Can I use Apple Watch sleep tracking during an at-home sleep study?

[hyperreal]

So, this is a rather specific issue.
I've been referred to a sleep study and it will be carried out using home equipment. I'll be wearing electrodes and other equipment connected to some sort of device that wirelessly transmits the data to another, larger device.

The data is transmitted using Bluetooth. The instructions say to disable any Bluetooth connections in the same room in order to minimize the risk of interference. Won't this disconnect my Apple Watch from my iPhone? Does the sleep tracking functionality on the watch still work without an iPhone connection?

The reason I'm asking this is I'm very interested in comparing the data from Apple Watch against certified medical sleep measuring equipment, even if from one night only.

 

[JT2002TJ]

If your phone and watch are on the same wifi they will still be connected.

 

[hyperreal]

If your phone and watch are on the same wifi they will still be connected.

I see. So the OS decides which connection to use in which circumstances? So, for example, if I'm out of BT range but on the same wi-fi, it won't affect functionality in any way?

 

[JT2002TJ]

I see. So the OS decides which connection to use in which circumstances? So, for example, if I'm out of BT range but on the same wi-fi, it won't affect functionality in any way?

Correct. It also should store all the data in the watch when not connected to the phone, and sync it after. So, even if you weren't connected to the phone, you should still be good.

 

[hyperreal]

Correct. It also should store all the data in the watch when not connected to the phone, and sync it after. So, even if you weren't connected to the phone, you should still be good.

Ok, thanks. I was unsure whether the data gets processed on the watch or the phone and if it gets stored temporarily. The more you know...

 

[kylew1212]

I’d be interested to know how your results compare between devices!

 

[Nhwhazup]

I’m looking at a sleep study as well but am wondering if my sleep isn’t as bad as I think it is. I usually get between 7-8.5 hours of sleep. But of that around 1.5 hours is REM and around 30-40 minutes is deep.

 

[Ready-for-Apple]

I’d be interested to know how your results compare between devices!

+1 me too 🤗

 

[JT2002TJ]

I’m looking at a sleep study as well but am wondering if my sleep isn’t as bad as I think it is. I usually get between 7-8.5 hours of sleep. But of that around 1.5 hours is REM and around 30-40 minutes is deep.

Unfortunately, you can't really tell if you are getting good sleep without monitoring your breathing. If you do stop breathing from an AHI event, typically your heart with rapidly increase in BPM to try to quickly recirculate blood to catch up with circulating oxygen. So, perhaps you could use your heart rate as check (look for rapid spikes throughout the night when sleeping).

But really, a sleep study is very important to really tell if you need a machine/surgery.

I had apnea for years, my last sleep study indicated that I didn't have it anymore (but honestly, I do feel more refreshed using the machine). They use an arbitrary cutoff number, if you are above it, your insurance will pay, if you are below, they won't. But honestly, if you are close to that cutoff, you can still benefit, as I do.

My machine is part of the philips recall, so I've stopped using it, and the insurance company won't pay for a new one (since I was right below the cut off). So, I've been waiting over a year to get Philips to replace my machine. I miss it.

 

[Nhwhazup]

Unfortunately, you can't really tell if you are getting good sleep without monitoring your breathing. If you do stop breathing from an AHI event, typically your heart with rapidly increase in BPM to try to quickly recirculate blood to catch up with circulating oxygen. So, perhaps you could use your heart rate as check (look for rapid spikes throughout the night when sleeping).

But really, a sleep study is very important to really tell if you need a machine/surgery.

I had apnea for years, my last sleep study indicated that I didn't have it anymore (but honestly, I do feel more refreshed using the machine). They use an arbitrary cutoff number, if you are above it, your insurance will pay, if you are below, they won't. But honestly, if you are close to that cutoff, you can still benefit, as I do.

My machine is part of the philips recall, so I've stopped using it, and the insurance company won't pay for a new one (since I was right below the cut off). So, I've been waiting over a year to get Philips to replace my machine. I miss it.

