Research shows smartwatches can detect COVID-19 long before symptoms appear

The Apple Watch is heavily focused on health and fitness related features. In particular, this makes it possible with their help to identify early signs of disturbances in the normal functioning of the body. Research from Mount Sinai Health System hospitals in New York and Stanford University in California has shown that Apple Watch can detect signs of COVID-19 before the user experiences symptoms.

Research shows smartwatches can detect COVID-19 long before symptoms appear

The fact is that Apple’s wearable device is capable of detecting minor changes in the heartbeat, potentially indicating the initial stage of COVID-19. Heart rate variability, that is, the uniformity of the intervals between beats, is often associated with an inflammatory process in the body.

The Mount Sinai Health System study included 300 healthcare workers who wore an Apple Watch for six months. Stanford University in California conducted a study involving over 5,000 people who wore a variety of smartwatches, including Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin. The study found that 81% of affected participants experienced the heart rate abnormalities described above more than a week before the onset of more pronounced COVID-19.

Unlike conventional medical devices used for single measurements, smartwatches can monitor the heart rate around the clock, which allows detecting even minor but systematic irregularities that are likely to indicate a disease.

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