Wearable device detects hormone patterns linked to high blood pressure

Researchers have developed a portable wearable device capable of monitoring hormone levels round-the-clock in a patient's home. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, focuses on primary aldosteronism, a hormone disorder that affects up to 20% of individuals with high blood pressure.

Findings from the study, involving institutions in the UK, Norway, Sweden, and Greece, revealed that patients with the disorder experience hormone production bursts during both the day and night. Because routine blood testing is rarely conducted while patients are asleep, these irregularities often go undetected by current diagnostic methods.

Dr. Thomas Upton of the University of Bristol noted that primary aldosteronism is a major cause of secondary hypertension. The ability to monitor patients during normal daily activities and sleep could lead to earlier detection and help prevent associated risks such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.