New Apple Watch Health Features Coming This Year, but Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Sensors Delayed

[polyphenol]

It is, of course, important that Apple achieve the greatest accuracy, sensitivity, repeatability, etc., for their health features.

However, we should bear in mind that even dedicated pathology labs end up producing results that do not match other labs. In the area with which I am most familiar, the thyroid, reference intervals vary hugely.

For example, Free T4 at one lab could have a reference interval of 12 to 22, and at another 7 to 13. That is, hardly any overlap. And a single blood sample tested at both could be near the top of one, but near the bottom of the other. Indeed, it is unlikely that the sample would achieve 17 on the first, and 10 on the second (mid-reference interval for both). Nor the same numeric result on both.

That is without even considering the numerous factors that can and do interfere with blood tests.

One response to a paper:

Global FT4 immunoassay standardization. Response to: Kratzsch J et al. Global FT4 immunoassay standardization: an expert opinion review

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/cclm-2021-0036/html

I suspect Apple is unlikely to end up doing worse than some established purveyors of analysers.

 

[HorstBockman]

Long overdue Fitness feature: Tap anywhere along the path of a tracked outdoor activity and see a popup of what my heart rate, pace, distance traveled thus far, time into the activity, and time-of-day were at that point. Even include the temperature (which can change significantly during long activities). Has another company patented this? Otherwise I don't understand why Fitness doesn't have this feature already.

 

[JuicyJones]

Apple is still planning to add body temperature monitoring and new health features to the Apple Watch this year, despite experiencing development problems with blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, in addition to multiple new features in the iPhone's Health app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple has reportedly been working on an updated sensor for the Apple Watch that is capable of determining if a user has high blood pressure, but accuracy has been an issue when testing the technology on employees. The feature is purportedly able to tell users if they may have hypertension, rather than provide specific systolic and diastolic readings. Apple is said to have been working on the feature for at least four years, but it is unlikely to be ready until 2024 at the earliest and may slip to 2025.

Apple is also working on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, but the feature is still believed to be several years away and the company is not yet targeting a release year. In the meanwhile, Apple has discussed improving support for third-party glucose meters on the Apple Watch and on the iPhone's Health app to help users with diabetes.

In the immediate term, Apple is working on bringing new women's health features to the Apple Watch and iPhone, as well as new sleep, fitness, and medication management features in the iPhone's Health app. The company is still planning to add a body temperature sensor to the Apple Watch this year, with the feature initially designed to aid fertility planning. Future Apple Watch models could determine if a user has a higher than normal body temperature, but it is unlikely to show an exact measurement.

As part of watchOS 9, Apple is planning to improve its existing atrial fibrillation detection feature with a new capability to measure how long a person is in a state of atrial fibrillation across a certain period. There may also be more workout types and additional metrics for running workouts in the Apple Watch's Workout app.

iOS 16 may feature improvements to the Health app that expand sleep tracking functionality, as well as add new medicine management and women's health features. Apple is said to be developing a medicine management tool to allow users to scan their pills into the Health app and remind users to take them, but the initial version that is set to launch this year is unlikely to include all of the functionality that Apple has planned.

Amid Apple's work on new health features and a number of departures on the company's health team, Gurman added that some employees have been unhappy with Apple's progress, arguing that enhancements are taking too long, not enough risks are being taken, and that the Health team has not grown in at least two years.

Article Link: New Apple Watch Health Features Coming This Year, but Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Sensors Delayed

I bought a Whoop band, ditched my Apple Watch, and haven't looked back. If this rumor is true, we'll be going on 3 years without adding any new sensors to the watch.

 

[280428055]

Worthless feature. People know when they have fever so who cares?

Maybe worthless to you. I had it warn me that it detected a shift outside of normal range and to take it easy a full day before I started showing other flu symptoms. Having a heads up that I was getting sick was pretty nice.

 

[polyphenol]

Worthless feature. People know when they have fever so who cares?

People often do NOT know when their temperature drops. Which is a sign of, amongst other things, hypothyroidism.

And feeling hot is a perverse symptom of hypothermia - which is why, in extremis, some are found naked and frozen. They took their clothes off because they felt hot.

 

[Filligans]

Even the blood oxygen monitoring is imprecise enough.

 

[leeuk321]

I can't wait to upgrade from the 3 series to the 8 series ?

Ha ha, I'm actually on the series 3 myself, and every year I see the new series come out and think, "Nah, I'll hold out another year."

 

[addamas]

I hope they will improve Shortcuts integration with Health App - it’s not possible to mark level or type of coughing from shortcut (only presence), reading daily steps is a pain as well as distance (sum of all readings is bugged).

 

[Jim Lahey]

Non-invasive glucose monitoring is vapourware. Not saying it will never happen but until it actually ships it’s best regarded as one of those things that’s perpetually ‘five years’ away. Kinda like waiting for Apple to equip iPads with OLED displays ?

 

[alongdingdong]

I am still on the 4.
If the 8 does not give some big features this year i will skip for another gen.

I wish apple focused more on making the watch actually smart, let it learn and adapt from your fitness habbits etc and pro-actively coach you.

