Digital cardiology: A state-of-the-art review of wearable device applications for diagnosis, monitoring, and management of cardiovascular diseases.

BACKGROUND

Wearable devices are increasingly used in cardiovascular medicine, but their clinical applications, evidentiary basis, and implementation challenges require comprehensive assessment.

METHODS

We conducted a narrative review by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for articles published since 2020. Potentially relevant papers were screened and compared for relevance, followed by independent assessment for inclusion. The focus is on devices with direct clinical relevance and available human studies.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSIONS

Wearable devices show promise for arrhythmia detection (particularly atrial fibrillation), blood pressure monitoring, heart failure management, and cardiac rehabilitation. Commercial devices like smartwatches have demonstrated utility in large-scale studies, while emerging technologies like smart textiles and implantable sensors offer future potential. Key challenges include validation against gold-standard methods, integration into clinical workflows, data privacy concerns, and ensuring health equity. For successful implementation, future efforts should focus on robust clinical trials, regulatory clarity, interoperability standards, and clinician education. Wearable technologies are poised to transform cardiovascular care through continuous, personalized monitoring, but require multidisciplinary collaboration to realize their full clinical potential.