Apple Watch Owners Can Participate in Apple Heart Study to Identify Irregular Heart Rhythms

[d.steve]

PSA: If you don't qualify, please just leave it for others. It's a study, and the requirements are there to help them achieve the end goal of eventually being able to help everyone, not just those that meet the requirements.

Just saw posted elsewhere:

>>>> I want to participate but I’m not 22. :/ should I just lie about my age or wait?
>>> Please don't screw up a study.
>> Okay, I didn’t sign up. I’ll keep checking back to see if they lower the age. Thanks
> Thank you

 

[trusso]

I'm rolling my eyes at the potential for an unhealthy positive feedback loop.

Your watch notifies you of an irregular heart rhythm, which in turn increases the irregularity of your already (supposedly) irregular heart rhythm; so your watch notifies you again, which proceeds to up your heart rate even more; thus your watch notifies you yet again...

And the next week we read in the papers: "Apple Watch Kills Man. Autopsy Reveals Perfectly Healthy Heart."


Unlikely, I know. I'm just trying to illustrate the fact that, before we fall in love with supposedly helpful technologies, we ought to consider all their potential effects - both good, and bad.

 

[triscuitbiscuit]

Interestingly, I bought an Apple Watch the other and noticed on the box it said “Apple Watch is not a health device”. What are the qualifications for being labeled as such?

FDA approval

 

[Frankfurt]

I also signed up.... awaiting confirmation. I am curious about this. This has huge potential going forward. Albeit, I am a bit concerned about data privacy.

 

[Allyance]

AliveCor

Now we are talking!

 

[Mike MA]

I‘m sure I would immediately make some heart disease diagnosis on myself as being a true hypochondriac. I pass.

 

[FloatingBones]

Taken together, these two announcements send a mixed message. Is the $199 Kardia Band add-on required to detect abnormal heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation, or are the Apple Watch's sensors sufficient?

 

[ghsDUDE]

I signed up and met all qualifications. I approved the notifications and now my screen is sitting here.

Is this all I’m supposed to see now that I’m signed up?

 

[avanpelt]

I requested to participate in the study as soon as I saw this article. I don't have any heart issues yet (that I know of), but several members of my immediate family have had heart problems. This type of research is very exciting stuff.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Maybe. But is the battery and processor the same too?

A big lack of understanding of how things work.

The Series 1 and 2 have the same processor. The Apple Watch (the original) has a slower processor and different battery.

 

[Frankfurt]

I signed up and met all qualifications. I approved the notifications and now my screen is sitting here.

Is this all I’m supposed to see now that I’m signed up?

Yes. Same here. I am sure they are flooded with requests and now will select a certain demographic based on state and birthdate. Once complete, you will get either a confirmation or decline.

 

[avanpelt]

Taken together, these two announcements send a mixed message. Is the $199 Kardia Band add-on required to detect abnormal heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation, or are the Apple Watch's sensors sufficient?

It seems to me that the Apple Watch itself (Series 1 or above) is sufficient for participation in the study so long as the participant meets the other requirements of participation.

 

[rishic89]

Weirdly, this is one of the "killer" apps that might make me get an Apple Watch.

Some family members were recently diagnosed with heart arrhythmias, so it's something that's been on my mind lately. It'll be interesting to see how accurate it is. If it's accurate enough, should it also be possible/advisable to call emergency services in the event of a serious cardiac event?

In an event of serious cardiac event I would call ambulance. Due to the fact that most arrhythmia's are fatal and require Defibrillation. Afib is fairly common and not too concerning, but other heart rhythms are extremely dangerous

 

[Boatboy24]

I signed up and met all qualifications. I approved the notifications and now my screen is sitting here.

Is this all I’m supposed to see now that I’m signed up?

That's where I am and have been for several hours. Can't successfully install on my Series 2 either. It starts, appears to complete, then restarts. Continually.

 

[GSDLVR123]

Lame if you have AFIB you aren't eligible. Would be nice to have notification that my heart is going haywire and not just spiking to 120 while I'm walking.

I too wish I were eligible - I had a massive heart attack a few years back and am on Brilinta (antiplatelete) - this App would be helpful and appreciated, but I understand the possible liability issues for Apple.

 

[Penn Jennings]

I sometimes fail to understand why original Apple Watch owners lament so much. You know, or should know, with near certainty that the very first technology introduced in any area will be quickly eclipsed by advances. That is the price one pays for being an early adapter... You get the cool stuff now but each newer version will be much better. Anyone that finds that unacceptable really should wait for the 2nd or 3rd version of any new products.

