Use of Health Apps and Wearables Is Up. But Digital Health Still Has Room to Grow
Despite increased usage, health apps and wearables did not see the same pandemic boost as virtual care
The pandemic forced providers to dramatically — and almost instantly — alter how they deliver care as facilities limited or shut down services to help prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.
Health agencies and private insurers opened up policies to cover virtual care services that were being utilized in what was supposed to be a temporary environment. Nearly three years later, Congress extended pandemic-era policies for telehealth and virtual care services through 2024.
While the pandemic put telehealth usage trends on fast forward, Adriana Krasniansky, a researcher with Rock Health, said wearables and apps were not changed as dramatically. Krasniansky explained that there are more factors at play than just the pandemic for wearables and apps, whereas telehealth was the only way for some patients to get care.
Among users of health apps, 45% said they used the technology about the same amount as they did before the pandemic, compared with 32% who said they’ve used it “much” or “somewhat” more. Among users of wearables, 44% said they used the devices about the same amount and 37% said they’ve used them more.
Ismene Grohmann, head of product for Abbott Laboratories’ new bio-wearables line Lingo, said people may be more interested in using wearables or tracking their health coming out of the pandemic, when they may have developed unhealthy tendencies or not been as focused on their overall health.
There is a “heightened interest” in “wellness or personal health that's driving the market,” Grohmann said. In talking to consumers in different countries, Abbott has found that “people are really, really interested in not only the classic weight loss, but also, ‘Why do I want to lose weight?’”
As the types of apps and wearables grow, the motivations for using them vary, but one stood out. Among U.S. adults who use health apps, 3 in 4 said exercise or heart rate monitoring was the primary reason, followed by tracking their sleep, weight and diet.
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