Thanks for the info regarding the heartbeat. So would the 73 be considered a spike or within the norm?

 

[HDFan]

A PostDoc scientist specializing in biological data analysis in his youtube channel evaluated smart watch sleep data as compared to other watches and a medical EEG device at around 16:00 in his video. Apple watches top the watch chart and favorably compare with an EEG result. Gives an Apple Watch a 5 out of 5 rating.

 

[hyperreal]

A PostDoc scientist specializing in biological data analysis in his youtube channel evaluated smart watch sleep data as compared to other watches and a medical EEG device at around 16:00 in his video. Apple watches top the watch chart and favorably compare with an EEG result. Gives an Apple Watch a 5 out of 5 rating.

View attachment 2145684

This guy's videos are actually what finally pushed me to buy the watch.

The thing is, I got into an argument with my doctor about the usefulness of consumer-grade health monitoring devices. I couldn't point him to an academic paper - and I wouldn't even be able to know a high-class one from a poor one - so he jumped to the conclusion that I'm only trying to "justify the purchase by listening to hype and paid advertisers". Even though I explained this guy's background.

I do appreciate the doctor's trust in the scientific method though. Nothing wrong with that. But I also got a bit upset over him implying that I'm extremely gullible.

I want to see how the watch data matches whatever graph the actual measuring equipment produces (I've already confirmed that I'm able to get a copy of it) and possibly show it to him, even though it's just another anecdote. But if the data matches even within a reasonable margin, maybe he won't berate another patients.

 

[AsherN]

There is a world of difference between data from your watch and a real sleep study. I wouldn't even trust the at home setup ubless setup by a pro.

 

[hyperreal]

There is a world of difference between data from your watch and a real sleep study. I wouldn't even trust the at home setup ubless setup by a pro.

I'm well aware of this and it's exactly why I'm interested in comparing the results, even if it's just one night.

The medical measuring equipment will be properly set up in the hospital and I will have to wear it throughout the day.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Thanks for the info regarding the heartbeat. So would the 73 be considered a spike or within the norm?
View attachment 2145529

I would look for a more detailed graph and look for a quick spike. A jump in heart rate. But for 73, I would assume no, I would think it would jump to 100+.

The problem could be I'm not sure how frequently the watch is checking your heart rate. What if it was really 100+, but it read it on its way up/down and caught it at 73?

This is why a sleep study (from a sleep therapist by prescription) is really the only true test...

 

[AsherN]

I'm well aware of this and it's exactly why I'm interested in comparing the results, even if it's just one night.

The medical measuring equipment will be properly set up in the hospital and I will have to wear it throughout the day.

Oh man, that sounds awful. It's bad enough to sleep with all that stuff, but to wear it all day...

 

[hyperreal]

Oh man, that sounds awful. It's bad enough to sleep with all that stuff, but to wear it all day...

It is what it is...
It's still better than setting it up myself. And maybe it'll be easier to sleep with it since I'll have hours to get used to how it all feels on my body.
Although one drawback is that I can't excercise with all that gear attached to me, which will affect my sleep.

 

[AsherN]

It is what it is...
It's still better than setting it up myself. And maybe it'll be easier to sleep with it since I'll have hours to get used to how it all feels on my body.
Although one drawback is that I can't excercise with all that gear attached to me, which will affect my sleep.

There was no option to do the study at the clinic? That's how I've done it. show up at 2100, they wireyou up, sleep until about 0600. Shower and go.

 

[JT2002TJ]

There was no option to do the study at the clinic? That's how I've done it. show up at 2100, they wireyou up, sleep until about 0600. Shower and go.

For me, I had the option (it was a much longer wait for scheduling), but life gets in the way. It's hard to stay away a night with a newborn. I didn't want to put my wife through that.

 

[hyperreal]

There was no option to do the study at the clinic? That's how I've done it. show up at 2100, they wireyou up, sleep until about 0600. Shower and go.

I think they used to do them all at the clinic. Maybe it's now reserved for special or urgent cases only.