 

[kstotlani]

isn't constantly checking the heart rate throughout the day draining the battery about as fast as the "work out" mode? = several hours of battery life but not all day battery life?

Apple Watch has two types of sensors. Throughout the day it uses the infrared low power sensor to check heart rate. This is done every ten minutes and I think you have to be not moving too much. If you start a work out then it uses the green led based sensor throughout your workout. This might consume slightly more battery. Compared to this the Fitbit charge HR uses the led based sensor throughout the day with an interval of a few seconds and gives good battery life. Obviously Apple Watch does more work than a Fitbit. I still think 10 minute interval is way too large to get accurate samples. I almost didn’t buy the watch due to this reason but I am very happy with it.
[doublepost=1512065249][/doublepost]

Signed up, looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I always wonder who reads the entire terms and conditions for such an app. I am sure there would a lot of legal mumbo jumbo about they owning all your data once you sign up.

 

[Penn Jennings]

isn't constantly checking the heart rate throughout the day draining the battery about as fast as the "work out" mode? = several hours of battery life but not all day battery life?

I have a series 3 with GPS only. I installed cardiogram right way and several other apps. My heart rate is sampled every 5 minutes it seems and I get just over 2 days per full charge. I also do 40 minute indoor walk (treadmill) most days as well which is constant monitoring.

If I charge fully on Monday morning, I recharge again Wednesday morning while wearing it continuously in-between. I should also note that I have raise to wake enabled but I usually leave it in theater mode.

 

[npmacuser5]

Weirdly, this is one of the "killer" apps that might make me get an Apple Watch.

Some family members were recently diagnosed with heart arrhythmias, so it's something that's been on my mind lately. It'll be interesting to see how accurate it is. If it's accurate enough, should it also be possible/advisable to call emergency services in the event of a serious cardiac event?

My Series 0 Apple Watch was a significant help in diagnosing a minor heart problem, if left to continue, not good. The Health App Data pointed Doctor to have some additional teats and treatment. Without it, early detection not possible. Highly recommend the Apple Watch as an easy to use data collection on Heart Health. I will soon be upgrading to the Series 3 version. Health App and Apple Watch are a “killer app”.

 

[LxHunter]

My daughter wore fitbit for a few years
Bought her Apple Watch
Detected cardiac irregularity

In Canada so can’t enroll

 

[Mabus51]

I too wish I were eligible - I had a massive heart attack a few years back and am on Brilinta (antiplatelete) - this App would be helpful and appreciated, but I understand the possible liability issues for Apple.

I get that, but they could manipulate the wording in the notification simply by stating you maybe having fibrillation. Would be nice to be alerted in the sense of awareness. I've grown used to the feeling so I generally know when I'm in afib over exertion but still even that isn't always the case and would like to record it instead of wearing ugly itchy monitors for 24 hour periods.

 

[FloatingBones]

It seems to me that the Apple Watch itself (Series 1 or above) is sufficient for participation in the study so long as the participant meets the other requirements of participation.

I don't think you understood my question. If the Apple watch by itself is sufficient for the study, then what the heck does that say about the $199 Kardia band? Who needs it?

 

[whooleytoo]

In an event of serious cardiac event I would call ambulance. Due to the fact that most arrhythmia's are fatal and require Defibrillation. Afib is fairly common and not too concerning, but other heart rhythms are extremely dangerous

What I'd imagine - if possible and if the device is accurate enough - is a sliding scale of responses:

"Hi User, your heart-rate is showing some minor abnormalities. You should mention this on your next visit to your health professional".
"Hi User, your heart-rate is showing significant abnormalities. You should contact your health professional as soon as is practical".
"Hi User, we are detecting a major cardiac event. Dialling emergency services (or your personal emergency point-of-contact) in 10 seconds, please press Cancel if not incapacitated".

 

[SoundJudgment]

So do you have to wear the watch on your wrist 24/7 to be a part of this?

 

[BruceEBonus]

AliveCor
View attachment 739333
Now we are talking!

Talking snake oil.

That Kardiaband shot shows an animation of a generic Sinus Rhythm. It's a simulated image. Not your personal ECG. That is electronically impossible without a full diagnostic lead placement. But. It looks good dunnit? It is irresponsible to assume all arrhythmias are AF attributable as it is to assume that a regular rhythm will always be SA node based and/or 'Normal'. But it sells hardware.

Upshot: Leave it to the professionals. Cheaper. Quicker and safer.