Smartwatches and sensors can detect respiratory infections

A randomised clinical study, published in The Lancet Digital Health, evaluated the effectiveness of wearable sensors and associated alarms in influencing population behaviour when an alarm indicates a potential respiratory virus infection. The study, conducted by researchers from Scripps Research in La Jolla, California during the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, revealed that only a quarter of individuals who received an alert underwent a subsequent viral test at home. To achieve greater levels of compliance amongst the population, it is essential to implement an effective system for the synchronisation and personalisation of alerts. According to Giorgio Quer, Director of Artificial Intelligence at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, this will help the design and clinical implementation of new wearable sensors that track individual clinical conditions, such as blood sugar levels or pregnancy status. The dissemination of information to the public concerning the early physiological changes that may indicate the presence of a viral infection has the potential to confer benefits at the level of both the individual and public health, facilitating the isolation, alteration, or postponement of activities and plans amongst individuals, thereby limiting the potential for virus propagation.