Apple Watch may be able to detect coronavirus infection days before testing can

In some cases, wearable devices like Apple Watch or Fitbit devices can predict a COVID-19 infection even before a user becomes symptomatic or the virus is detectable by standard tests, according to studies by a certain. number of leading medical institutions (via CBS News).

Medical researchers at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, for example, have found that the Apple Watch can detect subtle changes in a user’s heart rate for up to seven days before an infection can be detected by tests.

The Mount Sinai study analyzed the time variation between heartbeats, a metric known as heart rate variability. Researchers say it’s a good measure of how well a person’s immune system is working.

“We already knew that markers of heart rate variability change as inflammation grows in the body, and Covid is an incredibly inflammatory event. This allows us to predict that people are infected before they even know it. “said Rob Hirten, study author and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

When it comes to COVID-19, people infected with the disease have lower heart rate variability than those who test negative. The study followed 300 health workers from Mount Sinai who wore Apple watches for five months.

Notably, Apple highlighted the Mount Sinai study during its “Time Flies” event focused on Apple Watch and iPad on September 15, 2020.

Another study from Stanford University in California looked at a variety of activity and fitness trackers from Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, and other manufacturers.

This research, published in Biomedical engineering of nature, found that 81% of those who tested positive for the coronavirus experienced changes in their resting heart rate.

Similar to measuring heart rate variability, the researchers found that trackers could detect infection up to nine and a half days before symptoms started.

According to Michael Snyder, a professor at Stanford University, one of the main advantages of wearable trackers is that people wear them constantly throughout the day. That, Snyder said, could help eliminate some of the drawbacks of standard coronavirus testing.

“The problem [with testing] is you can’t do it on people all the time, while these devices are measuring you 24/7. The smartwatch gives you the data immediately, in real time, so that if you’re lucky you’ll get your test in a few days, ”Snyder said. CBS.

The team also developed an alarm system that alerted users if their heart rate was elevated for an extended period. This could alert people to cancel their outings or meet other people in person, as they could be contagious. All of this research could help healthcare professionals and the public eradicate coronavirus infections, as the majority of cases are spread by asymptomatic people.

“Right now we rely on people saying they are sick and not feeling well, but wearing an Apple Watch does not require active user intervention and can identify people who might be asymptomatic. . It’s a way to better control infectious diseases, “Hirten says.