Will Wearables Be the Pulse of Tomorrow’s Health Care - EE Times Europe

2022-04-21 09:52:08 By : Ms. lissa liao

The patient-doctor relationship is built on trust, but today, it is increasingly enriched by real-time physiological patient data collected through health-care wearables. The Covid-19 pandemic has paved the way for growth in the wearables market, and for the health-care industry, there will be no turning back.

Advances in sensors, power management, wireless connectivity, and artificial intelligence are already enabling millions of patients around the world to track and manage their chronic health conditions with non-invasive devices small enough to wear on the wrist or other parts of the body. That’s just the beginning: According to a recent study from technology intelligence firm ABI Research, the number of wearables is on an upward curve that is not about to reverse itself.

In 2020, the number of wearables shipped worldwide increased to 259.63 million units, with sports, fitness, and wellness trackers accounting for 112.15 million and smartwatches 74.30 million, the study found. In 2021, 304.69 million wearables were shipped worldwide. In 2022, the wearables market is expected to reach 344.9 million shipments globally, logging a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2%, according to ABI Research.

Wearables span diverse application domains, ranging from sports and entertainment to health care and even military gear. In a discussion with EE Times Europe, Filomena Iovino, research analyst for 5G devices, smartphones, and wearables at ABI, shared the results of the firm’s “Mobile Accessories and Wearables Market Share and Forecasts” market study, with a focus on the deployment of health-care devices and the opportunities offered by wireless connectivity.

EE Times Europe: Of the 344.9 million wearables expected to be shipped this year, what proportion are health and wellness wearable devices? And how would you characterize their growth over time?

Filomena Iovino: Wearables have become another weapon to track, monitor, and fight the progression of Covid-19 and its symptoms worldwide. Therefore, there has been fast growth in the wearables market, especially for health-care devices. With health continuing to be at the forefront of use cases for wearables, the health-care wearables market reached 37.3 million shipments in 2021 and is expected to [rise to] 107.43 million shipments worldwide in 2026.

The global sports, fitness, and wellness trackers market is expected to increase unit shipments from 123.37 million in 2021 to 147.17 million in 2026, at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period. The decrease in the CAGR [from year to year over the forecast period] is attributed to market demand and growth going back to pre-Covid-19 levels once the pandemic is over. However, the increasing health awareness, the penetration of the internet and smartphones, and technological advancements will continue to fuel the market.

EETE: Historically, smartwatches, smart patches, and other health trackers have been used to help people get in shape, lose weight, and train for their next race. But increasingly, people are using them to monitor their health. How do you explain this shift in usage and consumer expectations?

Iovino: There is an urgent requirement for technologies that aid with the tracking and monitoring of Covid-19, notably through several wearables deployments and initiatives aiding the fight against Covid-19, tracking its progress, and monitoring the vitals of those who have been infected. These wearables measure daily biometrics, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, heart rate variability, autonomic nervous system and recovery, sleep, and more.

EETE: Has the pandemic fostered this trend? Are people more concerned than ever with their health and taking control of it?

Iovino: Smartwatches and fitness trackers have evolved into effective and reliable health- and activity-monitoring devices that have experienced an increase in demand during the pandemic, as consumers become more health-conscious, spurred by visits to the doctor becoming relatively limited and the establishment of fitness at home.

EETE: Are advances in hardware (e.g., sensors, AI processors, SoCs) key contributors to this trend?

Iovino: Wearable technology is evolving in various applications, like clothing, thanks to sensors that gather and deliver data to improve the user experience. The development of AI in wearables enables the creation of complex algorithmic models that can help improve the user experience. The interaction of machine learning, computer vision, and logical thinking with wearables is a tool that AI can employ and will be utilized to optimize consumers’ experiences and collect more data. As wearables develop the capacity to gather and analyze rich, heavyweight data in near-real time, their potential for more precise, connectivity-intensive tasks will improve, which could also be enhanced by adding 5G connectivity.

EETE: Blood pressure and ECG monitors have become de facto features of smartwatches, while smart patches are helping patients manage blood glucose levels. Are we seeing other functions emerge? If so, could those emerging functions take smartwatches, smart patches, and other health trackers into another, even higher, wave of adoption?

Iovino: Yes! For example, Abbott announced the development of Lingo, a new category of consumer biowearables that will analyze body signals such as glucose, ketone, and lactate [blood levels]. These devices convert a body’s unique language into actionable data to track and assess overall health and well-being. The Lingo Keto will be the first biowearable launched in Europe later this year.

A pilot trial of Rockley Photonics’ wrist-worn gadget was able to constantly measure a person’s blood pressure without the need for a cuff, paving the way for broader investigations of the hassle-free technology that might one day be included in Apple Watches and other consumer devices. Additional studies aimed at patients, persons with diabetes, athletes, and the [broader] public are testing the effectiveness of the company’s sensors in monitoring muscle lactate, glucose trends, and other metrics.

Many smartwatch makers now include blood oxygen sensors, ECG monitors, and other sensors as standard features, with the capacity to analyze data over time. The global smartwatch market recorded 26.3 million shipments during the third quarter of 2021 and is projected to reach 236.55 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 19.7% from 2021 to 2026. Additionally, lighting technologies and cellular connectivity will make smartwatches more complex. In terms of connectivity, according to ABI Research, 4G smartwatches will be the most popular gadgets, with a 31.7% CAGR, while 5G will only be available [starting] in 2023.

EETE: Cellular connectivity contributes to better health care for patients. While the wearables market has only recently made the leap from 3G to 4G, 5G already offers promises of low latency, reliability, and high-speed connectivity. Could 5G be transformative for the health-care sector?

Iovino: 5G is designed to unlock experiences to reach new form factors and market segments. The features and capabilities envisioned by 5G networks are predicted to revolutionize applications in health care and many device types; for example, people would get real-time input on chronic medical issues.

High data gathering and low power efficiency will be the key strengths for these smart gadgets, raising demand and increasing popularity.

EETE: Why does ABI Research predict that 5G-enabled wearable shipments will remain low — at 3.55 million — by 2026, while 4G will still represent the highest volume, with 45.4 million shipments and a CAGR of 31.7% by this stage?

Iovino: Many device types in the wearables and accessories sector will not become completely self-connected; instead, they will still need to be tethered to a smartphone or hub. Indeed, the 5G attach rate for wearables and accessories will remain low, at about 0.6% by 2026, and will be mainly related to smartwatches and headsets.

Some health-care devices are currently shipped with LPWA-LTE connectivity or 4G technology and are expected to reach 0.86 million and 0.72 million units, respectively, by 2026.

EETE: Are we, through the fast deployment and adoption of wearables, transitioning from curative to preventive health care?

Iovino: We are transitioning from curative to preventive health care. These devices enable consumers to track many types of vital health-care information both in and beyond a hospital setting. Most medical professionals would do everything [possible] to enhance patient outcomes while using fewer resources.

Wearable gadgets and remote monitoring via IoT medical equipment can help with this. Alerts would be automatically sent to the doctor when any changes in a patient’s health are detected, ensuring that the most at-risk patients get help immediately.

Health spending has risen due to economic development and advancements in health technology.

Chronic disease has become the leading cause of mortality worldwide as life expectancy increases. Early prevention and intervention might reduce the likelihood of poor health in the community and save money on eventual treatment costs. Therefore, the transition is not only important but necessary for mutual interest.

How 5G Can Transform Health Care

Anne-Françoise Pelé is editor-in-chief of EE Times Europe.

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