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It doesn't have to be 100% accurate, but absolutely should/must be consistent. Doesn't matter what my 'normal' is as long as I can trust the deviation number. Sounds like the Watch version is neither accurate NOR consistent. So... why bother?

You are confusing terms: accuracy IS having samples that show a small distribution in values (regardless of whether those values are “correct”)

Precision is the quality of a set of samples that have a relatively small deviation from the correct or reference value.

Therefore, when a data set is both precise and accurate, the values have very little variation from the reference, and have little distribution amongst the values.

(note, it is hard to be precise and not accurate, but very easy to be accurate and not precise...)
 
Mine has been accurate, 1% variability plus it tracks at intervals through out the day without me walking around with a big ass hunk of electronics on my finger tip. I used my Masimo ($200-$300) not a $20 amazon meter, the watch seems to be very stable when using manual measures. I'd have to leave the Masimo on and pull the data from both to do a comparison on the auto measurements... but I'm feeling lazy maybe another day I'll do that another day.
SPO - 1.jpeg
 
Spend a grand on a new watch for a feature thats more accurate on a 15 buck device from amazon.
Sure. Sign me up and take my money!
I literally received a pulse oximeter that I paid for 15 bucks on Amazon today, and it’s probably a hell of a lot more accurate than the one on the Apple Watch based on early reviews

not to say it isn’t a handy feature on the series 6 Apple Watch, just not big enough of a feature to upgrade from series 5
 
You are confusing terms: accuracy IS having samples that show a small distribution in values (regardless of whether those values are “correct”)

Precision is the quality of a set of samples that have a relatively small deviation from the correct or reference value.
You actually have it backwards. :) From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_and_precision:
In measurement of a set, accuracy is closeness of the measurements to a specific value, while precision is the closeness of the measurements to each other.
 
The ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6 has “FDA Clearance” and is not “FDA Approved.” Big difference.
 
So basically, they just wanted a new feature for a new watch and slapped this half baked gimmick onto it to serve that purpose. 🙄
 
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I am older than you and my average is 98%. From my experience with the watch since 9.21, it has been consistent with its background readings as well as the manual test.

I like that I can track long term results with the watch and compare to the FDA device when I want. Doing this will give me and my doctor a good overview of my day to day health. I also log my BP twice daily, along with keeping tracking of food intake, sleep, and bowel movements every day.
This is beyond neurotic. What's the purpose in doing this and how has this helped your doctor?
 
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This is beyond neurotic. What's the purpose in doing this and how has this helped your doctor?
There is nothing neurotic about being proactive about your health. If one goes to the doctor and says, I don’t feel well etc., the doctor will ask how long has this been going on and what kind of symptoms have you had? Personally logged information can be of use to the doctor. Instead of saying I am not sure, I can point to the date and cogently discuss symptoms and possible causes with my doctor. It is invaluable when discussing family predisposition.

Nothing in my previous post would be classified as neurotic. It might be a good idea for you to look up the word, as you used it when it wasn’t appropriate.

If you don’t have anything more meaningful to discuss, please don’t bother responding to my post, as I won’t be wasting my time next time discussing the obvious and logical to someone casting stones without knowing what you are talking about.
 
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I’m staying on my series 5. Was expecting way more from Apple than this.. they have waited so long with sleep tracking and blood oxygen and here we where dreaming of a good feature set for sleep tracking and maybe sleep apnea detection and we get a half assed sleep tracker and a somewhat working oxygen monitor..
 
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So basically, they just wanted a new feature for a new watch and slapped this half baked gimmick onto it to serve that purpose. 🙄
I thought they were adding it, because of COVID. An alert that it has dropped could be a good indicator that you need to head to the hospital. It really isn't as useful if it just logs the data and doesn't notify you.
 
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This is great but it would be nice if they got FDA approval because the feature is rather bland right now.
 
Apple was smart to do this. Maybe down the line they will see FDA approval.

I compared my watch pulse ox to a medical fda proved device yesterday, and each time, there was only a 1% differential between the watch and the device.
Yes, because it’s always between 96% and 100% unless you are seriously ill. That’s why it’s very rare to see a large difference.
This is nothing but a gimmick.
 
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The ECG physically can't diagnose heart attacks because you're not getting a full picture. Take a look at this 12-lead of a STEMI

ECG-Anterior-inferior-STEMI.jpg


This guy is having an anterior and probably inferior STEMI based on leads V1-V5 as well is II/III/AVF. But lead I, which is equivalent to the lead your Apple watch checks, is pretty much normal. The Apple watch would have totally missed it, which is why they warn you every time that it cannot diagnose a heart attack.

It is useful for detecting afib, since that shows up in all leads. And it could probably also be useful for detecting things like heart block or QT prolongation and various other arrhythmias, but Apple decided to focus on afib.

This is likely why ECG approval is being resisted in some countries (eg Australia) - because of concerns that people will rely on it to exclude a heart attack / infarct when it is not capable of detecting such an event.
 
I think many of the knee-jerk critics here seem to be viewing the oxygen saturation addition (it’s not a one trick measurement) as simply a gimmick. I some how doubt it’s that simple, and the simplistic criticisms have also failed to acknowledge the difference in the technology between a fingertip approach and a wrist based system (transmittance-reflective measurements).
My quickie 10 measure testing had a remarkable 1% variation between a quality single purpose device (Masimo) and the watch. Claims the watch is somehow less accurate or only able to measure in a narrow range should be based upon better testing and not on speculative hearsay. I would not consider my test to be definitive.

The watch also records the barometric pressure and flags High Elevation Environments which has occurred on one of readings as I was driving over the Sierras yesterday. Living at 4,517 feet doesn’t seem to trigger the flag which but I wonder if it’s used in the calculating the % result.

For $299* I have a new, faster watch that also reads my SPO without me thinking about it and seems to pretty accurate.

So enjoy your watch, ignore the overt SPO criticisms and let’s hope Apple enhances the product based upon good research and cautious claims.

*$100 reduction after trade-in of a series 3 watch.
 
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This is likely why ECG approval is being resisted in some countries (eg Australia)
My understanding is that it’s not being “resisted” on technology but that it’s use-case required changes to legislation governing the TGA to even allow it to be submitted. Expected changes are to take effect in early 2021.
 
I am older than you and my average is 98%. From my experience with the watch since 9.21, it has been consistent with its background readings as well as the manual test.

I like that I can track long term results with the watch and compare to the FDA device when I want. Doing this will give me and my doctor a good overview of my day to day health. I also log my BP twice daily, along with keeping tracking of food intake, sleep, and bowel movements every day.

Made my day. 😎
 
So basically they are trying to get you to buy one by saying it’s not a serious feature. Seems smart.
 
Check the manual for your fingertip device. I have a good brand, and it says 2% accuracy. It’s not as good as the hospital device, which still isn’t the whole picture as blood tests are needed to confirm adequate O2.

Notice how it matters how long you have the fingertip device on as well. The number fluctuates over time and may not show an average (only if you upload it to a smartphone).

So if your Apple Watch consistently gives a 30 second reading at 97, but your fingertip monitor fluctuates from 97-99, averaging about 98, but both have 2% accuracy, what does that mean?

It means they both are going to help you know if you are dropping below 95% a lot, which is all that matters. They won’t truly let you know if you are 99 or 98 or 97 or 96, but if you read 95 consistently it could be 93...
 
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