Increasing Use of Wearable Devices for Health or Activity Tracking Among Adults with Chronic Diseases in the US.

BACKGROUND

Wearable devices are being increasingly used for health tracking, yet contemporary national data on their adoption-particularly among individuals with chronic disease-remain limited. This study provides US population-level estimates and trends in wearable device use among the general adult population and among individuals with chronic conditions.

STUDY

DESIGN

In this study, we analyzed data from the 2019 to 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey. We obtained national estimates of wearable device adoption among US adults with chronic conditions, evaluated the frequency of wearable device use, and assessed willingness to share wearable device data with healthcare providers.

RESULTS

In 2024, an estimated 107 million US adults used a wearable device, representing a 58% increase since 2019. Of these individuals, approximately 74 million reported routine use, and 78 million were willing to share wearable device data with a healthcare provider. Wearable device adoption was also prevalent among adults with chronic health conditions, including an estimated 37 million with obesity, 31 million with depression or anxiety, 30 million with hypertension, 17 million with diabetes mellitus, 12 million with lung or airway disease, 8 million with cancer, and 7 million with a history of heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Wearable device adoption is growing across the US adult population, including among individuals with chronic conditions. Most users engage with devices regularly and are willing to share data with healthcare providers. Rising use of wearables among populations at higher risk of perioperative complications highlights the opportunity to integrate continuous physiologic data into surgical care pathways.