Smart environments are interactive spaces that offer quality of life for users. Considering this definition, our study aims to investigate papers containing projects and/or evaluation of smart environments in the context of smart cities, using gesture-based interaction applied in health solutions. Our approach is a systematic review of the literature that examined the following databases: IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Springer, CiteSeerX and Google Scholar, from November 13 to December 18, 2014. From 212 studies identified, only 12 were in agreement with the eligibility criteria. After analysis of the papers, the usability of smart gesture-based environments was discussed considering the medical area, presenting possible benefits for healthcare.