Technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality, along with growing internet connectivity, are transforming the global healthcare landscape. HealthLEADS looks at the top health trends for the year.

Do you have a digital twin in the metaverse? Can this virtual representation, created using data from the real world, help you lead a healthier life in 2023? Metaverse in medicine has the potential to be a game-changer, particularly in personalised medicine, heralding the era of healthcare 4.0.

Ever-evolving technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), along with growing internet connectivity, are transforming the global healthcare landscape. HealthLEADS looks at the top trends that will shape the future of health in 2023:

Table of Contents

#1 Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

Like its popular counterpart, the Internet of Things (IoT), the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) can integrate and adapt data from various sources and inputs. It’s essentially a network of connected medical equipment, software programmes, health systems and services.

In many parts of the world, healthcare organisations are already using IoMT for real-time monitoring of patients, especially in remote setups, as well as for streamlining clinical workflow management. The advantages include improved patient outcomes, lower medical costs, and enhanced drug management, to name some.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a smart pill – battery-free, ingestible biosensing system – that can provide continuous monitoring in the intestinal environment, thereby giving scientists the ability to monitor gut metabolites in real time. Smart pills that can monitor and diagnose medical conditions from inside the body may very well be the future!

As per industry estimates, the global IoMT market is expected to be worth USD 325.3 billion by 2030, growing at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 27.5% in eight years.

#2 Wearable healthcare gadgets

Another booming industry is the wearable healthcare gadgets. Similar to IoMT, as they are powered by IoT, these wearable devices help people to monitor and manage their health effortlessly. Fitness trackers, smart watches, electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors, blood pressure monitors and biosensors are increasingly becoming affordable for a growing section of the global population.

Over the last couple of years, wearable healthcare gadgets and smartphone apps have become integral to preventive healthcare as well as living with chronic health conditions like diabetes. These easy-to-wear devices making it super convenient to monitor health parameters in real time at home. They are likely to get more personalised and effective in the near future.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023, healthcare solutions company Movano Health revealed its smart ring, Evie, designed specifically for women. The ring combines health and wellness metrics to give a full picture of one’s health, including resting heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiration rate and skin temperature variability.

#3 Telemedicine

Perhaps the only silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the realisation that for many health conditions, care can be provided as – if not more – efficiently and cost-effectively from a distance. Telemedicine was truly a boon during the early pandemic months and it continues to empower healthcare providers to offer better services to a wider audience at lower costs.

Right from video consultations with doctors and home-based care to remote surgeries (wherein the surgeon uses robotic technology to operate on a patient in a remote location), we’ll be seeing a lot more of telemedicine in all its splendour in 2023. Electronic health records will become the norm.

In a recently published study, Japanese researchers found that telemedicine can contribute immensely to medical care in remote communities. In Shinshiro, a town located in the mountains of central Japan, the research group operated a mobile ultrasound imaging system with 5G communications for the aging population of the region.

Telemedicine can not only help reduce the vast regional disparities in healthcare, making it accessible for all, but also make early diagnosis and preventive healthcare a reality.

#4 Mental health

Another realisation that many of us have had during the pandemic is that mental health matters. As conversations about mental health get louder – not just on social media – it’s time to break away from the stigma and shame often associated with these issues.

Over the last three years, there has been a surge in online communities, which are patient-led rather than practitioner-led. These virtual support groups have helped to create a sense of belonging for those who may not have access to in-person support.

We can expect to see more such communities flourish in 2023. Along with apps that operate in the mental health and self-care space. Last year, meditation app Headspace, launched two series focused on peaceful sleep and meditation on Netflix. Clearly, there’s a demand and we’ll be seeing more activity in this space.

Will this drive a more inclusive mindset when it comes to health insurance and employee benefits only time will tell. Also, can we acknowledge that healthcare practitioners and clinicians deal with burnout and mental health issues too? It’s time we address the elephant in the room.

#5 Fitness

If you are among those who find fitness boring, we have good news for you. VR workouts add the magic of gamification to make fitness fun! And 2023 is the year when these high-tech headsets, devices and apps are expected to become more mainstream.

From total-body workouts to dance fitness routines and martial arts challenges, there’s something for everyone in the immersive, virtual fitness world. Meta, Apple, and several tech startups are betting big on the application of VR and AR in fitness.

The focus is on making fitness an integral, fun part of everyday life – not something you do for an hour, if and when you find the time to hit the gym! And yes, it’s no longer just about losing weight or gaining muscles; it’s also about maximising mobility and flexibility as you age.

#6 Artificial Intelligence

Is it possible to make a health trends list and not include AI? Whether it’s remote care, wearable gadgets or hospital chatbots, the adoption of AI in healthcare is already happening. The global AI market in healthcare, valued at US$15.1 billion in 2022, is expected to touch US$20.65 in 2023. And by 2030, the market will reach US$187.95 billion, predict industry reports.

The healthcare ecosystem is familiar with various AI-powered technologies, such as computer vision, natural language processing and pattern recognition algorithms. Going forward, the key is to use these tools more effectively for predicting, diagnosing, monitoring, and treating patients.

So far, we have only scratched the surface; there’s so much more that AI can do in healthcare. (No, we are not talking about bots replacing doctors.)

With so much innovation happening in the healthcare space, the future looks promising. The potential impact of these innovative solutions can be unprecedented in transforming the healthcare ecosystem, curing and preventing diseases, discovering new drugs and treatment modalities, helping people lead a healthier life. And getting us closer to the cherished dream of ‘healthcare for all’.