Worldwide Use of Wearable Healthcare Technology Could Rise Nearly 42-Fold by 2050, Study Finds

Key Takeaways: 

• Global use of wearable healthcare devices could rise almost 42-fold by 2050, reaching close to two billion units annually.
  
• Non-invasive continuous glucose monitors are projected to dominate the market, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all wearable healthcare devices by mid-century.
  
• Without changes in design and manufacturing, this growth could carry a substantial environmental cost, including rising carbon emissions, ecotoxicity, and electronic waste.
  
  
  

Rapid global expansion of wearable health technologies

The global use of wearable healthcare technologies is projected to increase dramatically by 2050, according to a new analysis conducted by researchers from Cornell University and the University of Chicago. The study estimates that annual consumption of wearable health devices could approach two billion units worldwide by mid-century, representing an almost 42-fold increase compared with current levels.

The analysis, published in the journal Nature, focuses on a range of wearable healthcare technologies, including continuous glucose monitors, electrocardiogram (ECG) devices, blood pressure monitors, and point-of-care ultrasound patches. While these technologies offer significant potential benefits for clinical monitoring and disease management, the researchers warn that their rapid expansion could come with a sizable environmental footprint if sustainability is not addressed early in the innovation process.

Environmental impact and carbon emissions

The researchers estimate that the projected global use of wearable healthcare devices could generate approximately 3.4 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year by 2050. In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, the study raises concerns about increasing ecotoxicity and the accumulation of electronic waste associated with large-scale deployment of these devices.

China is expected to contribute the highest share of annual greenhouse gas emissions linked to wearable healthcare electronics by mid-century, followed by India. These projections reflect both population size and anticipated growth in access to digital health technologies, particularly in rapidly developing economies.

Life cycle assessment of wearable devices

To quantify environmental impacts, the researchers used a life cycle assessment approach, examining each stage of a device’s lifespan. This included raw material extraction, component manufacturing, device assembly, use during its operational life, and eventual disposal.

Their analysis found that a single wearable healthcare device can emit between 1.1 and 6.1 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent over its lifetime, depending on the type of device and its specific design characteristics. Differences in sensing technology, materials, power requirements, and expected duration of use all influenced the overall environmental burden.

Devices included in the analysis

Four representative wearable healthcare devices were assessed in detail:

• A non-invasive continuous glucose monitor
• A continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor
• A wearable blood pressure monitor
• A point-of-care ultrasound patch
  

These devices were selected based on their clinical relevance, diversity of sensing modalities, and representation of different stages of technological maturity within the wearable health sector.

Shifting market dynamics towards continuous glucose monitoring

At present, the wearable healthcare market is largely dominated by continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring devices. However, the study projects a major shift in device usage patterns over the coming decades.

By 2050, non-invasive continuous glucose monitors are expected to account for approximately 72 percent of global wearable healthcare device use. Continuous ECG monitors are projected to represent 19 percent of usage, while blood pressure monitors are expected to make up around eight percent.

The researchers noted that by mid-century, annual global sales of non-invasive continuous glucose monitors alone could exceed current worldwide smartphone sales, which were estimated at 1.2 billion units in 2024.

Limited gains from bioplastics, greater potential from design changes

The study also explored potential strategies to reduce the environmental impact of wearable healthcare technologies. The researchers found that switching to recyclable or biodegradable plastics provides relatively limited environmental benefits when considered across the full device lifecycle.

In contrast, more substantial reductions in emissions could be achieved by replacing critical-metal conductors, optimising circuit architectures, and improving overall electronic design. Importantly, these changes could lower environmental impacts without compromising device performance or clinical functionality.

Supporting more sustainable digital health innovation

The researchers concluded that their engineering-based framework for assessing environmental impacts across a wearable device’s lifecycle could help guide more ecologically responsible innovation in next-generation healthcare electronics.

As wearable health technologies continue to expand rapidly across global healthcare systems, the study highlights the importance of integrating sustainability considerations into design, manufacturing, and scale-up processes from the outset, rather than treating environmental impact as a secondary concern.