APPLE WATCH SLEEP APNEA DETECTION FEATURE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved Apple’s latest sleep apnea detection feature, a significant milestone introduced at the recent iPhone 16 launch event. This feature will be available on the upcoming Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models, expected to launch later this month. By introducing this feature, Apple is reinforcing its commitment to using technology to improve health outcomes, making healthcare more affordable and accessible for millions.

Impact on Healthcare and Users

“We are so excited about the incredible impact this feature can make for the millions of people living with undiagnosed sleep apnea,” said Dr Sumbul Desai, Apple’s VP of Health as mentioned in the report by TOI. This feature stands to offer an accessible, tech-driven alternative to expensive and cumbersome traditional sleep apnea tests, broadening access for those unaware of their condition.

Related News |

How the Feature Works

Apple’s sleep apnea detection will utilize the Apple Watch’s accelerometer to monitor wrist movements, which signal breathing disturbances during sleep. These movements help identify irregular breathing patterns—a common symptom of sleep apnea. The new metric, “breathing disturbances,” will be categorized in the Health app as either “elevated” or “not elevated,” allowing users to track these indicators nightly, as per the report by TOI.

Related News |

This detection algorithm was developed using clinical-grade sleep apnea data and underwent rigorous validation in a clinical study. According to the report by TOI, for users with consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea, Apple will provide monthly analyses and comprehensive reports that can be shared with healthcare professionals.

Related News |

The Health app will also offer educational content to help users understand the implications of sleep apnea, enabling more informed decisions about their health. Additionally, users will have access to detailed reports covering breathing disturbance data from three months, which they can review over longer periods, including one month, six months, or a full year.

2024-09-17T16:10:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd