Apple Joins Forces with Researchers to Conduct Health Studies Using Apple Watch

Apple is joining forces with researchers to conduct health studies that include using Apple Watch...

Photo credit: Apple

Apple is joining forces with researchers to conduct health studies that include using Apple Watch to explore how blood oxygen levels can be used in future health applications.

Last month, Apple collaborated with the University of California, Irvine, and Anthem to examine how longitudinal measurements of blood oxygen and other physiological signals can help manage and control asthma.

Read more: The New Apple Watch Measures Blood Oxygen To Help Users Monitor The Effects Of COVID-19

Now, Apple will work closely with investigators at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the University Health Network, one of the largest health research organizations in North America, to better understand how blood oxygen measurements and other Apple Watch metrics can help with management of heart failure. Finally, investigators with the Seattle Flu Study at the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine and faculty from the University of Washington School of Medicine will seek to learn how signals from apps on Apple Watch, such as Heart Rate and Blood Oxygen, could serve as early signs of respiratory conditions like influenza and COVID-19, reports Apple.

For the heart failure study, Apple has collaborated with researchers from the University of Toronto led by Dr. Heather Ross. The team will use Apple Watch sensors, including the new VO2 Max algorithm, along with traditional in-clinic assessments, to monitor patients through the course of their treatment. The goal of the study will be to see how much meaningful assessment of the patients can be accomplished with the signals from the Watch, according to MobiHealthNews.

“We’re working with the team at UHN to help understand which interventions are having the most impact on the physiological signals” Desai said. “This study is about measuring the cardiovascular and pulmonary signals that are important, but also how does it potentially change how you manage heart failure from a clinical management standpoint?”

Apple’s other study with the Seattle Flu Study and the University of Washington is along the same lines. In this study, participants will be monitored with the Watch, as well as with traditional respiratory panel tests, so researchers can start to understand how much power the Watch’s blood oxygenation sensor, for example, has to predict respiratory infections.

Read more: Notable’s Apple Watch App Helping Doctors Save Time On EHR

“The hope is that physiological signals from the Apple Watch will make it possible to identify people who are falling ill, and get them tested quickly so they can self-isolate and break the chain of transmission of the virus in the community,” Dr. Jay Shendure, professor of genome sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said in a statement.

Sam Draper
November 2, 2020

Innovation of the Month

Do you want to discover more, visit the website
Visit Website

Other news

How Organizations Are Using Wearables To Improve Wellbeing of Employees

More and more companies are focusing on improving the health and wellness of their employees and...

New Online Exhibition Surveys Futuristic Weird Body-Enhancing Wearables

The fashion industry is consistently adopting new technologies to further the possibilities of...

Hong Kong Polytechnic University Develops Robotic Arm to Assist Stroke Patients in Mobile Rehabilitation

PolyU develops robotic arm for stroke patient rehab with exo-skeleton and stimulation technologies.

NeuroMetrix Restructuring Business After Q2 2019 Results Show Weak Performance of Quell Pain Relief Wearable

NeuroMetrix has sought help from investors in an effort to restructure its business.
Discover more