IoT and Smart Health: Pioneering the Rise of Personalized Medicine in 2024

“What the Internet of Things is really about is information technology that can gather its own information. Often what it does with that information is not tell a human being something, it [just] does something.” — Kevin Ashton

Envision a future where technology not only monitors but actively enhances your health, driving innovation in personalized medicine.

The fusion of IoT and healthcare is not just a trend — it’s the dawn of a transformative era. Personalized medicine is evolving from reactive treatments to proactive, precision care, and the potential for innovation is boundless. IoT in the healthcare industry is a great example of the omnipresent computing. For example, hundreds of intelligent electronic devices can be set up in a hospital to monitor patients’ health status 24/7, talk to each other, make decisions, and upload information to a healthcare cloud platform.

Why Personalized Medicine Matters?

Personalized medicine moves beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach by tailoring treatments to individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This method ensures more precise and effective therapies, reduces adverse effects, and improves health outcomes. It also enables proactive health management and disease prevention. As medical science progresses, personalized approaches will enhance resource use and patient satisfaction, addressing the unique needs of diverse populations.

How IoT Works in Healthcare?

In healthcare, these devices can gather different patient data and receive inputs from health practitioners.All these devices are able to communicate with each other and in some cases take important actions that would provide timely help or even save a life. For example, an IoT healthcare device can make intelligent decisions like calling the healthcare facility if an elderly person has fallen down. After collecting passive data, an IoT healthcare device would send this critical information to the cloud so that doctors can act upon it — view the general patient status, see if calling an ambulance is necessary, what type of help is required, and so on.

Thus, Internet of Things Healthcare can greatly improve not only a patient’s health and help in critical situations, but also the productivity of health employees and hospital workflows.

Let’s explore an IoT healthcare workflow example:

1. A sensor collects data from a patient or a doctor/nurse inputs data.
2. An IoT device analyzes the collected data with the help of AI-driven algorithms like machine learning (ML).
3. The device makes a decision whether to act or send the information to the cloud.
4. Doctors, health practitioners, or even robots are enabled to make actionable and informed decisions based on the data provided by the IoT device.

Current Innovations

The landscape of healthcare is rapidly evolving with cutting-edge IoT technologies. Here’s a look at the current innovations shaping personalized medicine:

Wearable Devices: Modern smartwatches and fitness trackers, such as the Apple Watch and Fitbit, offer advanced health monitoring, including heart rate, ECGs, and blood oxygen levels, providing users with real-time health data.

Dexcom G6 -Continuous Glucose Monitor: This device has transformed diabetes management for many individuals. By providing continuous glucose readings and alerts for high or low glucose levels, users can make real-time adjustments to their insulin dosage, significantly improving their ability to manage diabetes and prevent complications.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Tools such as Omron’s blood pressure monitors and Withing’s connected scales allow for remote tracking of chronic conditions, sending data directly to healthcare providers for timely interventions.

Ingestible Sensors: Prescribed medication is swallowed with a tiny digestible medical sensor that sends a small signal to a wearable receiver on the patient, which, in turn, sends data to a dedicated smartphone app. This sensor can help doctors ensure patients take their medication at all times.

Smart video pills: A smart pill can travel through a patient’s intestinal tract and take pictures as it travels. It can then send the collected information to a wearable device, which in turn would send it to a dedicated smartphone app (or straight to the app). Smart pills can also help visualize the gastrointestinal tract and colon remotely.

Brain Swelling Sensors: These tiny sensors are implanted within the cranium to help brain surgeons keep track of severe brain injuries and avoid further deathly swelling. They measure pressure on the brain and are able to dissolve by itself in the body without further medical interference.

The real time data obtained from these IoT devices can be given as an input to the AI based algorithms that can analyse the causes and effects of the problem and provide output that can be used to treat the patient more efficiently.

Case Study: Accuracy and Safety of Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adults with Diabetes

The Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a prominent example of IoT technology making a significant impact in personalized medicine. It allows patients with diabetes to monitor their glucose levels continuously and in real-time, offering more precise control of their condition. Here is a small case study related to this device which was taken at 2022,

Background: We evaluated the accuracy and safety of a seventh generation (G7) Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM) during 10.5 days of use in adults with diabetes.

Methods: Adults with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes (on intensive insulin therapy or not) participated at 12 investigational sites in the United States. In-clinic visits were conducted on days 1 or 2, 4 or 7, and on the second half of day 10 or the first half of day 11 for frequent comparisons with comparator blood glucose measurements obtained with the YSI 2300 Stat Plus glucose analyser. Participants wore sensors concurrently on the upper arm and abdomen. Accuracy evaluation included the proportion of CGM values within 15% of comparator glucose levels >100 mg/dL or within 15 mg/dL of comparator levels ≤100 mg/dL (%15/15), along with the %20/20 and %30/30 agreement rates. The mean absolute relative difference (MARD) between temporally matched CGM and comparator values was also calculated.

Results: Data from 316 participants (619 sensors, 77,774 matched pairs) were analysed. For arm- and abdomen-placed sensors, overall MARDs were 8.2% and 9.1%, respectively. Overall %15/15, %20/20, and %30/30 agreement rates were 89.6%, 95.3%, and 98.8% for arm-placed sensors and were 85.5%, 93.2%, and 98.1% for abdomen-placed sensors. Across days of wear, glucose concentration ranges, and rates of change, %20/20 agreement rates varied by no more than 9% from the overall %20/20. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: The G7 CGM provides accurate glucose readings with single-digit MARD with arm or abdomen placement in adults with diabetes.

