in 2024. This includes using fitness trackers and smartwatches, online doctor consultations, or any other digital treatment and care use. The utilization of digital health, particularly telemedicine, increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic as alternatives to physical appointments were required.
such as smartwatches have been popular for some years, and still undergo steady growth. The
was worth around 172 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with a forecast for future growth.
Premises required for digital health
The rapid spread of
internet usage and improved connections, mobile devices, and technological advancements were essential preconditions for the rise of digital health. Telemedicine, for example, is dependent on several technical necessities, such as a stable internet connection, innovative software, and access to equipment enabling video calls, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Therefore, a healthcare gap must not develop between those with access to the tools that allow digital health and those without. Older people experience a
higher rate of chronic health conditions and consequently need more contact with healthcare services. In the United States, a survey found baby boomers and seniors had the lowest
rate of digital health use. Some conditions may make the use of digital health or telemedicine particularly difficult. However, it is for these people that the technology could bring the biggest benefits.
What happens with the data collected?
Wearables can
track a number of metrics over a long time, so detailed trends for patients can be viewed by the monitoring health professionals. The tendency of more and more people using this technology has presented an opportunity for the healthcare sector. According to a survey, over three-quarters of respondents would be
willing to share health data if it helped diagnose an illness or aided their treatment. Wearables could also ease pressure on healthcare services by keeping people out of hospitals since it has been said that the act of wearing a health monitoring device such as a smartwatch encourages healthy behavior. Diseases that are developed or have a higher chance of being developed with poor lifestyle choices, such as hypertension and heart disease, would hopefully be reduced. Health data is, on the other hand, an attractive target for criminals, making cybersecurity a pertinent worry. Consumers need to be confident their data is protected, but unfortunately, 171 million
health records were breached in the United States in 2023 alone.
What does the future hold?
Funding for digital health inevitably dropped following the high points during the pandemic. However, the figures have stabilized at levels that were above pre-pandemic levels. Further developments, such as the
use of AI in healthcare, fuel optimism use and investments in digital health will only go upwards.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
