Researchers based in Israel say that smartwatches containing physiological sensors may hold the keys to preventing pandemics in the future. These gadgets could identify infectious diseases as early as several days before physical symptoms manifested, thus stopping the mass dissemination of coronavirus viruses even before it would have begun.
In a two-year study led by Tel Aviv University researchers of close to 5,000 participants, smartwatches were found to be capable of detecting changes in vital signs as far back as up to 23 hours before the first COVID-19 symptoms, 62 hours before symptoms of Group A streptococcus show, and 73 hours before influenza symptoms manifest.
Moreover, early wearables detection can, at the same moment, induce behavioral changes such as reduced social contact-which is precisely when the disease is most infectious, hence potentially containing widespread contagion.
The lead researcher, Prof. Dan Yamin, explained, “Infectious diseases and pandemics are a big threat to humankind. We need to harness our scientific and technological capabilities to avoid them.” Yamin indicated that earlier research showed that approximately 40% of the transmissions in the recent pandemic happened a day or more in advance of the onset of symptoms; hence, by a person without symptoms.
Participants wore smartwatches that continuously tracked key physiological parameters. The main focus of the study was pulse rate and heart rate variability. They also filled in a daily health questionnaire. The smartwatches recorded pulse rate and HRV at 15-second intervals, which was important data on the activity of the heart and brain.
“When a person becomes ill, the immune system focuses on combating the disease. This keeps the heart rate fairly constant and suppresses HRV, signaling physical stress,” Yamin said.
Participants also self-diagnosed for COVID-19, influenza, and GAS using test kits at home. Over the two-year study, researchers accrued 800,000 questionnaires and cross-checked those with smartwatch readings. They recorded 490 cases of influenza, 2,206 cases of COVID-19, and 320 instances of GAS.
The three critical points since the contraction of infectious disease. The study states, are heart rate anomalies, symptom manifestation, and testing confirmation. The researchers found that the initial physiological change in heart rate appeared 96 hours after exposure to COVID-19. They observed the first symptom 130 hours later, and testing that confirmed the disease occurred roughly 168 hours after exposure. For influenza and GAS, these intervals were shorter—24 hours and 60 hours, respectively.
Despite detecting symptoms early, participants generally delayed testing. They took 53 hours for COVID-19, 39 hours for influenza, and 38 hours for GAS. Such delays resulted in extended disease transmission unintentionally.
Prof. Erez Shmueli explained, “On average, people tested and changed their behavior when the disease was already past its peak, making them less likely to infect others.” The delay in time between digital diagnosis and actual testing, 64 hours in COVID-19, 68 hours in influenza. And 58 hours in the GAS, proved to be critical.
Yamin clarified that digital diagnosis could significantly prevent disease spread among populations. Early changes in social behavior can drive the R0 value below 1.0, meaning each infected person transmits the disease to fewer than one other person. Consequently, the disease eventually dies out.
Also, early diagnosis will result in effective treatment, which is an important aspect in COVID-19 cases to come up with early interventions. “Our new method using wearable sensors for early detection can potentially minimize epidemic threats,” Yamin concluded.
ANI
