Title: Examining Epidemic Spread with Wearable Health Sensors Data
Authors: MariaTheresa Chinyeaka Kelvin-Agwu, Busayo Olamide Tomoh, Adelaide Yeboah Forkuo
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Pages: 33-44
Publication Date: 2025/03/28
Abstract:
The rapid spread of infectious diseases presents a significant challenge to public health systems globally, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to epidemic tracking and early detection. This study explores the role of wearable health sensors in monitoring the spread of epidemics, providing continuous, real-time data on key health metrics such as heart rate, body temperature, and respiratory rate. The integration of these sensors into epidemic prediction and response systems offers a novel method for identifying early signs of infection, improving epidemic tracking, and enhancing public health preparedness. This paper reviews current epidemic tracking methods and examines how wearable devices can complement traditional approaches, such as contact tracing and mobile health applications. By analyzing data from wearable health sensors, the study demonstrates how these devices contribute to understanding epidemic dynamics and offer a proactive tool for detecting potential outbreaks. Additionally, it highlights the technological limitations of wearable sensors, including issues with data accuracy, sensor coverage, and privacy concerns, while proposing future research areas to address these challenges. The findings emphasize the potential of wearable health sensors to revolutionize epidemic detection and provide real-time insights for better surveillance, early intervention, and healthcare resource allocation. The paper also discusses policy implications for integrating wearable sensor data into public health systems and offers recommendations for improving accessibility, data privacy, and the integration of sensor data into epidemic forecasting models. Future research should focus on enhancing sensor accuracy, expanding sensor use to diverse populations, and refining predictive models to improve epidemic preparedness and response.