Medical Design Briefs - January 2024 - 11

following
the
ingestion
of sugar-rich
foods. Prolonged elevated glucose levels
may signal an elevated risk of developing
insulin resistance and chronic diabetes
in the future.
Moreover, recent advancements in artificial
intelligence (AI) have unlocked
the ability to process extensive datasets
for the early detection of diseases or
health deteriorations. For instance, AI
can discern irregular activity patterns,
which may serve as indicators of conditions
like abnormal circadian rhythm,
depression, frailty, or severe fatigue.2
Examples of these irregular activity patterns
may include extended periods of
daytime bed rest, disturbances during
nighttime sleep, or reduced number
of sit-to-stand transitions. The reduced
number of sit-to-standing transitions
may be an indicator of frailty among
older adults.3 Timely detection paves
the way for prompt interventions and
improved treatment outcomes. Overall,
the use of wearables can facilitate personalized
care and promote patient empowerment
by providing individuals with
the tools and information they need to
actively participate in managing their
health and well-being.
Furthermore, wearables can be valuable
tools for care coordination and
reducing caregiving burden. Wearables
consisting of an accelerometer along
with a sophisticated algorithm have been
employed for fall detection. In the event
of a fall, the device can automatically
alert caregivers or emergency services,
ensuring immediate assistance in case of
accidents or injuries.
Caregivers can share the data collected
by wearables with healthcare providers
to aid in care coordination. This
information can be especially valuable
during medical appointments or when
adjustments to the care plan are necessary.
Data collected by wearables can
assist healthcare providers and caregivers
in making informed decisions about
care plans. For example, if a wearable
indicates a decline in activity levels, adjustments
can be made to the care plan
to encourage more physical activity. In
a study conducted at the Baylor College
of Medicine, Mishra et al. explored the
challenges and acceptance of digital
health technology as a means to alleviate
the caregiving burden associated
with dementia.4 One caregiver shared
her experience of being frequently away
Medical Design Briefs, January 2024
The PAMSys Voice wearable sensor incorporates bidirectional microphones for synchronized audio data capture.
(Credit: BioSensics)
Using the Nili Mobile App, multiple care partners can collaborate on managing and coordinating the care of their
loved ones. (Credit: BioSensics)
from home due to her job, while her
mother, who suffers from dementia, often
forgets to engage in the sole physical
activity available to her, which involves
going to the gym. By utilizing wearables,
this caregiver would experience peace of
mind and gain the capability to monitor
her mother's physical activity levels effectively.
The sidebar, " A Digital Health
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
Platform " describes an example of how
multiple care partners can collaborate
on managing and coordinating the care
of their loved ones.
Lastly, improved health outcomes
are of particular interest for pharma
companies to reduce the time and cost
of early-stage clinical trials. Recent advancements
in wearable technology,
11

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Medical Design Briefs - January 2024

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