Clinical Report: Can Consumer Wearables Support PASC Monitoring?
Background
The increasing prevalence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) necessitates effective monitoring strategies, as noted in recent literature. Consumer wearable devices have gained attention for their potential to assist in outpatient health monitoring. However, the clinical effectiveness and reliability of these devices in PASC patients require thorough evaluation.
Data Highlights
No numerical data available.
Key Findings
- Heart rate monitoring has the largest evidence base among wearable-derived measures.
- Apple Watch devices received consistent evaluations for heart rate accuracy across multiple reviews.
- Atrial fibrillation detection demonstrated moderate-to-high accuracy in most devices, with Samsung devices showing sensitivity up to 97% and specificity up to 98%.
- Measurement accuracy varied by activity level, health status, and patient characteristics, particularly in high-intensity exercise and darker skin tones.
- Evidence for other wearable-derived measures, such as energy expenditure and sleep metrics, was inconsistent and often inaccurate.
- There is limited evidence supporting the clinical utility of wearables in improving morbidity or health care utilization in PASC patients.
Clinical Implications
Healthcare professionals should be cautious in recommending consumer wearables for monitoring PASC due to the limited evidence of their clinical utility. Heart rate and atrial fibrillation monitoring may be the most reliable applications.
Conclusion
Current evidence suggests that while consumer wearables may have some utility in monitoring specific parameters like heart rate and atrial fibrillation, their overall effectiveness in managing PASC remains unproven.
Related Resources & Content
- CDC, Long COVID Clinical Guidance, 2026 -- Long COVID Clinical Guidance
- WHO, Clinical management of COVID-19: living guideline, June 2025 -- Clinical management of COVID-19
- Retinal Physician, Tracking Retinal Health With Wearable Technology, 2026 -- Tracking Retinal Health With Wearable Technology
- The ASCO Post, Are Wearable Physical Activity Monitors Coming of Age in Oncology?, 2017 -- Are Wearable Physical Activity Monitors Coming of Age in Oncology?
- The ASCO Post — Are Wearable Physical Activity Monitors Coming of Age in Oncology?
- JAMA Network Open — Wearable Devices and Data Sharing in the US
- Long COVID Clinical Guidance | Long COVID | CDC
- Clinical management of COVID-19: living guideline, June 2025
- Search Results | Scholarly Articles, Journals, and E-Books | EBSCOhost
- An umbrella review of systematic reviews of the impact of wrist-worn wearables on health outcomes | Physiological Reviews | American Physiological Society
- Accuracy of Smartwatches in the Detection of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Diagnostic Meta-Analysis - PubMed
- Digital physiological biomarkers predict within-person symptom changes in complex chronic illness | npj Digital Medicine
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