Breakthrough research demonstrates how smartwatches can detect infections early, offering a powerful tool for managing and potentially preventing future pandemics.
Everyday smartwatches can accurately detect viral infections days before symptoms appear. This groundbreaking capability could help prevent pandemics in the future, according to new research published in PNAS Nexus.
The study, conducted by researchers at Aalto University in Finland, Stanford University and Texas A&M University, illustrates how wearable devices can minimize the spread of diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza and the common cold by detecting early physiological changes.
“Unlike during the pandemic, we now have concrete data on how pandemics develop, and how effective different measures are at curbing the spread. Add to this that wearable technology is now extremely effective when it comes to detecting the very early physiological signs of infection, and we are much better prepared,” first author Märt Vesinurm, a doctoral researcher from Aalto University, said in a news release.
Early Detection Key to Prevention
Smartwatches have proven to be remarkably accurate in identifying early signs of illness through physiological markers like respiration rate, heart rate and skin temperature.
These devices can detect COVID-19 with 88% accuracy and the flu with 90% accuracy before symptoms manifest, according to the study.
On average, individuals reduce their social contact significantly once they know they are sick. Vesinurm points out that even a modest reduction of 66-75% in social interactions can result in a 40-65% decrease in disease transmission, compared to someone isolating only after symptoms appear.
“Even at the lower end of compliance, if people receive and act on an earlier warning by self-isolating, the impact is significant,” Vesinurm added. “Even just a 66-75 percent reduction in social contacts soon after detection by smartwatches — keeping in mind that that’s on a par with what you’d normally do if you had cold symptoms — can lead to a 40-65 percent decrease in disease transmission compared to someone isolating from the onset of symptoms,’
Implications for Future Outbreaks
The study suggests that smartwatches’ role goes beyond individual health tracking to aiding public health strategies. The researchers believe these wearables can be instrumental in managing potential new outbreaks, such as H5N1 (avian flu) or other emerging viral threats.
“As we gather more specific data about how different illnesses affect these measurements, there’s no reason we couldn’t distinguish between diseases, from bird flu and HIV to the common cold, especially when used in conjunction with advanced machine learning methods and other data from the user,” added Vesinurm.
Towards Smarter Policies
By drawing on data from epidemiological, biological and behavioral studies, the researchers developed a mathematical model of infection spread at a population level.
This integrated approach could overhaul current pandemic policies by offering early warnings and more targeted interventions, potentially reducing the need for broad measures like lockdowns and widespread testing.
“People are used to wearable devices and they’re likely to trust them. While they’re not yet diagnostic, they could help make unpopular approaches like masks, lockdowns and invasive testing more targeted and less of a blunt instrument,” Vesinurm added.
Early detection could prompt actions like PCR testing, mask-wearing or avoiding vulnerable individuals, based on real-time data available through smartwatches. This information not only empowers individuals to take protective measures but also provides policymakers with a vital tool for managing public health.
“It could be that governments find it most cost-effective in a pandemic situation to provide every person who wants one with a smartwatch — although of course, this comes with its own ethical considerations,” Vesinurm concluded. “Either way, with early detection literally at our fingertips, I see a lot of reason to hope.”
Source: Aalto University