Apple Watch Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications Approved in Australia as ECG Approval Edges Closer

[trinket]

Actually, false positives use up resources in a system with limited resources. If you waste it somewhere, you reduce health elsewhere.

The cases of lives been saved due to ECG seems to be one off cases where people haven’t had standard tests that we in Australia can get for free.

also, what the government really wants is people to get a comprehensive test at 45, 50 etc and if people put that off because their watch says they’re healthy, thats a problem.

That's one way to look at it. The other consideration is that it will benefit people who don't fall within the statistical "high risk" categories and who fall under the age where health authorities recommend regular testing, and who may only discover they have a heart problem after wearing an Apple Watch.

Symptoms of many heart problems are the same as symptoms linked with other more benign conditions - so even with ECGs being comparatively more available and affordable to Australians (provided they aren't indigenous or low income and subject to waiting lists, and haven't maxed out their Medicare limits for ECGs) than to people in many other countries, it still comes down to a doctor being compelled to order a test based on the symptoms they're being presented with.

 

[trinket]

Have emailed the Health Department and finally got a response a couple of days ago. Thought you guys would like to read it. Have attached it here.

As suspected, it says a lot of nothing It's just a waiting game! Let's hope for something by Easter.

 

[AussieStu]

finally

 

[dontcrash]

Have emailed the Health Department and finally got a response a couple of days ago. Thought you guys would like to read it. Have attached it here.

Before uploading a PDF on a public server, make sure to actually remove your details, I can see you have an optusnet email, all your info is still there mate! Next time rather than putting a layer on top, look into a program that actually edits the PDF, or next time take a screenshot of the PDF once you have redacted info and share it as an image 😊

 

[AussieStu]

Its now mid-march and I'm still waiting

 

[Skeptical.me]

The Apple Watch's irregular heart rhythm notifications have been approved in Australia, indicating that approval for the ECG feature may be soon to follow after years of waiting, according to EFTM.

Documents seen by EFTM from Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration show that the Apple Watch's irregular rhythm notifications feature has now been approved and added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. While this does not mean that the ECG function has been medically certified for use in Australia, it concretely proves that Apple has begun submitting its devices and software to Australian regulatory authorities for approval.

The irregular rhythm notification feature intermittently checks heart rhythm in the background and sends a notification if an irregular heart rhythm is identified that could potentially be atrial fibrillation (AFib). Upon receiving a notification, users in territories where the feature is approved can immediately launch the ECG app and perform a more comprehensive test in just 30 seconds by placing their finger on the Digital Crown to generate an ECG waveform. The irregular rhythm notifications and ECG feature therefore work hand in hand, so it seems unlikely that one feature will be approved long before the other.

Atrial fibrillation is a health condition that often goes undiagnosed, so ECG app and heart rhythm alerts on Apple Watch are highly useful for detecting early signs of disease. ECG readings also normally require a full ECG machine and a visit to the doctor, which is far less convenient than a reading taken with the Apple Watch.

Apple routinely has to gain approval from government health agencies before making the ‌Apple Watch‌'s ECG feature available in different countries. Apple won U.S. FDA clearance to promote and launch the function when the ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 4 was released in 2018. Over two years later, the feature is still not available in Australia.

Last year, the Withings ScanWatch, which similarly features the ability to take an ECG, was approved in Australia, so it is not clear why it is taking Apple so long to apply or gain approval. Regardless, the irregular rhythm notifications approval is the strongest indication yet that the ECG feature is finally edging toward regulatory assent in Australia.

Article Link: Apple Watch Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications Approved in Australia as ECG Approval Edges Closer

It's now mid march. As someone who has AFib I'm encouraged by this, and really hope the notifications come sooner rather than later. Be kind Apple, add it to an update soon.