Smartwatch technology integrates vital sign data into medical records for seniors

The use of smartwatches for real-time monitoring of vital signs, such as heart rate, is increasing among seniors. This trend is facilitating the integration of wearable data directly into medical records to enable continuous monitoring across clinics, rehabilitation centers, and private care.

Several German research initiatives are leading this development. The KONSENS initiative at the University Medical Center Freiburg allows heart attack patients to transmit blood pressure, pulse, and weight data via the myoncare platform to healthcare providers. Meanwhile, University Medicine Halle is conducting the ‘Dialograum’ project to train seniors and therapists in digital health applications. In Erlangen, the PREVENTwin project is developing a digital prevention twin for breast cancer risk, building on the existing BayPass app.

On a scientific level, new assessment systems are being developed to identify health risks. Professor Eline Slagboom from Leiden University is scheduled to present the ‘Personal-MetaboHealth’ score at a geriatric congress in Frankfurt, which aims to provide a cost-effective method for identifying frailty and cardiovascular risks in individuals over 50.