Apple Working With Johnson & Johnson on 'Heartline Study' Aimed at Reducing Risk of Stroke

[MacRumors]

Apple and Johnson & Johnson today announced a new study that aims to gather more information surrounding atrial fibrillation and other conditions tracked by iPhone and Apple Watch. The "Heartline Study" will include an iPhone app, and explores whether health tracking features of iPhone and heart health features on Apple Watch can improve health outcomes.

The study is specifically aimed at individuals over 65 years of age. Apple and Johnson & Johnson are looking to see if Apple's health tracking technology can help reduce the risk of stroke thanks to earlier detection of atrial fibrillation, which is a leading cause of stroke in the United States and detectable with the Apple Watch's ECG feature.

The main issue with atrial fibrillation is that it is difficult to diagnose, due to the lack of physical symptoms in most patients. With Apple Watch, watchOS can alert users to a potential AFib event even if they are unaware of what's happening to them.

"Apple technology is making a meaningful impact on scientific research through the powerful capabilities of iPhone and Apple Watch, all with privacy at the center of the participant experience," said Myoung Cha, Apple's Head of Health Strategic Initiatives. "The Heartline Study will help further understanding of how our technology could both contribute to science and help improve health outcomes, including reducing the risk of stroke."

Those interested in the study must be 65 or older, a U.S. resident for the duration of the study, have traditional Medicare, own an iPhone 6s or later (with iOS 12.2 or later), and agree to provide access to their Medicare claims data. Once randomized participants are selected, they will be divided into two groups: one will only use the iPhone app and the other will use the iPhone app in addition to obtaining an Apple Watch. The study will last three years.

Apple and its devices regularly participate in scientific studies, most recently at Stanford Medicine with the "Apple Heart Study." This study began in 2017, and in November 2019 Stanford Medicine published results that ultimately determined the Apple Watch can successfully detect atrial fibrillation.

Article Link: Apple Working With Johnson & Johnson on 'Heartline Study' Aimed at Reducing Risk of Stroke

 

[rugmankc]

I fit that category. But, am not giving them access to my Medicare----

 

[Hodar1]

My wife has had 5 ischemic strokes, anything - and I do mean ANYTHING, that can help prevent someone else from going through this, is a gift from God. You truly have no idea how much you have, until it's gone.

 

[jwh49]

It was my Apple Watch that alerted me to A-fib last October, thank God!

 

[Stevez67]

Good research, if done correctly. I miss the cut-off by a couple years or I'd be all in.

 

[dwhittington]

Lifesaving technology is technology that matters.

 

[lanegandy]

It mentions that they will include an iphone app. Seems weird that they wouldn't include this in the apple research app.

 

[JLRitte]

Apple should make ECG available to the rest of the world first... (not available in Mexico -or anywhere in LatinAmerica for that matter- yet...)

 

[1345873]

It was my Apple Watch that alerted me to A-fib last October, thank God!

N=1, not a study, it never alerted me, false-negative?

 

[Oz.]

johnson & johnson that poisoned people all around the world?

I can't believe apple make business with this kind of companies...

 

[digitalexplr]

Apple should make ECG available to the rest of the world first... (not available in Mexico -or anywhere in LatinAmerica for that matter- yet...)

It's not up to Apple. It's up to the regions regulators. In the U.S. the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had to approve the use of the AW4 as a medical device.

 

[1345873]

Good research, if done correctly. I miss the cut-off by a couple years or I'd be all in.

Good research by a marketing driven company? First question should be: how does this ‘study’ increase the sales (profit) of these companies? This topic has been researched extensively allready, there’s no value in incidental recording heartrhytms In general. Asymptomatic AFib will therefore by definition not be found. Symptomatic AFib can be found but still has to be diagnosed by a physician or alike before any therapy is considered, these patients would have presented themselves anyway, so nothing gained there..

It could be profitable for patients with known riskfactors for stroke and have suspicion of afib. Again, if you have no symptoms there can be no suspicion and therefore nothing to achieved.
[automerge]1582661004[/automerge]

Good research by a marketing driven company? First question should be: how does this ‘study’ increase the sales (profit) of these companies? This topic has been researched extensively allready, there’s no value in incidental recording heartrhytms In general. Asymptomatic AFib will therefore by definition not be found. Symptomatic AFib can be found but still has to be diagnosed by a physician or alike before any therapy is considered, these patients would have presented themselves anyway, so nothing gained there..

It could be profitable for patients with known riskfactors for stroke and have suspicion of afib. Again, if you have no symptoms there can be no suspicion and therefore nothing to achieved.

 

[victorm1]

Good research by a marketing driven company? First question should be: how does this ‘study’ increase the sales (profit) of these companies?

J&J in particular happens to be extremely infamous for their rather shameless marketing of pharmaceuticals. Pardon me if I’m not leaping at the opportunity to celebrate.

 

[SRLMJ23]

I fit that category. But, am not giving them access to my Medicare----

I am way too young to do this study (I'll be 35 in May), however, I would not to do this study because they want access to your Medicare claims, and this is coming from someone who did the first "Apple Heart Study" and is now doing the "Apple Hearing Study," and "Apple Heart & Movement Study."

If I was a female, I would have done the "Apple Women's Health Study," but I am pretty damn happy I am a male, haha. Childbirth, periods etc...uhh, yeah...no thank you!

I do not get why J&J need access to your health insurance claims for a study, unless I missed something in the article, however, I am not dumb and I bet they will try to market some of their drugs to people in the study and/or also see who is taking THEIR drugs vs. the COMPETITORS!

Edit: @victorm1 is completely right with his statement: "J&J in particular happens to be extremely infamous for their rather shameless marketing of pharmaceuticals. Pardon me if I’m not leaping at the opportunity to celebrate."

 

[Brandhouse]

Shouldn't be targeted to a certain age demographic. I'm 48 with an irregular heart rhythm and have to have regular checks. Sure, an age group might be be prone to it.