Wearable devices are gaining interest in gastroenterology as tools for monitoring disease activity between clinical visits, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and motility disorders. In one study of 400 adults with IBD, more than 40% reported current or previous wearable use, and nearly 90% believed these devices could provide useful health information.
Research suggests that changes in heart rate variability (HRV) may precede IBD flares, with one study reporting that commercial wearables predicted flares up to seven weeks before clinically detectable disease. Other emerging technologies include biosensor patches that measure inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha in sweat and devices that track physiological signals associated with visceral pain and motility disorders. However, researchers caution that these technologies need larger-scale clinical validation before routine adoption.