Apple Watch Powers Three New Health Studies Focused on Asthma, Heart Failure, and Early Detection of COVID-19

[MacRumors]

During its "Time Flies" event today, Apple announced that it is launching three new health research studies to learn how health metrics from the Apple Watch can help manage conditions that affect the heart and lungs.

First, to study how to better manage and control asthma using physiological signals from the Apple Watch, Apple said it is collaborating with pulmonary experts at the University of California, Irvine and health insurance provider Anthem.

Second, Apple said it is partnering with the University Health Network and the University of Toronto in Canada to learn more about how Apple Watch metrics including blood oxygen can be used to manage heart failure.

Third, Apple is partnering with investigators at the Seattle Flu Study and faculty at the University of Washington's School of Medicine to explore how changes in blood oxygen and heart rate can be early signals of the onset of influenza and COVID-19.

In addition, Apple and the government of Singapore today announced a partnership on the health initiative LumiHealth, which will encourage healthy lifestyle changes through technology. Launching in late October, the LumiHealth app will feature challenges designed to help users sleep better, move more, eat well, and live more mindfully.

Article Link: Apple Watch Powers Three New Health Studies Focused on Asthma, Heart Failure, and Early Detection of COVID-19

 

[invisibleshoes]

Let me just say, that red S6 looks gorgeous....

 

[DinkThifferent]

This is really awesome. Just think about how much iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches have changed and improved in just a couple of years.

Can you imagine how amazing these products are going to be in 2025 or 2030?

I'm seriously going to consider buying an AW6 to replace my trusty old Series 3!

 

[Digital Dude]

"...and live more mindfully."
Something about this whole initiative sounds fishy. ?

 

[MrGimper]

That watch looks mahoosive

 

[mashdots]

Let me just say, that red S6 looks gorgeous....

For real. I was thinking i'd get the blue when i upgrade my S3 but the red is so lovely.

"...and live more mindfully."
Something about this whole initiative sounds fishy. ?

How so?

 

[katbel]

Really good! But it’s appealing more to new users or watch 3 or 4 users

 

[ChristianVirtual]

US only ? Or also international markets ? For the features like blood oxygen ?

 

[slothinker]

The blood oxygen reading is a big deal ... if it changes much it would be a sign of possible COVID-19 involvement and progression.

 

[iemcj]

The blood oxygen reading is a big deal ... if it changes much it would be a sign of possible COVID-19 involvement and progression.

Except it isn't. Blood oxygen readings really isn't as helpful as you think as they can fluctuate throughout the day for perfectly normal reasons. And different people have different natural levels, I've had triathletes with lower levels than patients who I know were very unhealthy lol

 

[Kevincjz]

Except it isn't. Blood oxygen readings really isn't as helpful as you think as they can fluctuate throughout the day for perfectly normal reasons. And different people have different natural levels, I've had triathletes with lower levels than patients who I know were very unhealthy lol

Yeah agreed. Not too sure what the applications are especially where sports are concerned that involve monitoring blood oxygen at that level...

 

[CarpalMac]

This is really awesome. Just think about how much iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches have changed and improved in just a couple of years.

Can you imagine how amazing these products are going to be in 2025 or 2030?

I'm seriously going to consider buying an AW6 to replace my trusty old Series 3!

I'll keep my excitment on ice for the moment. As Apple drip feed out small, iterative improvements, it'll be closer to the 2030 and beyond mark..

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

I was lucky to get an Apple Watch with ECG outside of Australia. To my knowledge, this feature is still coming two years later? Can we expect the same delayed Blood oxygen feature to come to the Apple watch in Australia? Becasue otherwise there is literally no reason to get it in Australia, just settle for the SE version.

 

[Telp]

Except it isn't. Blood oxygen readings really isn't as helpful as you think as they can fluctuate throughout the day for perfectly normal reasons. And different people have different natural levels, I've had triathletes with lower levels than patients who I know were very unhealthy lol

I am not bothered about it’s usefulness so I’m not looking to get into an argument, as much as just learning a thing or two. But since it’s only monitoring one person, and I’m guessing the app is analyzing the data, wouldn’t it be able to figure out (to some degree of certainty) what a normal fluctuation for the wearer is ? So it wouldn’t really matter what’s normal to be vs you because it’s only monitoring me and what’s normal for me. Just thinking.

 

[mani]

Except it isn't. Blood oxygen readings really isn't as helpful as you think as they can fluctuate throughout the day for perfectly normal reasons. And different people have different natural levels, I've had triathletes with lower levels than patients who I know were very unhealthy lol

Yep. These toy features of the Apple Watch will only lead to even more uneccessary enquiries of doctors by concerned wearers, just like the afib warnings already have. All of this is counterproductive and unnecessarily taxing our health system. (By the way: the Apple Watch was by no means the first watch with an ECG as Apple likes to claim..check out the Casio BP-100 that came out in the early 90s. Obviously the Apple Watch works much better 30 years later, but still it wasn't the first watch with a 1-lead ECG)

 

[Telp]

Yep. These toy features of the Apple Watch will only lead to even more uneccessary enquiries of doctors by concerned wearers, just like the afib warnings already have. All of this is counterproductive and unnecessarily taxing our health system. (By the way: the Apple Watch was by no means the first watch with an ECG as Apple likes to claim..check out the Casio BP-100 that came out in the early 90s. Obviously the Apple Watch works much better 30 years later, but still it wasn't the first watch with a 1-lead ECG)

would be fun to pit the two watches against each other.

 

[mani]

would be fun to pit the two watches against each other.

yes would be fun. the Casio came with instructions on a cassette tape. I miss audio instructions...Apple used to have them too.