Key result
Heart rate apps dominate smartphone physiological monitoring while sensor-based blood glucose apps remain absent.
Why the study?
Smartphone-based physiological monitoring offers potential advantages over traditional methods, but gaps remain between current app capabilities and recent technological advances.
Systematic Review
Smartphone-based physiological monitoring apps primarily focus on heart rate using contact photoplethysmography, with significant gaps remaining for other vital signs and real-world robustness.
Smartphone apps prioritize heart rate monitoring; leaves open major gaps in sensor-based glucose and other vital sign applications.
With the increasing prevalence of smartphones and advancements in sensors, smartphone‐based solutions for physiological parameter monitoring appear to offer notable advantages over traditional methods, potentially enhancing safety, convenience and efficiency. This paper aims to present a systematic survey of smartphone sensor‐based physiological parameter monitoring apps, with particular discussions of gaps between their current functional capabilities and recent advances. We conducted a systematic analysis of relevant apps available on the App Store and Google Play, mainly focusing on four vital signs: heart rate (HR), blood pressure(BP), body temperature (BT) and respiratory rate (RR), as well as oxygen saturation (), blood glucose (BG) and haemoglobin (Hb). The analysis revealed that HR measurement apps were the most prevalent, while BP, , BT and RR measurement apps were comparatively fewer, and no smartphone sensor‐based BG measurement apps were identified. The contact photoplethysmography method is widely adopted by current apps, while non‐contact approach holds potential. Novel techniques require further investigation beyond laboratory settings to enhance robustness. Smartphone‐based measurement of physiological parameters shows promise, though further research and development are needed to bridge the gap between current capabilities and the demands of accurate, real‐world health monitoring.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Li et al. (2025) conducted a systematic review in Physiological parameter monitoring. Smartphone sensor-based physiological parameter monitoring apps was evaluated on Availability and functional capabilities of physiological parameter monitoring apps. A systematic survey of smartphone apps for physiological monitoring revealed that heart rate measurement apps were most prevalent, while no sensor-based blood glucose apps were identified.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: