The Apple Watch spO2 sensor and outliers in healthy users

Schröder, Christina; Forster, R. E.; Zwahlen, Daniel R.; Windisch, Paul

doi:10.1038/s41746-023-00814-x

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 10 publications

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“…The measurement methods and the conclusions of the studies on the clinical use of smartwatches vary, but the results show relatively little systematic bias between the devices tested. Recently, Schroder et al [30] pointed out a potential problem with outliers in smartwatch SpO 2 measurements, as some of the values measured by the watch compared to a standard oximeter lay outside the physiological range of 95-100%, even though the measurements were performed on healthy volunteers under normal conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Leading Smartwatches for the Detection of Hypoxemia: Comparison to Reference Oximeter

Walzel,

Mikus,

Rafl-Huttova

et al. 2023

Sensors

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Although smartwatches are not considered medical devices, experimental validation of their accuracy in detecting hypoxemia is necessary due to their potential use in monitoring conditions manifested by a prolonged decrease in peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea syndrome, and COVID-19, or at high altitudes, e.g., during sport climbing, where the use of finger-sensor-based pulse oximeters may be limited. The aim of this study was to experimentally compare the accuracy of SpO2 measurement of popular smartwatches with a clinically used pulse oximeter according to the requirements of ISO 80601-2-61. Each of the 18 young and healthy participants underwent the experimental assessment three times in randomized order—wearing Apple Watch 8, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, or Withings ScanWatch—resulting in 54 individual experimental assessments and complete datasets. The accuracy of the SpO2 measurements was compared to that of the Radical-7 (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA, USA) during short-term hypoxemia induced by consecutive inhalation of three prepared gas mixtures with reduced oxygen concentrations (14%, 12%, and 10%). All three smartwatch models met the maximum acceptable root-mean-square deviation (≤4%) from the reference measurement at both normal oxygen levels and induced desaturation with SpO2 less than 90%. Apple Watch 8 reached the highest reliability due to its lowest mean bias and root-mean-square deviation, highest Pearson correlation coefficient, and accuracy in detecting hypoxemia. Our findings support the use of smartwatches to reliably detect hypoxemia in situations where the use of standard finger pulse oximeters may be limited.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Leading Smartwatches for the Detection of Hypoxemia: Comparison to Reference Oximeter

Walzel,

Mikus,

Rafl-Huttova

et al. 2023

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Improving the management of patients with chronic cardiac and respiratory diseases by extending pulse-oximeter uses: the dynamic pulse-oximetry

Nardini,

Corbanese,

Visconti

et al. 2023

Multidiscip Respir Med

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Respiratory and cardio-vascular chronic diseases are among the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, accounting for a significant portion of health-care costs in terms of mortality and disability. Their prevalence is expected to rise further in the coming years as the population ages. The current model of care for diagnosing and monitoring NCDs is out of date because it results in late medical interventions and/or an unfavourable cost-effectiveness balance based on reported symptoms and subsequent inpatient tests and treatments. Health projects and programs are being implemented in an attempt to move the time of an NCD's diagnosis, as well as its monitoring and follow-up, out of hospital settings and as close to real life as possible, with the goal of benefiting both patients' quality of life and health system budgets. Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this implementation received additional impetus. Pulse-oximeters (POs) are currently used in a variety of clinical settings, but they can also aid in the telemonitoring of certain patients. POs that can measure activities as well as pulse rate and oxygen saturation as proxies of cardio-vascular and respiratory function are now being introduced to the market. To obtain these data, the devices must be absolutely reliable, that is, accurate and precise, and capable of recording for a long enough period of time to allow for diagnosis. This paper is a review of current pulse-oximetry (POy) use, with the goal of investigating how its current use can be expanded to manage not only cardio-respiratory NCDs, but also acute emergencies with telemonitoring when hospitalization is not required but the patients' situation is uncertain. Newly designed devices, both "consumer" and "professional," will be scrutinized, particularly those capable of continuously recording vital parameters on a 24-hour basis and coupling them with daily activities, a practice known as dynamic pulse-oximetry.

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The Apple Watch spO2 sensor and outliers in healthy users

Cited by 2 publications

References 10 publications

Evaluation of Leading Smartwatches for the Detection of Hypoxemia: Comparison to Reference Oximeter

Evaluation of Leading Smartwatches for the Detection of Hypoxemia: Comparison to Reference Oximeter

Improving the management of patients with chronic cardiac and respiratory diseases by extending pulse-oximeter uses: the dynamic pulse-oximetry

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