Wrist-Worn Devices for Remote Monitoring of Cardiovascular Disease: A Survey

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease adversely impacts the quality of life, can lead to death and imposes a substantial burden on global healthcare systems. Addressing modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease through healthy lifestyle changes and early screening via continuous monitoring can help reduce both the disease burden and associated treatment costs. Smartphones and smartwatches have gained popularity due to their non-intrusive nature, making them suitable for daily health tracking. Modern smartwatches integrate sensors like accelerometer, electrocardiogram and photoplethysmogram, enabling continuous monitoring of lifestyle habits and cardiovascular health indicators. This survey reviews studies from January 2019 to December 2024 that utilized wrist-worn sensors for assessing cardiovascular health aspects, including hypertension, abnormal cardiac rhythms, sleep tracking, activity monitoring and post-stroke rehabilitation. Each study was evaluated based on the United Kingdom Research and Innovation’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9-point scale to determine its applicability for real-world clinical use. Studies were categorized by TRL level, disease focus and sensing modalities used in clinical settings. This structured analysis helps identify mature technologies that are closer to clinical deployment, while highlighting gaps in other technologies that require further research. Additionally, the survey provides insights for overcoming limitations and advancing wearable health technologies toward practical medical applications. By analysing the progress in the capabilities of wrist-worn sensors for cardiovascular health monitoring, this survey aims to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, thereby supporting the development of effective and clinically viable solutions.