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Non-invasive blood pressure monitoring has emerged as a critical frontier in cardiovascular healthcare, with magnetic sensors playing an increasingly pivotal role in wearable health technologies. This comprehensive review critically examines the complex challenges of sensor-skin coupling and its profound impact on the accuracy of blood pressure measurements in patients with hypertension and aortovascular disease. Despite the growing demand for precise, real-time health monitoring, significant limitations persist in current magnetic sensor technologies. Our analysis reveals how intricate interactions between sensor devices and skin characteristics including pigmentation, texture, and elasticity can substantially compromise measurement reliability. We systematically explore innovative approaches to mitigate these challenges, presenting cutting-edge strategies in advanced material development, adaptive calibration techniques, and sophisticated signal processing algorithms. The review synthesizes current research to demonstrate the multidisciplinary approaches necessary for enhancing magnetic sensor performance. By critically analyzing the nuanced interactions between sensor technologies and individual patient physiological profiles, we provide insights into developing more robust, personalized health monitoring systems. Our findings underscore the urgent need for continued innovation in non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, with direct implications for improved clinical assessment and patient outcomes in cardiovascular care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All Authors declare that they don't have any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The management of chronic diseases has been revolutionized by the advent of wearable health technology. These devices provide personalized and real-time health data to patients. The problem that this technology is most frequently used to address is obesity and its consequences, heart disease, and certain cancers. Numerous studies have shown a correlation between being at a healthy weight and having a lower risk of developing these conditions. Yet, many smart health devices in the wearable technology sector are only, and most of the time, within the context of weight management or obesity. The major research question directing this exploration is as follows: How can the use of wearable technologies be effective in improving the management and quality of life of people with chronic health problems? The question carries with it another that is almost as important: Does the use of these devices move us toward a more moral and just healthcare system, or does it unfairly advantage some groups of patients over others? This research will focus on three specific types of wearable devices, chosen as representative case studies. They are (1) the smartwatch, a more recent advancement in wearable technology that monitors the user's heart rate and physical activity; (2) the continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which presents real-time glucose levels for the user; and (3) the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, also called a respirator, worn during sleep by individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea. Each of these devices has the potential to not only revolutionize the management of chronic health conditions but also raise some important questions about the ethics of doing so., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Lewczak et al.)

Hydrogels, known for their unique ability to retain large amounts of water, have emerged as pivotal materials in both tissue engineering and biosensing applications. This review provides an updated and comprehensive examination of cutting-edge hydrogel technologies and their multifaceted roles in these fields. Initially, the chemical composition and intrinsic properties of both natural and synthetic hydrogels are discussed, highlighting their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The manuscript then probes into innovative scaffold designs and fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, electrospinning, and self-assembly methods, emphasizing their applications in regenerating bone, cartilage, skin, and neural tissues. In the realm of biosensing, hydrogels' responsive nature is explored through their integration into optical, electrochemical, and piezoelectric sensors. These sensors are instrumental in medical diagnostics for glucose monitoring, pathogen detection, and biomarker identification, as well as in environmental and industrial applications like pollution and food quality monitoring. Furthermore, the review explores cross-disciplinary innovations, including the use of hydrogels in wearable devices, and hybrid systems, and their potential in personalized medicine. By addressing current challenges and future directions, this review aims to underscore the transformative impact of hydrogel technologies in advancing healthcare and industrial practices, thereby providing a vital resource for researchers and practitioners in the field.

This comprehensive review investigates the transformative potential of sensor-driven digital twin technology in enhancing healthcare delivery within smart environments. We explore the integration of smart environments with sensor technologies, digital health capabilities, and location-based services, focusing on their impacts on healthcare objectives and outcomes. This work analyzes the foundational technologies, encompassing the Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI), that underpin the functionalities within smart environments. We also examine the unique characteristics of smart homes and smart hospitals, highlighting their potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery through remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and real-time data sharing. The review presents a novel solution framework leveraging sensor-driven digital twins to address both healthcare needs and user requirements. This framework incorporates wearable health devices, AI-driven health analytics, and a proof-of-concept digital twin application. Furthermore, we explore the role of location-based services (LBS) in smart environments, emphasizing their potential to enhance personalized healthcare interventions and emergency response capabilities. By analyzing the technical advancements in sensor technologies and digital twin applications, this review contributes valuable insights to the evolving landscape of smart environments for healthcare. We identify the opportunities and challenges associated with this emerging field and highlight the need for further research to fully realize its potential to improve healthcare delivery and patient well-being.

