Abstract
Background
Climate change has intensified extreme heat events, increasing health risks. While wearable technologies enable continuous monitoring of physiological responses to heat, their applicability in community settings and vulnerable populations remains unclear. This scoping review synthesized existing evidence and identified key research gaps.
Methods
A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and IEEE Xplore from January 2005 to September 2025. Supplementary searches included Google Scholar and reference list screening. Eligible studies involved human participants exposed to environmental heat and used wearable devices measuring physiological indicators relevant to heat stress.
Results
Forty-five studies were included. Most were conducted in Asia (n = 20), North America (n = 12) and Europe (n = 9). Studies mainly included occupational, athletic, military, and emergency service populations, with some involving community populations, including older adults and individuals with chronic diseases. Studies were conducted in controlled laboratories and structured field settings and in real-world community contexts. Wearable technologies included wrist‑worn devices, chest straps, skin‑mounted or heat‑flux sensors, in-ear temperature sensors, and multimodal systems integrated with mobile applications. The most assessed parameters were cardiovascular indices, core or estimated core body temperature, and skin temperature.
Conclusions
Wearable technologies show potential for monitoring physiological responses to heat exposure, but current evidence is based on controlled and non‑representative populations and settings. There is a critical need for validation in real-world community contexts, particularly among older adults and individuals with chronic diseases, to support heat-health prevention and climate adaptation strategies.
Key messages
• Wearable technologies support real‑time heat‑stress monitoring and advance understanding of physiological responses across diverse populations and contexts.
• Mapping wearable technologies and their applications reveals current evidence gaps and informs future research and real‑world implementation for heat‑health protection.