Wearable devices for patient monitoring in the intensive care unit

Wearable devices (WDs), originally launched for fitness, are now increasingly recognized as valuable technologies in several clinical applications, including the intensive care unit (ICU). These devices allow for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and posture and movement. WDs offer significant advantages in making monitoring less invasive and could help bridge gaps between ICUs and standard hospital wards, ensuring more effective transitioning to lower-level monitoring after discharge from the ICU. WDs are also promising tools in applications like delirium detection, vital signs monitoring in limited resource settings, and prevention of hospital-acquired pressure injuries. Despite the potential of WDs, challenges such as measurement accuracy, explainability of data processing algorithms, and actual integration into the clinical decision-making process persist. Further research is necessary to validate the effectiveness of WDs and to integrate them into clinical practice in critical care environments.Take home messages Wearable devices are revolutionizing patient monitoring in ICUs and step down units by providing continuous, non-invasive, and cost-effective solutions. Validation of their accuracy and integration in the clinical decision-making process remain crucial for widespread clinical adoption.