Chronic diseases account for almost three quarters of deaths globally, meanwhile the UK Government have explicitly stated cardiovascular disease, mental health, frailty and dementia to be top clinical priorities in their 10-year health plan. Wearable devices are growing recognition as a non-invasive tool in healthcare offering real-time monitoring and management of disease. Such technologies have been recommended in the UK health system for management of chronic disease and have been proposed to help shift care from the clinical to home setting. However, these technologies often lack rigorous regulatory oversight, raising concerns about data privacy, accuracy, and reliability that can lead to poor self-management decisions and compromised patient safety. Gaining early insights into emerging innovations is critical for shaping adaptive regulatory frameworks that ensure safe and effective integration of these devices into clinical and home settings. This report forms part of a horizon scan of current innovations and trends in wearable healthcare technologies across the emerging (innovation and preclinical), transitional (clinical trials), and imminent horizons (on the market). The scope of this report covers global developments with focus on the UK and on applications for chronic disease management.
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