SMART WEARABLES AND BIOSENSORS IN THE EARLY DETECTION OF LIFESTYLE DISORDERS: A GLOBAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE

Lifestyle-related disorders, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), constitute a significant and growing burden on global health systems. These non-communicable diseases (NCDs) often develop silently, with clinical symptoms appearing only after substantial physiological damage has occurred. Traditional diagnostic methods are frequently reactive, intermittent, and facility-based, which limits early detection, especially in resource-constrained settings. Innovations in biomedical sciences particularly the development of smart wearables and biosensors offer a transformative approach to monitoring and managing these conditions at both individual and community levels. Smart wearables such as continuous glucose monitors, fitness bands, smartwatches, and biosensor-embedded textiles now allow for continuous, non-invasive tracking of key physiological parameters including blood glucose, heart rate variability, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. These devices are increasingly integrated with cloud-based data systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time alerts, predictive analytics, and personalized health feedback. Their applications extend beyond personal use, serving as effective tools in community health surveillance, digital epidemiology, and population-based interventions. This review explores the technological foundations, clinical validation, and real-world applications of smart biosensing devices in the early detection and management of lifestyle diseases. It highlights their role in shifting healthcare from reactive to proactive models, empowering patients with self-monitoring capabilities, and reducing the long-term economic burden on healthcare systems.