The Future of Health Apps in Medicine

by Lauren Johnstone

 Health apps and wearable technology have the potential to revolutionise healthcare. New technological advances have widened the range of uses so that health apps and wearables can now play a part in the prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and management of a range of diseases.

The NHS has invested in the development of this sector, helping to produce apps which enable pregnant women to monitor hypertension and guide patients with minor injuries to treatment units with the shortest queues. However, the wide range of capabilities of the technology are not used to their full advantage: apps and wearables can monitor heart rate, blood pressure, hydration status, blood oxygen level, temperature and can be used to diagnose skin conditions.

This data has the potential to help patients manage their own health more effectively, as they can use the information to identify where they need to make changes to their lifestyle. Being able to monitor their health at home may also give patients with chronic conditions peace of mind, as they can more regularly check on their condition and can catch any issues early on. In addition, the data collected by health apps and wearables can be used by doctors alongside lab tests to gain a broader understanding of a patient’s health and lifestyle.

Wearable technology could also be useful in monitoring patient’s post-surgery, both in the clinical and non-clinical setting. It is important for patients to get up and walk after surgery as it helps to reduce the risk of infection and blood clots, however there is little in place to help monitor post-surgery walking progress. A study in America used Fitbits to help do this. Wearable technology like this can also be used once a patient leaves the hospital to continue to record their progress and recovery.

Many more uses are being developed, with Apple bringing out the Apple Watch Series 4, which has an FDA approved ECG app and irregular rhythm notification feature, just last year. Recently, a UCLA student also developed an app which allows diabetic patients to monitor their glucose levels on their smartphone through using the camera to take pictures of their eyes. The appearance of the iris is altered slightly by changes in the glucose concentration in the fluid of the eye, which is correlated to blood glucose concentration, and so it can monitor blood glucose concentration without a blood sample. Clinical trials with this app are soon to begin with the hope that it will be made available for commercial use.

It is worth noting that there are issues with relying too heavily on this technology. The reliability of the data provided will vary depending on the device used, as in many cases the technology is not yet perfect and needs further improvements and there are many smart devices which do not meet safety regulations or guarantee accuracy. Many also have concerns about the confidentiality of the data collected. As a result, whilst it is likely that in the coming years the data from reliable devices may be used by doctors, wearables and health apps cannot be too heavily relied upon.