 

[anthonylambert]

This reads like Apple is developing the sensors... but then that is how Apple would write the press release. Currently the Oxygen sensor is produced by Rockley Photonics. They have sensors under development for core body temperature, Glucose, Alcohol, Heart Rate and many others etc... see https://rockleyphotonics.com/biomarker-sensing/
It looks like RP are still working on the software. Apple would have to package their sensor in their watch maybe there are issues battery? Size?. Also this would all have to be complete very soon to be manufactured by September.
Maybe it is going to miss this year ?

 

[anthonylambert]

Maybe Apple are working on Alternatives to the Rockley Photonic Sensors. The new Apple way its seems is to want everything home grown, processors, modem chips etc.... They use a 3rd party for a while until they can do a totally home grown chip.

 

[anthonylambert]

I guess at some stage Rockley's share price will Rocket !

 

[hanske68]

In short: do not expect much change, wait a couple of years (and then some more to grow mature).

 

[hfleury72]

Hello, is there any insight into whether or not the "design" of the new Apple 8 watch may be different than the 7 series?

 

[2REPOU]

I am waiting for the Glucose. In the meantime it would be nice if I could have the results for the Libre sensor sync with health

 

[slamtennis]

Probably staying with the 4 for another year.

The BP feature would be fantastic. Will wait out for something groundbreaking before upgrading.

 

[dzankizakon]

But it would be insanely great if medicine companies actually cared about people.

You can’t buy love, unfortunately.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Hey, I can also raise and lower my blood pressure. It's easy!
Raise it with Scotch, Lower it with Grapefruit juice.

?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

You can’t buy love, unfortunately.

 

[spinstorm]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 from 2 years ago and it does Blood Pressure.

It seems to be fairly accurate compared to the blood pressure cuff. Not medically as accurate but it gives exact numbers.

I’m surprised Apple can’t even get the watch to report possible hypertension.

 

[sslade6752]

I’m wearing a series 6 and I bought a OMRON heartguide because my bp likes to go to both ends of the spectrum real high and real low. I’d love to see apple finally get blood pressure working. I’m wondering if the plan to implement it in a new watch wiill just use light sensors or go the path of OMRON and have a inner band inflate and be real picked where you hold your rust. The heartguide is a bit big.

also if they get the blood glucose working will that require you to get a prescription for the watch? Asking because unlike my test strips that are able to be bought over the counter CGM devices like the deacom or free style libre require a prescription

 

[lkalliance]

As a Tyoe 1 diabetic who uses the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor I would love if Apple helped them make it better with the Apple Watch. I really wish I didn’t need my phone with me to display readings to my watch. That integration would be pretty awesome.

Definitely this. I have my G6 displaying my readings on my Fitbit using the Glance face, but would love to make the switch to AW if it could read the CGM directly instead. I will buy my first AW the second Dexcom/Apple tell me that I can finally go about my life without needing my phone.

Fairly confident Apple's been looking at doing this. Before the pandemic Kevin Sayer, indicated that they had been working with Apple... just makes me cringe knowing he was on Mad Money pushing profitability to the show, but that's a different matter... https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/06/...-diabetes-collaboration-with-apple-watch.html Ultimately the transmitter for Dexcom is just bluetooth, just need an app on the watch to display that result. My bigger peeve is limited use of complications on the watch face. Since 3rd party apps are limited to the number of times the complication can update a day, there's no way of updating the complication 12 times an hour, meaning the official Dexcom complication is often incorrect without opening the app. Best workaround is to use Sugarmate's ability to write to the Apple iCloud calendar to get around their 3rd party limitation, and that'll put your reading on your car dash when driving.

I learned from a Dexcom representative that supposedly the G7 will be able to send data directly to the Apple Watch. Usual caveats apply: don't know if plans change, or if the person was correctly informed. But that would be in line with this suggestion.

Of course just as Dexcom switches to this kind of arrangement is when I'll be switching to Medtronic CGM to integrate into their newer pumps. I hope Medtronic has closed the gap on their accuracy!

Non-invasive glucose monitoring is vapourware. Not saying it will never happen but until it actually ships it’s best regarded as one of those things that’s perpetually ‘five years’ away. Kinda like waiting for Apple to equip iPads with OLED displays ?

Google tried for years with its smart contact lenses, measuring blood glucose through tear fluid, and gave that up. But that would be once-removed, correlated readings like current CGMs. Actual blood glucose without drawing blood isn't just more convenient than Dexcom or competitors, it's theoretically better, getting you an actual current non-derived reading. I really don't think it will ever happen though. Glucose molecules are extremely nondescript: it would be extremely impressive if Apple or anyone figured out how to detect them through diffraction or reflection or however light-based sensors work.

 

[The Game 161]

I personally just want great battery life

 

[acrakes]

Outside the box thought: could Apple pull off more health sensing if they changed the material on the bottom of the watch - or added stick-on patches? Like, a rough, velcro, sandpaper-ish pattern to keep the watch from sliding around, or little raised microneedles? I know I'm outside the box and ignorant, but all the rumors have them thinking about adding sensors to the default..

Inspired by seeing this article about sticky 'e-tattoos' to monitor blood pressure - https://phys.org/news/2022-06-blood-pressure-e-tattoo-mobile.html