Wearables Help Spot Chronic Health Issues, Studies Show

The wearable tech industry is currently experiencing significant advancements. At CES 2025, Novosound presented a new sensing kit capable of real-time blood pressure tracking through ultrasound technology, confirming its suitability for smartwatches and smart rings. Blood glucose sensing is also on the horizon, with researchers investigating how sleep data could improve health monitoring in relation to chronic health issues.

Recent findings from researchers at Mount Sinai indicate that data from wearables, such as the Apple Watch Series 10 and Oura Ring 4, can potentially forecast flare-ups of chronic illnesses and monitor symptom deterioration. Their study specifically addressed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that triggers inflammation in the digestive tract.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IBD affects millions globally, occurring when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy bowel cells. The condition is marked by alternating periods of remission and flare-ups characterized by symptoms like diarrhea, fatigue, pain, ulcers, and rectal bleeding.

Informative biomarkers

The research published in a gastroenterology journal highlights wearable devices from brands like Apple, Fitbit, and Oura as promising instruments for monitoring chronic inflammatory diseases such as IBD.

In this study, researchers tracked biomarkers including heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, daily activity levels, and heart rates in over 300 participants from multiple states. These individuals reported their symptoms daily and underwent blood and stool tests.

The findings revealed that the aforementioned biomarkers showed changes during episodes of inflammation linked to ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, two major varieties of IBD. Remarkably, these biomarkers also indicated shifts even in the absence of noticeable symptoms and changed as much as seven weeks prior to symptom onset.

“These physiological indicators can recognize inflammation even before symptoms manifest, allowing us to differentiate between symptoms caused by active intestinal inflammation,” stated the press release from Mount Sinai Hospital and School of Medicine.

Fine tuning algorithms

The research team is currently refining algorithms so that smartwatches and smart rings can more accurately identify and predict the flare-ups of related conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

“These discoveries pave the way for utilizing wearable technology in health monitoring and disease management in ways we haven’t previously explored,” said Dr. Robert Hirten, Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology), and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine.

This study adds to a growing body of research in this arena. Another paper published in the Expert Review of Medical Devices journal in 2024 suggested that, apart from predicting flare-ups and monitoring IBD symptoms, wearables could also assist in early disease detection and evaluating gut health. In 2023, researchers at the California Institute of Technology showcased a wearable sweat sensor capable of identifying C-reactive protein levels, a well-known indicator of inflammation in the body. This innovation highlights the promising potential of wearable devices for maintaining health and predicting illnesses. Oura has also introduced a Feature that tracks early symptoms of respiratory diseases within the Oura Ring app.