Apple has received US FDA clearance for their new remote hypertension risk monitoring feature, set to be released on the Apple Watch Series 9, 10, 11, as well as the Ultra 2 and 3 models in over 150 countries.
The feature reportedly uses the optical heart sensor included with Apple Watch devices to measure vascular responses over a period of 30 days, gathering “accurate insights” around the risks associated with hypertension. It’s hoped this data will then be used to “support earlier intervention, empower patients to take control of their health, and provide healthcare professionals with real-time data to inform treatment decisions” on a global scale.
Alexandra Murdoch, senior medical analyst at the data and analytics company GlobalData, has offered thoughts on the latest FDA approval: “Hypertension typically develops without obvious symptoms and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure if left untreated. The ability to continuously monitor blood vessel health from the wrist is a breakthrough for patients and healthcare professionals. The FDA’s decision reflects a growing recognition that connected devices are no longer peripheral to healthcare delivery, they are central to it. This validation paves the way for broader adoption of wearables as trusted tools in patient monitoring.”
In other news recently made to their existing devices, a clinical-grade hearing aid feature was added to the AirPods Pro 2 back in March. The feature, now available in the UK as part of their latest software update, uses a “personalised hearing profile” generated from a five-minute hearing test to enable “dynamic adjustments” to sounds around a user.
Wearables in health and care: the wider trend
We were recently joined by a panel of experts to discuss digital apps and wearables in health and care, exploring how these technologies can be integrated into the health system now and in the future. Our panellists included Gail Lowe, high intensity users lead & county integrated discharge hub lead across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent and Soo Hun, innovation & digital eco-system lead at Digital Health & Care NI.
A PhD study supported by the Royal Papworth Charity’s Innovation Fund has been exploring the use of wearables in monitoring patients with congenital heart disease. The study has been looking at accuracy in estimations of peak VO₂ levels during everyday activities, hoping to enable earlier intervention in cases of deterioration.
Samsung recently signed an agreement to acquire the healthcare integration platform Xealth, in a move to “unify fragmented health information and to empower individuals to take control of their own health”. By combining Samsung’s wearables capabilities and Xealth’s platform, the acquisition will reportedly bring together home health monitoring and clinical decision-making to promote preventative care and patient empowerment.
