Alice Wong, a resident of Hong Kong in her twenties, credits a smartwatch alert for prompting an early diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF), a potentially serious irregular heart rhythm. After receiving an unusual notification about her heart rate, Wong sought medical attention and began treatment, describing the wearable device’s warning as life-saving.
Wong’s experience highlights the growing role of wearable technology in personal healthcare, particularly in Hong Kong, where approximately 63 percent of the population owns such a device. These gadgets track metrics including heart rate, sleep patterns, and physical activity, enabling users and health professionals to monitor health continuously, beyond the occasional medical snapshot provided by traditional check-ups.
Local companies are integrating advanced features into wearable devices to support both Western and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Dayton Industrial, a Hong Kong-based electronics manufacturer, recently launched the Link2Care smartwatch series. These devices combine biosensor data with AI analysis and TCM principles to provide personalized health insights related to key organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Users receive recommendations ranging from dietary advice and acupressure to lifestyle adjustments based on continuously monitored physiological metrics.
Paul Yuen, a director at Dayton Industrial, emphasized the benefit of continuous monitoring over periodic medical tests, likening wearables to a "movie" instead of a "snapshot" of health data. The company plans to introduce advanced features like continuous glucose monitoring to detect cardiovascular risks in its upcoming smartwatch model.
Wearables are also intersecting with dental healthcare. Triston Wong from Modern Dental Laboratory described partnerships that leverage data from smart rings to assist dentists in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, allowing for at-home screening and ongoing assessment following treatment, which improves patient outcomes through objective monitoring.
However, the rapid expansion of wearable technology has raised concerns about accuracy and reliability. Tests by a local consumer watchdog found significant discrepancies in step counting and heart rate measurements among some models, leading to warnings that wearable data should be used for general reference rather than as a basis for medical decisions.
Medical professionals urge a balanced approach. Dr. Cheng Chi-man, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association and a family medicine specialist, noted an increase in patients visiting clinics after abnormal wearable readings. He encourages users to engage proactively with healthcare providers by establishing baseline health data and avoiding reliance on day-to-day fluctuations, which can be influenced by factors like stress and environment.
Recent academic reviews acknowledge the limitations but also the promise of wearables in health monitoring. Studies have found wide variation in daily measurement accuracy, particularly for calorie expenditure and activity intensity, but concluded that long-term data trends can provide valuable insights. Research further indicates wearables show moderate to high accuracy in detecting conditions such as COVID-19, atrial fibrillation, and falls.
Fitness professionals also recognize the benefits of wearable technology for exercise and health management. Kenny Cheung, a fitness coach, points out that wearables offer useful data on workout performance but should be supplemented with subjective measures like perceived exertion, given environmental variables can affect readings.
As wearable devices continue to evolve, experts emphasize their role as tools that complement but do not replace traditional medical care, offering users new ways to engage with their health while underscoring the importance of professional diagnosis and treatment.