How Apple Watch is Evolving as a Medical Device?

Whilst all wearable technology impacts the user's health to some degree, the latest version of the Apple Watch is regarded by a growing number of Medical Professionals as the most sophisticated device in this field. This article looks at the capabilities of the current design of Apple Watch and how it can be an effective healthcare accessory.

Apple Watch Overview

The Apple Watch is a smartwatch product created and sold by Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, California. It has fitness monitoring, health-related features, and wireless connection, and is compatible with the WatchOS software and many other Apple devices and services. The Apple Watch first became available in 2015 and rapidly emerged as one of the world's most favoured wearable devices. Sales reached about 4.2 million in the second quarter of 2015, with an estimated 115 million individuals using an Apple Watch by December 2022. The Apple Watch is currently on its ninth iteration, which launched in September 2023.

Apple Watch Capabilities

Although the Apple Watch was originally marketed as a multi-function communications and lifestyle device, it has evolved to have a significant information-gathering capability, particularly in health tracking. Much of the medical data that the Watch can gather and analyse is gathered by a heart sensor and ECG app, that can track user's heart rate, rhythm and oxygen levels, and alert them to problems. It also provides body temperature sensing and female menstrual cycle tracking as a routine function. The latest Apple Watch can collect data on a range of medical functions, including:

• Heart rate monitoring: The Apple Watch can monitor the user's heart rate in real-time.
• Irregular rhythm notifications: The watch can detect an irregular heart rhythm, which may indicate atrial fibrillation.
• ECG tracking: The ECG app can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the user's heart and determine anomalies with it.
• Low cardio fitness notifications: The watch can notify the user if their cardio fitness is of concern.

Undeniably, many other high-level fitness trackers are also able to carry out these functions, but there is a distinction in the accuracy of this data. When it comes to the collection and analysis of data, it is imperative that medical information is as accurate as possible, otherwise there is little point in gathering it in the first place. The Apple Watch is regarded as being significantly more accurate than its contemporaries, and that is an important difference.

The medical capabilities would be even better if the Apple Watch could also deliver accurate oxygen (O²) levels, but the sensor for this feature is currently in a patent dispute with US tech company Masimo. This company is regarded as being well-respected within the medical community for its pulse oximetry technology and has had a long-running legal battle with Apple who, it claims, has stolen its technology and has poached strategic personnel. More accurate iterations of the Apple Watch in the future depend on the legal outcome.

Medical Focus

The main reason why the Apple Watch is being positioned as the device of choice by doctors is its highly competent Electro-Cardiogram (ECG) component. This feature enables users to record an ECG akin to a single-lead electrocardiogram, which can then be shared with medical professionals.

This signifies a substantial progress in the capacity to monitor cardiac health in real-time and outside clinical environments for both patients and physicians. Consequently, an increasing number of physicians recommend the Apple Watch due to its capacity to alert them of impending bouts of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a prevalent but critical cardiac ailment that is identifiable by accurate ECG readings.

This element of the watch is seen as being the single most important feature in helping maintain people's health. The existence of AFib in a user is a strong indication of potential health problems. A high burden of AFib is generally associated with a gradual structural change in the left atrium including dilatation, wall thickening, and fibrosis, and early detection can go a long way to helping a person live a longer, healthier life.

Accuracy is Everything

The Apple Watch is regarded as being so good at tracking health factors that it has been the subject of several academic studies and thesis. One of these, headed by Maarten Falter et al, entitled "Accuracy of Apple Watch Measurements for Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Cross-Sectional Study" is regarded as being a balanced review of the device.

The study found that, while the Apple Watch tended to over-estimate the user's energy expenditure, its ability to operate as an ECG was very close to the gold standard results obtained from calibrated medical equipment.

The findings in the report indicated that the heart rate of individuals with cardiovascular disease could be estimated with clinically acceptable precision when the wrist was held steady during 30-second averages during indoor cycling. As a result, the report concluded that the device could be deemed safe to use in a heart-rate-guided exercise regime as part of cardiac rehabilitation.

Conclusions

The current Series 9 model of the Apple Watch is a remarkable device that operates as an effective fitness tracker alongside its communications capabilities. Those wearing the Watch can be assured that the data that is being collected is fairly accurate, and can be presented to cardio-doctors as such. This is an excellent step forward in private health monitoring and may actually contribute to longevity of users by detecting heart problems such as AFib long before it becomes a serious problem.