A comprehensive systematic review evaluated 60 observational studies published between 2014 and 2024 to assess the potential of next-generation non-contact and wireless wearable technologies for vital sign monitoring in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The included studies, which utilized a reference sensor for comparison, featured a median of just 10 patients, typically moderately preterm infants around 34 weeks gestation.

A majority of the technologies (72%) were non-contact, and 28% were wireless sensors. Generally, these devices demonstrated good accuracy in monitoring a single vital sign, often utilizing offline data processing.

Despite showing promise, the review highlighted significant limitations across the current research landscape.

Key issues driving the risk of bias and applicability concerns were small sample sizes, unclear methods for participant selection, and limited transparency in reporting.

While non-contact and wireless technologies offer the potential for enhanced, less invasive monitoring, the authors stress the need for future research to thoroughly address current limitations, explore feasibility and safety in diverse NICU settings, and adopt standardized reporting frameworks to allow for meaningful comparisons between studies.

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