Apple is poised to introduce a new smartwatch capability that claims to assist in identifying elevated blood pressure levels, although cardiologists are advising individuals to exercise caution when interpreting the findings.
Once the enhancement receives regulatory approval, the Apple Watch will utilize its optical sensor to evaluate the response of a wearer’s blood vessels to their heartbeat, signaling them if it identifies persistent indicators of chronic hypertension.
Importantly, the device will not provide actual blood pressure measurements; rather, it will send notifications indicating that users may be experiencing hypertension. Apple has suggested that individuals receiving these notifications should utilize a cuff to monitor their blood pressure over a week and subsequently consult their physician with the findings.
Health professionals assert that while the functionality has certain limitations, it could enhance awareness of a condition that frequently goes unnoticed.
Apple's New World
Approximately 1.3 billion adults globally suffer from high blood pressure, yet nearly half are oblivious to their condition. Most individuals do not exhibit any symptoms, but hypertension increases the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage.
Apple anticipates that regulatory authorities will endorse this feature “soon” and plans to launch it in over 150 countries and regions, including the European Union.
This functionality will be accessible on the Apple Watch Series 9, and subsequently, on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and watchOS 26.
An Expert's Comment
The smartwatch feature could be beneficial for trend analysis, but Dr. Felix Mahfoud, head of the cardiology department at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, advised Euronews Health that it should not be depended upon for accurate health information or for making healthcare decisions.
“I can explain what it signifies when we measure your blood pressure concerning your stroke risk” and other health concerns, noted Mahfoud, who also serves as the communications chair for the European Society of Cardiology.
Case-Studies and Trials
However, he cautioned that “all this is essentially unknown for detection through smartwatches,” emphasizing that "no one should ever base any treatment or management decision on a smartwatch. "
In trials involving over 2,200 participants, Apple reported that the watch's hypertension feature demonstrated a sensitivity rate – the capacity to accurately identify a condition – of approximately 41 percent, and a specificity rate – the ability to correctly identify the absence of a condition – of around 92 percent.
This indicates that the watch might overlook more than half of hypertension cases, although it is unlikely to generate numerous false positive alerts.
Over One Million Alerts
Nevertheless, Apple projected that it would alert over one million individuals with undiagnosed hypertension within the first year.
The feature is also not intended for every demographic. The company recommends that individuals under the age of 22, pregnant women, or those with a prior diagnosis of hypertension should not rely on the watch.
Mahfoud indicated that this could foster greater awareness regarding the dangers of elevated blood pressure. He said it would be beneficial to enhance understanding of hypertension, and we are optimistic that these resources will achieve that.
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