Recent Advances in China's Wearable Healthcare Sensors for Chronic, Neurodegenerative, and Cardiovascular Care: A Narrative Review

Abstract

China’s rapid transition into a super-aged society is accelerating demand for advanced wearable healthcare sensors tailored for long-term, low-burden monitoring. While numerous reviews discuss demographic and policy contexts, fewer highlight the latest wearable sensor research emerging from Chinese laboratories and companies. This Mini Review summarizes representative advances published in the last five years across three major application areas—chronic metabolic disease management, neurodegenerative disease monitoring, and cardiovascular risk mitigation—focusing on sensor design, sampling media, data integration, and clinical relevance. Rather than examining demographic trends or general market growth, we emphasize technological breakthroughs such as non-invasive glucose-sensing microneedle patches, CKD-oriented urine/breath analyzers, multimodal gait–EEG neurodegenerative platforms, and bioresorbable cardiovascular implants that reflect China's emphasis on long-term, low-burden, and telemedicine-ready care. By concentrating on these China-originated devices and research prototypes, this review aims to provide a concise update on emerging concepts and highlight how these technologies reflect localized priorities—such as non-invasive sampling and family-assisted tele-care—while shaping future global trends.