WEARABLE BIOSENSORS FOR CONTINUOUS HEALTH MONITORING IN CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Wearable biosensors—ranging from electrochemical sweat patches and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to photoplethysmography (PPG) smartwatches and cuff-less blood-pressure systems—are reshaping chronic disease management by enabling continuous, real-world physiologic monitoring. Advances in soft materials, flexible microelectronics, low-power radios, and edge AI now permit clinically meaningful measures (e.g., glucose, rhythm irregularity, sleep-disordered breathing, motor symptoms) to be captured outside the clinic. This article reviews sensing modalities and transduction mechanisms, system-level architecture (power, communications, security), and analytic pipelines from artifact rejection to risk scoring. We synthesize clinical evidence for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, renal disease, and mental health, emphasizing pathways from raw signals to decision support and workflow integration in primary care. Regulatory and implementation issues—including validation standards, cybersecurity, equity, and reimbursement—are discussed with attention to low- and middle-income country (LMIC) realities such as Pakistan (device cost, smartphone access, and connectivity). We conclude with a roadmap for trustworthy, interoperable, and equitable biosensing ecosystems that link wearables, EHRs, and telehealth to deliver proactive, patient-centered care.