Thus these devices can monitor blood glucose levels and send the data to a dedicated smartphone app. Patients with diabetes can use these devices to track their glucose levels and even send this data to a healthcare facility.

For deeper dive visit: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/dia.2022.0011

“Nothing is perfect in this world”, everything in this world has its own pros and cons so here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.

Benefits:

IoT in the healthcare industry has countless benefits. However, the most important is that treatment outcomes can be significantly improved or maximized, as the data gathered by IoT healthcare devices is highly accurate, enabling informed decisions.With detailed information received from lots of IoT devices, health facilities will also be able to improve their disease management.

1. Real-Time Data Access: This allows for precise health monitoring and helps tailor treatment plans to individual needs.

2. Boosts Patient Engagement: By offering actionable insights and timely reminders, patients are more likely to stick to their medication and manage their health proactively.

3. Remote Monitoring: Makes it easier to provide continuous care and makes healthcare more efficient and accessible.

4. Streamlined Care: Integrated health systems help coordinate care better and simplify management.

5. Minimizing errors on patient informations: Health facilities and practitioners will be capable of minimizing errors because all patient information can be measured quickly and sent to a board of doctors or a healthcare cloud platform.

Another great benefit of IoT in healthcare is reduced costs. With IoT in healthcare, non-critical patients will be able to stay at home while various IoT devices monitor and send all important information to the health facility — meaning less hospital stays and doctor visits.

Challenges:

Although IoT in healthcare provides many great benefits, there are also some challenges that need to be solved. The Internet of Things Healthcare solutions cannot be considered for implementation without acknowledging these challenges.

1. Privacy and Security Risks: There’s always a risk that sensitive health data could be exposed through breaches or cyberattacks.

2. Cost and Accessibility Issues: The high costs and ongoing subscription fees can limit access and create disparities among different economic groups.

3. Data Overload: Too much data can be overwhelming for both patients and healthcare providers, making it hard to interpret and manage.

4. Technical Issues and Learning Curve: New devices might have technical problems or require time to learn, complicating their use and effectiveness.

Decentralized Healthcare Systems:

Decentralized healthcare systems, empowered by IoT technology, are reshaping the landscape of medical care by enabling remote and in-home health management. Unlike traditional models that rely on centralized healthcare facilities, these systems allow patients to receive consultations and continuous monitoring from their homes. This advancement enhances accessibility, especially for those in remote or underserved areas, by eliminating the need for frequent travel. Patients benefit from greater control over their health information and more personalized care, as IoT devices provide real-time health data and tailored recommendations based on continuous monitoring of vital signs and chronic conditions.

Despite these significant advantages, decentralized healthcare systems face notable challenges. Ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive health data is critical, necessitating robust encryption and secure data-sharing practices to protect patient information. Additionally, achieving seamless integration and interoperability among diverse IoT devices and platforms can be complex. Regulatory and compliance issues must also be addressed to align with data protection standards and telemedicine regulations. Addressing these challenges effectively is essential for unlocking the full potential of decentralized healthcare systems, ultimately leading to more flexible, patient-centered care and improved healthcare outcomes.

Future Research Directions

As IoT continues to transform healthcare, exciting new research opportunities are opening up. The future of personalized medicine will depend on exploring innovative technologies and approaches that push the limits of what’s possible. Here are some promising research directions that could lead us to the next big advancements in IoT-driven health solutions:

1. Develop Bio-Integrated Wearables: We should focus on creating wearables that integrate seamlessly with the human body, allowing for real-time monitoring of complex health metrics.We can also focus on creating those devices using sustainable materials,enhancing recyclability and reducing the environmental impact of production and disposal(in case of invasive).

2. Innovate Nanomedicine Delivery Systems: Researching how nanotechnology can be used for targeted drug delivery (where only those affected cells are treated ,using this other healthy cells can be protected from any kind of side effects), guided by data from IoT devices, could lead to more precise and effective treatments. Iot devices can provide real-time data on patient vitals, drug levels. This data can be used to adjust the dosage or release the rate at which the nanomedicine can be given to better match the patients current needs.Also the data collected from IoT devices can be analyzed to predict the potential side effects of the nanomedicine(predictive analysis).Continous monitoring through IoT devices allows for detailed tracking of how nanomedicine interacts with the patient’s body over time(enhanced patient monitoring).

3. Explore Blockchain Interoperability: Working on blockchain solutions can enable secure and interoperable health data networks, improving coordination and comprehensive care. Solutions like encryption and secure data protocols can also be integrated cause privacy is the significant concern for patients and ensuring it can build trust in personalized medicine technologies.

Conclusion

“The future of healthcare isn’t just about treating illness — it’s about predicting and preventing it with precision.”

The integration of IoT in personalized medicine is redefining the healthcare landscape. From advanced wearables and AI-driven insights to blockchain security and decentralized care, the potential for innovation is immense. By embracing these developments and focusing on future possibilities, researchers and healthcare professionals can shape a future where personalized medicine not only meets the needs of today but anticipates and prevents health issues before they arise. This is the future of healthcare — innovative, proactive, and deeply personalized.

Thank you for reading and engaging with my blog on IoT in personalized medicine.