Advertisement
Review| Volume 132, ISSUE 12, P1394-1400.e1, December 2019

Is There a Benefit to Patients Using Wearable Devices Such as Fitbit or Health Apps on Mobiles? A Systematic Review

      Abstract

      Wearable devices have become a standard health care intervention with emerging health care technologies. These devices are designed to promote healthy behaviors and decrease risk for chronic disease like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to provide evidence of the benefit of wearable devices in chronic disease outcomes among adults. Systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, World Health Organization international clinical trials registry platform, BMC ISRCTN registry, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers was performed based upon the PRISMA guideline. Included articles were randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies with health outcomes published in English up to October 2018. Studies focusing on adults were selected. Three investigators reviewed the selected publications and made agreement on final selection. Of a total of 550 publications extracted, 6 studies met the final criteria. There was little indication that wearable devices provide a benefit for health outcomes. Of the 6 studies examined, only one study showed a significant reduction for weight loss among participants who used wearable devices. No significant reduction was discovered in cholesterol or blood pressure. Among the 6 studies, only one study examined hemoglobin A1c, and it showed a significant reduction in older patients with type 2 diabetes. The current literature evaluating wearable devices indicates little benefit of the devices on chronic disease health outcomes. Wearable devices play a role as a facilitator in motivating and accelerating physical activity, but current data do not suggest other consistent health benefits.

      Keywords

      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to The American Journal of Medicine
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

      1. International Data Corporation (IDC). Worldwide wearables market ticks up 5.5% due to gains in emerging markets, says IDC. Available at: https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44247418. Accessed May 28, 2019.

      2. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA selects participants for new digital health software precertification pilot program. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm577480.htm. Accessed May 28, 2019.

        • Evenson K.R.
        • Goto M.M.
        • Furberg R.D.
        Systematic review of the validity and reliability of consumer-wearable activity trackers.
        Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015; 12: 159
        • Tully M.A.
        • McBride C.
        • Heron L.
        • Hunter R.F.
        The validation of Fitbit Zip™ physical activity monitor as a measure of free-living physical activity.
        BMC Res Notes. 2014; 7: 952
        • Patel M.S.
        • Foschini L.
        • Kurtzman G.W.
        • et al.
        Using wearable devices and smartphones to track physical activity: initial activation, sustained use, and step counts across sociodemographic characteristics in a national sample.
        Ann Intern Med. 2017; 167: 755-757
        • Chiauzzi E.
        • Rodarte C.
        • DasMahapatra P.
        Patient-centered activity monitoring in the self-management of chronic health conditions.
        BMC Med. 2015; 13: 77
        • Yang L.
        • Cao C.
        • Kantor E.D.
        • et al.
        Trends in sedentary behavior among the US population, 2001-2016.
        JAMA. 2019; 321: 1587-1597
        • Patel M.S.
        • Asch D.A.
        • Volpp K.G.
        Wearable devices as facilitators, not drivers, of health behavior change.
        JAMA. 2015; 313: 459-460
        • Rosenberg D.
        • Kadokura E.A.
        • Bouldin E.D.
        • Miyawaki C.E.
        • Higano C.S.
        • Hartzler A.L.
        Acceptability of Fitbit for physical activity tracking within clinical care among men with prostate cancer.
        AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2017; 2016: 1050-1059
        • Gualtieri L.
        • Rosenbluth S.
        • Phillips J.
        Can a free wearable activity tracker change behavior? The impact of trackers on adults in a physician-led wellness group.
        JMIR Res Protoc. 2016; 5e237
        • Ross K.M.
        • Wing R.R.
        Impact of newer self-monitoring technology and brief phone-based intervention on weight loss: a randomized pilot study.
        Obesity. 2016; 24: 1653-1659
        • Naslund J.A.
        • Aschbrenner K.A.
        • Scherer E.A.
        • McHugo G.J.
        • Marsch L.A.
        • Bartels S.J.
        Wearable devices and mobile technologies for supporting behavioral weight loss among people with serious mental illness.
        Psychiatry Res. 2016; 244: 139-144
        • Coughlin S.S.
        • Stewart J.
        Use of consumer wearable devices to promote physical activity: a review of health intervention studies.
        J Environ Health Sci. 2016; 2https://doi.org/10.15436/2378-6841
      3. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG; The PRISMA Group Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. BMJ. 2009;339:b2535. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535.

        • Jakicic J.M.
        • Davis K.K.
        • Rogers R.J.
        Effect of wearable technology combined with a lifestyle intervention on long-term weight loss: the IDEA randomized clinical trial.
        JAMA. 2016; 316: 1161-1171
        • Cho S.W.
        • Wee J.H.
        • Yoo S.
        • et al.
        Effect of lifestyle modification using a smartphone application on obesity with obstructive sleep apnea: a short-term, randomized controlled study.
        Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2018; 11: 192-198
        • Finkelstein E.A.
        • Haaland B.A.
        • Bilger M.
        • et al.
        Effectiveness of activity trackers with and without incentives to increase physical activity (TRIPPA): a randomised controlled trial.
        Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016; 4: 983-995
        • Thorndike A.N.
        • Mills S.
        • Sonnenberg L.
        • et al.
        Activity monitor intervention to promote physical activity of physicians-in-training: randomized controlled trial.
        PLoS One. 2014; 9e100251
        • Lim S.
        • Kang S.M.
        • Kim K.M.
        • et al.
        Multifactorial intervention in diabetes care using real-time monitoring and tailored feedback in type 2 diabetes.
        Acta Diabetol. 2016; 53: 189-198
        • Hutchesson M.J.
        • Rollo M.E.
        • Krukowski R.L.
        • et al.
        eHealth interventions for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
        Obes Rev. 2015; 16: 376-392
        • Svetkey L.P.
        • Batch B.C.
        • Lin P.H.
        • et al.
        Cell phone intervention for you (CITY): a randomized, controlled trial of behavioral weight loss intervention for young adults using mobile technology.
        Obesity. 2015; 23: 2133-2141
        • Hartman S.J.
        • Nelson S.H.
        • Cadmus-Bertram L.A.
        • Patterson R.E.
        • Parker P.A.
        • Pierce J.P.
        Technology- and phone-based weight loss intervention.
        pilot RCT in women at elevated breast cancer risk Am J Prev Med. 2016; 51: 714-721
        • Hou C.
        • Carter B.
        • Hewitt J.
        • Francisa T.
        • Mayor S.
        Do mobile phone applications improve glycemic control (HbA1c) in the self-management of diabetes?.
        Diabetes Care. 2016; 39: 2089-2095
        • Vähäsarja K.S.
        • Salmela S.
        • Villberg J.
        • et al.
        Perceived need to increase physical activity levels among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional analysis within a community-based diabetes prevention project FIN-D2D.
        BMC Public Health. 2012; 12: 514
        • Lum E.
        • Jimenez G.
        • Huang Z.
        • et al.
        Decision support and alerts of apps for self-management of blood glucose for type 2 diabetes.
        JAMA. 2019; 321: 1530-1532
      4. Springbuk. Data from more than 8,000 employers finds that 35% use wearable technology in their wellness program. April 25, 2015. Available at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170425005258/en/Data-8000-Employers-Finds-35-Wearable-Technology. Accessed May 28, 2019.

      5. Aetna. Aetna announces Attain, a personalized well-being experience combining health history with the Apple Watch. January 29, 2019. Available at: https://news.aetna.com/news-releases/2019/01/aetna-announces-attain-a-personalized-well-being-experience-that-combines-health-history-with-apple-watch-information-to-empower-better-health/. Accessed May 28, 2019.