Can Consumer Wearables Support PASC Monitoring?

Heart rate monitoring and atrial fibrillation detection had the strongest supporting evidence, but investigators found limited evidence for broader outpatient self-monitoring applications.

By
Andrea Surnit
June 23, 2026
4 min

Conexiant

Background

The increasing prevalence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) necessitates effective monitoring strategies, as noted in recent literature. Consumer wearable devices have gained attention for their potential to assist in outpatient health monitoring. However, the clinical effectiveness and reliability of these devices in PASC patients require thorough evaluation.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available.

Key Findings

Heart rate monitoring has the largest evidence base among wearable-derived measures.
Apple Watch devices received consistent evaluations for heart rate accuracy across multiple reviews.
Atrial fibrillation detection demonstrated moderate-to-high accuracy in most devices, with Samsung devices showing sensitivity up to 97% and specificity up to 98%.
Measurement accuracy varied by activity level, health status, and patient characteristics, particularly in high-intensity exercise and darker skin tones.
Evidence for other wearable-derived measures, such as energy expenditure and sleep metrics, was inconsistent and often inaccurate.
There is limited evidence supporting the clinical utility of wearables in improving morbidity or health care utilization in PASC patients.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should be cautious in recommending consumer wearables for monitoring PASC due to the limited evidence of their clinical utility. Heart rate and atrial fibrillation monitoring may be the most reliable applications.

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that while consumer wearables may have some utility in monitoring specific parameters like heart rate and atrial fibrillation, their overall effectiveness in managing PASC remains unproven.