly a decade and a half later, I now have wearables that track my heart rate, measure my stress levels, analyze my sleep, and monitor my blood sugar. Again, I say, “This is revolutionary!”

Am I the only one using this wearable tech, though?

My friends over at Rock Health published a new analysis on consumer adoption of wearables, and I wanted to share my thoughts on it. In this article, I’ll highlight the results of the study, dive into wearable market trends, and discuss what I envision is the future of wearable technology.

The Deets: Wearable Adoption Trends

The Rock Health team surveyed ~24,000 Americans from 2020 to 2022, asking, “Do you own a wearable device or smartwatch that helps you track your health?” They also obtained data on sociodemographic factors, health status, adoption of digital health tools, and attitudes/perceptions of wearable tech.

Here are seven findings I found most important:

  • Wearable ownership over time: throughout the study period, wearable ownership increased.

  • Wearable ownership by age: Nearly 80% of wearable owners were 18-54. The older one is, the lower the odds of owning a wearable.

  • Wearable ownership by rurality: 87.4% of wearable owners lived in suburban or urban areas.

  • Wearable ownership by education: the higher one’s educational level, the higher the odds of owning a wearable.

  • Wearable ownership by income: the higher one’s income, the higher the odds of owning a wearable.

  • Wearable ownership by source: Around 85% of wearable owners purchased or received it as a gift. Just 8% had a wearable offered by their physician, and 1% had one offered by their employer.

  • Wearable ownership by use: The top three use cases for the wearable were increasing physical activity, fitness training, and weight loss.

These findings are insightful and solidify what we probably already know about wearable trends. One thing to keep in mind regarding the study methods is that the “wearable owner” designation simply means that at the time of the survey, the participant owned a wearable—even if they didn’t use the device. Therefore, “wearable ownership” shouldn’t be conflated with “wearable user.” It’d be interesting to see wearable user data for these same measures.

Wearable Market Growth and Strategy Trends

The global wearable tech market was valued at around $72 billion in 2023 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of ~15% between 2023 and 2030, reaching around $190 billion by 2030.

The distinction between medical-grade and consumer-grade wearables has traditionally shaped go-to-market strategies. Medical-grade wearables, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), blood pressure cuffs, and movement trackers for Parkinson’s, are primarily marketed to physicians, who then prescribe them to patients. In contrast, consumer-grade wearables are directly targeted at consumers.

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article on this medical-grade vs consumer-grade boundary and correctly predicted the following:

An interesting phenomenon we’ll see is the blurring of “consumer” and “medical” wearable technology: consumer wearable tech can now perform high-quality measurements on par to medical-grade wearable tech.

Continuous glucose monitors are a perfect example of this “blurred” line. A couple of months ago, I wrote about how medical device makers Dexcom and Abbott received FDA clearance to market their CGMs to individuals without insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. In other words, Dexcom and Abbott got the green light to market their medical-grade CGM over-the-counter, essentially making it a consumer product.

We’ll continue to see the blurring of consumer and medical wearable tech—mark my words!

Dashevsky’s Dissection

Wearable tech ownership is rising, and the technology itself is becoming increasingly advanced. However, we’re still in the “iPod stage” of wearable technology—we haven’t yet reached the “iPhone” moment.

I envision a future where wearable technology integrates machine learning to predict health outcomes based on behavior (like diet, alcohol, and stress), movement (such as gait, exercise, and steps), and vital trends (including heart rate, sleep, and glucose levels). This would allow wearables to act as a sort of guardian angel, proactively monitoring and guiding our health.

I’ll call this guardian angel technology.

With guardian angel technology, the wearable user can go about their day without constantly thinking about their health. The wearable seamlessly analyzes data in the background, providing real-time coaching, nudges, and advice to improve habits. For instance, if a user’s gait becomes more unstable, the wearable might suggest specific exercises or recommend a clinical evaluation if there’s an increased likelihood of a condition like Parkinson’s. Or, if a user has a drinking habit and doesn’t realize they experience brief periods of atrial fibrillation after consuming alcohol, the wearable could alert them, noting that the “afib” episode is likely alcohol-induced and advising them to see a cardiologist.

In other words, this “Guardian Angel” wearable is always watching, catching things that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Clinically, such technology could profoundly impact by detecting issues early and tweaking behaviors to improve health outcomes.

While wearable ownership rises, disparities remain, particularly in rural, low-income, and lower-education communities. How can we improve wearable tech adoption in these areas? Given that healthcare resources are notably scarcer in these communities than in suburban and urban areas, Guardian Angel technology would benefit them immensely. I don’t have all the answers, but getting this technology into these communities could significantly impact health outcomes.

In summary, wearable tech has evolved from tracking steps to monitoring heart rate and glucose levels, marking a revolutionary shift in health management. But we're still in the early stages. I envision Guardian Angel technology—wearables that predict health outcomes and provide real-time advice. To maximize its impact, we need to address adoption disparities, especially in rural and low-income communities, where access could significantly improve health outcomes.

Enjoy this article? Share it with your colleagues:

OUTSIDE THE HUDDLE

Some of my favorite content from this past week

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

Huddle+
Inefficiency Insights

Huddle+
Huddle #Trends

Huddle+
Huddle University

Healthcare Providers
Residency Reflections

Check out more exclusive coverage with a Huddle+ subscription.

Read personalized, high-quality content that helps healthcare providers lead in digital health, policy, and business. Become a Huddle+ member here.

Reply

or to participate.