Background: Prevention of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS) in middle-aged individuals is an important public health issue. Technology-mediated interventions, such as wearable health devices, can aid in lifestyle modification, but they require habitual use to sustain healthy behavior. However, the underlying mechanisms and predictors of habitual use of wearable health devices among middle-aged individuals remain unclear., Objective: We investigated the predictors of habitual use of wearable health devices among middle-aged individuals with risk factors for MetS., Methods: We proposed a combined theoretical model based on the health belief model, the Unified Technology of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2, and perceived risk. We conducted a web-based survey of 300 middle-aged individuals with MetS between September 3 and 7, 2021. We validated the model using structural equation modeling., Results: The model explained 86.6% of the variance in the habitual use of wearable health devices. The goodness-of-fit indices revealed that the proposed model has a desirable fit with the data. Performance expectancy was the core variable explaining the habitual use of wearable devices. The direct effect of the performance expectancy on habitual use of wearable devices was greater (β=.537, P<.001) than that of intention to continue use (β=.439, P<.001), and the total effect estimate of the performance expectancy was 0.909 (P<.001), including the indirect effect (β=.372, P=.03) on habitual use of wearable devices via intention to continue use. Furthermore, performance expectancy was influenced by health motivation (β=.497, P<.001), effort expectancy (β=.558, P<.001), and risk perception (β=.137, P=.02). Perceived vulnerability (β=.562, P<.001) and perceived severity (β=.243, P=.008) contributed to health motivation., Conclusions: The results suggest the importance of the users' performance expectations for wearable health devices for the intention of continued use for self-health management and habituation. Based on our results, developers and health care practitioners should find better ways to meet the performance expectations of middle-aged individuals with MetS risk factors. They also should generate device use easier and find a way to encourage users' health motivation, thereby reducing users' effort expectancy and resulting in a reasonable performance expectancy of the wearable health device, to induce users' habitual use behaviors., (©Jaeyoung Ha, Jungmi Park, Sangyi Lee, Jeong Lee, Jin-Young Choi, Junhyoung Kim, Sung-il Cho, Gyeong-Suk Jeon. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 06.04.2023.)

Aims: DEPPAS ("Dispositivo Electrónico Personal y Portable en Salud" or Personal, Portable Electronic Health Device in English) is a portable device in form of a bracelet that allows storing electronic health records of older adults experiencing chronic illnesses. The device seeks to support the vital sustainability of older adults by storing critical health information when electronic or paper records have been lost as a consequence of a disaster. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to experience negative consequences in this context. The present study explores the end-user acceptability of DEPPAS in order to inform the next design stages of the device., Methods: Twenty home-dwelling urban male and female older adults enrolled in a chronic health management program were invited to participate in two focus groups. A prototype of DEPPAS was presented and reactions to health service disruption scenarios were explored. Focus groups were transcribed. Content analysis based on the Technology Acceptance Model was conducted., Results: Older adults are acutely aware of their vulnerable health status. Participants report overall positive reactions to DEPPAS. The device was associated with feelings of relief and an increased sense of control over their health management. DEPPAS is perceived as useful, usable, and safe. Even though concerns regarding confidentiality were raised, benefits are perceived as more relevant than potential risks. Participants agree that its usefulness could be extended beyond disaster situations to everyday health care management. Implications for future development and limitations are discussed., Conclusion: The conceptual design DEPPAS shows a high level of acceptability by this end user and a high potential to be integrated with other complementary technologies (e.g. GPS, medication reminders) that could significantly contribute to improving health management in disaster situations., Competing Interests: Margarita Quezada Venegas reports grants and personal fees from Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, during the conduct of the study and grants and personal fees from Comisión Nacional Científica y Tecnológica, outside the submitted work. Andreas Hein Willius, Marisa Torres Hidalgo, Pablo Arroyo Zuñiga, Christián Arriagada Díaz and Paula Bedregal report grants from Conicyt, during the conduct of the study. Marisa Torres Hidalgo and Margarita Quezada Venegas declare to have applied for a patent for DEPPAS (PCT/CL2018/000036) as co-inventors. This patent has been donated to Pontificia Universidad Catholica de Chile. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2019 Hein Willius et al.)

Wearable Health Devices (WHDs) are increasingly helping people to better monitor their health status both at an activity/fitness level for self-health tracking and at a medical level providing more data to clinicians with a potential for earlier diagnostic and guidance of treatment. The technology revolution in the miniaturization of electronic devices is enabling to design more reliable and adaptable wearables, contributing for a world-wide change in the health monitoring approach. In this paper we review important aspects in the WHDs area, listing the state-of-the-art of wearable vital signs sensing technologies plus their system architectures and specifications. A focus on vital signs acquired by WHDs is made: first a discussion about the most important vital signs for health assessment using WHDs is presented and then for each vital sign a description is made concerning its origin and effect on heath, monitoring needs, acquisition methods and WHDs and recent scientific developments on the area (electrocardiogram, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose, skin perspiration, capnography, body temperature, motion evaluation, cardiac implantable devices and ambient parameters). A general WHDs system architecture is presented based on the state-of-the-art. After a global review of WHDs, we zoom in into cardiovascular WHDs, analysing commercial devices and their applicability versus quality, extending this subject to smart t-shirts for medical purposes. Furthermore we present a resumed evolution of these devices based on the prototypes developed along the years. Finally we discuss likely market trends and future challenges for the emerging WHDs area.