Abstract
Wearable devices provide real-time and patient-powered data that enable the development of personalized health promotion and management programs. This study aimed to explore the clinical benefits of using the wearable device and to examine associated factors, utilization patterns on health status. 319 community-living adults aged 50-85 years were enrolled and clinically followed for 12 months. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on the wearable device utilization patterns (active: >30 days of use, non-active: <3 days of use, usual: 3-30 days of use). 128 (40.1%) and 98(30.7%) were active and usual wearable device users, and no significant differences in the baseline demographic characteristics and functional status were noted across groups. Higher cognitive performance was significantly associated with the wearable device use (OR: 1.3,95%CI: 1.1-1.5, p=0.005). Multivariable linear regression showed that 0.16 m/s increase in walking speed among active users, which was significantly higher than non-active users (p=0.034). Compared to usual users, active users had higher average daily, weekday, and holiday step counts. The walking speed increased for 0.03 m/s when participants walked 1,000 more daily step counts (p=0.020). Active use of wearable devices substantially increased walking speed, which suggested better functional outcomes and survival benefits in the future.
Highlights
Advanced development of internet telecommunication technologies (ICT) enables clinicians and healthcare professionals to collect real-time information through wearable biosensors that further changes healthcare services and healthy lifestyles
369 participants were enrolled for study, and 319 of them completed a 12-months follow-up (Figure 1); 128 (40.1%) out of the 319 participants were classified as active users
The results of the current study clearly identified potential benefits of using wearable devices without specific physical activities programs in the middle-aged and older adults that the utilization of wearable devices significantly prevented walking speed slowing in a 12month period
Summary
Advanced development of internet telecommunication technologies (ICT) enables clinicians and healthcare professionals to collect real-time information through wearable biosensors that further changes healthcare services and healthy lifestyles. The advantage of real-time and personpowered data nature of wearable devices promotes integration of daily lifestyle conditions in disease diagnosis, health promotion, and personalized care planning that echoes the concepts of precision medicine [2, 3]. The use of wearable devices may modify users’ behavior and enhance their physical activities through self-monitoring and reinforcement [11]. A study of 350 older women aged≥75 years reported that moderate to vigorous physical activities prevented walking speed slowing [16], but those activities were not triggered by the utilization of wearable devices. This study aimed to evaluate the potential health benefits of wearable device use among community-dwelling middle-aged and older persons during the 12-month follow-up. We hypothesized that reciprocal self-monitoring and reinforcement may enable behavior changes, prevent functional declines, and improve health outcomes through a longer follow-up period
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