Wearables to support Long COVID Management
Physiological Sensors Equipped in Wearable Devices for Management of Long COVID Persisting Symptoms: Scoping Review
Study Summary
This research looked at whether wearable devices – like smartwatches that track your heart rate or gadgets that monitor your oxygen – could be helpful for managing the ongoing and often unpredictable symptoms of long COVID. The researchers found that these devices show real promise in continuously tracking your body's signals, which could lead to a better understanding of your individual experience and ultimately help with managing your symptoms over the long term.
Here's What They Found:
The study reviewed existing research on using wearable technology to monitor things like your heart rate, oxygen levels, and body temperature if you have long COVID. They found that these devices have the potential to constantly keep an eye on these important body functions. This continuous monitoring is key because, as you know, long COVID symptoms can fluctuate a lot. Having this ongoing data could give you and your healthcare team a much clearer picture of what's happening with your body, day in and day out.
Why It Matters
Living with long COVID is challenging because the symptoms are so varied and can change unexpectedly. It can be difficult to fully describe your experiences a doctor's appointment, which might only capture a snapshot in time. Wearable devices offer the possibility of tracking the body's responses more consistently, supporting better communication between patients and providers. Patients can:
Gain a deeper understanding of their unique symptom patterns. There may be connections between activities, rest, and how the body responds that were previously hidden but now more visible.
Have more informed conversations with your healthcare providers. Instead of just trying to remember how you felt last week, you could potentially show them objective data from your device.
Work towards more personalized management strategies. With better data, doctors might be able to tailor advice and support that's specific to your individual needs.
What this could mean for managing long COVID symptoms:
Imagine having a tool that continuously monitors some of your key body signals... This could help you:
Notice changes early: If your heart rate suddenly spikes or your oxygen level drops, the device could alert you and potentially your healthcare team
Better understand your limits: Seeing how your body responds to different levels of activity could help you pace yourself more effectively
Feel more empowered in tracking your health: Having access to this kind of data can give you a greater sense of control and understanding of your own body
Citation
Iqbal, N., Khan, H., Khalid, A., Mahmood, S., Nasir, N., Khanum, I., de Siqueira, I., & Van Voorhis, W. (2025). Chronic inflammation in post-Kukreti, S., Lu, M. T., Yeh, C. Y., & Ko, N. Y. (2025). Physiological Sensors Equipped in Wearable Devices for Management of Long COVID Persisting Symptoms: Scoping Review. Journal of medical Internet research, 27, e69506. https://doi.org/10.2196/69506