Smart devices like smartwatches and fitness bands have become common tools for tracking daily activity, heart rate, and even sleep patterns. But with features like nightly sleep scores, users are increasingly asking: Can they trust the data these devices provide to help with their health? The rise in wearable technology has brought convenience and engagement but also questions about reliability and medical value.
Dr. Sos Mboijana, an internal medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente, says the main concern from patients isn't whether the devices themselves are trustworthy—it's whether the information they give actually leads to better health outcomes. In his medical practice, he's noticed patients are more often asking if the data from their wearables can be used to understand and improve their overall health in the long run.
More people are wearing devices, but data sharing with doctors is still rare
Recent research published in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine shows a significant rise in wearable device ownership among U.S. adults. From 2020 to 2024, usage increased by 36.1%, reaching 41.1% in 2024. Despite this growth, the study found that less than 20% of users have actually shared their wearable health data with a doctor. While the potential for these devices to revolutionize healthcare is evident, their real-world impact remains limited due to inconsistent usage and underutilization of the collected data.
The researchers concluded that the key to making wearable technology more effective in healthcare is to address these gaps. Many individuals either don't wear the devices regularly or don't take the time to share the data with medical professionals. Without consistent engagement from both patients and healthcare providers, the full benefits of wearable technology cannot be realized.
Nightly sleep scores are engaging, but not medical-grade tools
One of the popular features in wearable technology is the nightly sleep score, which estimates sleep quality based on factors like total sleep time and the amount of time spent in deep and REM sleep. Dr. Mboijana acknowledges that these scores can be interesting and informative from a personal health perspective but stresses they should not be used as medical diagnostic tools.
The scores are calculated using proprietary algorithms developed by the manufacturers. Because the exact methods for calculating these scores are not publicly available or validated by the medical community, doctors cannot rely on them to make health-related decisions. This means that a high sleep score on a single night may not necessarily translate to better health outcomes.
Dr. Mboijana gives examples of wearable technology that have been officially approved for medical use, such as FDA-cleared electrocardiogram (ECG) functions in smartwatches or continuous glucose monitoring devices for people with diabetes. These tools are designed to provide reliable, clinically relevant data. However, sleep scores and other lifestyle-related metrics are still in the category of general fitness tracking rather than medical diagnostics.
Focus on patterns, not just one night's results
Instead of fixating on a single bad sleep score, Dr. Mboijana recommends looking at the data over time, much like athletes track performance metrics across training sessions. The goal is to identify patterns and trends that might reveal important information about sleep habits and overall health.
It's important to understand that when someone first starts using a wearable device, their sleep might be affected temporarily. This is often due to the novelty of being monitored, which can influence sleep quality at first. Mboijana advises users to give their device some time to settle in, track the data consistently, and look for long-term trends rather than focusing on isolated results.
Users should consider lifestyle changes that might be influencing their sleep over time. Did they exercise later in the evening? Drink alcohol? Travel? By examining these changes and how they affect sleep scores, users can gain valuable insights into their habits and make informed adjustments.
Dr. Mboijana emphasizes that even if the data from wearables isn't yet fully integrated into medical care, it still holds value. Patients who are actively tracking their health and asking thoughtful questions are already taking a proactive role in their well-being. Still, the healthcare system is still figuring out how to effectively incorporate and utilize this wealth of data in medical decision-making.