The Efficacy of a Wearable Device-based Vital Sign Monitoring System in a Japanese Home Medical Care Clinic

Objective This study evaluated the usefulness and effects of a remote vital sign monitoring system (RVSMS) using a wearable pulse oximeter device to detect acute illness in a home medical care setting. Methods We conducted a historical control study of patients who provided home medical care services at a clinic in Japan. We selected patients between March 2023 and March 2024 who were at a high risk of deterioration (high-risk patients). Each patient was reviewed for a maximum of four months. The patients in the later period were instructed to use RVSMS as an intervention. The primary outcomes were the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of RVSMS for acute illness. The secondary outcomes were the differences in the emergency call rate (ECR), emergency visit rate (EVR), and emergency hospital admission rate (EHAR) between the two periods. Patients A total of 38 and 36 patients were enrolled in the intervention and control groups, respectively. During the intervention period, 23 patients used the RVSMS. Results The sensitivity and PPV for acute illness events were 68.2% (95% CI: 47.2-89.1) and 22.7% (95% CI: 3.9-41.6), respectively. The ECR decreased significantly during the intervention period. The EVR also showed a decreasing trend, although this was not statistically significant. The EHAR showed an unclear change. Conclusion A wearable device-based vital sign monitoring system may indeed be a useful tool for the early detection of acute illness in Japanese home medical care settings; therefore, further study is warranted.