The application of wearable smart sensors for monitoring the vital signs of patients in epidemics: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Wearable smart sensors are emerging technology for daily monitoring of vital signs with the reducing discomfort and interference with normal human activities. The main objective of this study was to review the applied wearable smart sensors for disease control and vital signs monitoring in epidemics outbreaks. A comprehensive search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Library, PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant studies published until June 2, 2020. Main extracted specifications for each paper are publication details, type of sensor, disease, type of monitored vital sign, function and usage. Of 277 articles, 11 studies were eligible for criteria. 36% of papers were published in 2020. Articles were published in 10 different journals and only in the Journal of Medical Systems more than one article was published. Most sensors were used to monitor body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Wearable devices (like a helmet, watch, or cuff) and body area network sensors were popular types which can be used monitoring vital signs for epidemic trending. 65% of total papers (n = 6) were conducted by the USA, Malaysia and India. Applying appropriate technological solutions could improve control and management of epidemic disease as well as the application of sensors for continuous monitoring of vital signs. However, further studies are needed to investigate the real effects of these sensors and their effectiveness.

A conceptual IoT-based early-warning architecture for remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients in wards and at home

“…One of the primary purposes of remote monitoring systems is to assist and protect patients against severe or life-threatening worsening of health condition through regular (and, if possible, continuous) observation of their health status [50] . In the context of COVID-19, these systems provide tools for early diagnosis and have the potential to decrease the number of fatalities [17] [29] . Furthermore, storing the monitored parameters and patients’ health history enables analyses of the efficacy of treatment plans and the identification of risk factors for disease outcomes that are required for timely and effective clinical decision-making [53] .…”

“…Further, since health facilities are overcrowded, patients with mild symptoms are often sent back home to self-isolate [16] . These situations highlight the importance of an efficient and affordable patient monitoring solution during epidemics [17] .…”

“…Several studies addressed the technological challenges of keeping track of patients’ health and detecting risk situations based on physiological markers. For example, Mohammadzadeh et al [17] performed a systematic literature review on the use of IoT-based monitoring systems for disease control in epidemic outbreaks, examining 11 studies. Leenen et al [12] presented another systematic review aimed at healthcare professionals and discussed current evidence regarding the use of wearable devices for continuously monitoring vital signs, selecting 27 studies.…”

Demonstrating the Applicability of Smartwatches in PM2.5 Health Impact Assessment

“…Around 68.6 million smartwatches were sold in 2020, and this figure is expected to reach 157.2 million by 2026 [ 1 ]. As the general population is increasingly recognizing smartwatches from advertising, consumer-grade smartwatches have been used in health research for HR monitor since 2014 [ 2 , 3 ]. Many types of smartwatches have an optical HR sensor that uses photoplethysmography (PPG) to measure how much blood the heart is pumping under the surface of the skin, since PPG is a low-cost, simple, and portable technology [ 4 ].…”

Design and Evaluation of a Wearable Smart Blanket System for Monitoring Vital Signs of Patients in an Ambulance

“…Under emergencies, patients are unstable, and constant monitoring of their vital signs may help the healthcare team to take action without delay [1]. Today, smart systems and advanced tools have grown dramatically to monitor patients and control their conditions [2]. The ability of these smart systems to store and transfer data across different health care sectors (including telemedicine) is important.…”