Feasibility of continuous fever monitoring using wearable devices
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Uncontrolled case series analyzing wearable sensor data from 50 individuals with self-reported COVID-19
OpenAlex W3112300562 · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78355-6
What was done
The authors analyzed continuous physiological data, including peripheral temperature, collected via a commercially available wearable device from the first 50 participants who reported COVID-19 infection in the prospective TemPredict study. Sensor data were coupled with participant symptom reports and COVID-19 diagnosis data to evaluate the feasibility of continuous fever monitoring.
What was found
Wearable sensors detected illness-associated elevations in peripheral temperature that correlated with self-reported fever, and supported the feasibility of detecting illness in the absence of symptom recognition. The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or diagnostic accuracy statistics.
Why it matters
This study provides proof-of-concept evidence that consumer wearable temperature sensors can continuously track fever responses and may aid in early illness detection.
Limits
The study is an uncontrolled initial series of only 50 subjects. Illness and symptoms were self-reported, and the abstract lacks quantitative diagnostic metrics, sensitivity/specificity values, and baseline comparator details.
Cited by
- supports A study conducted by Oura and Stanford showed that biometric data from the Oura Ring could detect infection onset days before clinical symptoms appeared.