On Monday, Apple introduced a new feature for its Apple Watch that aims to detect potential sleep apnea. This development marks the latest step in the company’s decade-long mission to position its wearable devices as tools for enhancing health.
The announcement also included updates to Apple’s AirPods, which will soon offer a hearing test and, later this fall, function as a “clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aid,” according to Sumbul Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health, in a prerecorded video.
The new sleep apnea feature utilizes the Apple Watch’s built-in sensors to identify signs of the disorder, which involves disrupted breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea affects at least 25 million Americans, leading to daytime fatigue and heightened risks of cardiovascular disease and other health issues. However, it remains uncertain how this feature will integrate into the current practices of sleep medicine, given ongoing challenges with wearable-generated data.
Desai explained that the feature monitors users for sleep disturbances and alerts them if moderate to severe sleep apnea is detected. Users will receive educational materials and a detailed report to share with their healthcare provider.
The algorithm behind the new feature was developed using machine learning and a comprehensive dataset from clinical sleep apnea tests. Desai noted that this algorithm was validated through a large-scale clinical study, though details about this research were not immediately available.
Desai also indicated that Apple anticipates receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the sleep apnea feature soon. It will be available on new Apple Watch models and the 2023 Series 9 starting in September. An FDA clearance for the hearing aid technology is also expected.
Christine Lemke, CEO of Evidation Health, a consumer health data company, suggested that wearable sensors are more suited for screening rather than definitive diagnoses. She acknowledged that receiving an alert could prompt users to consult their physician, making the feature a valuable pre-screening tool.
Seema Khosla, Medical Director at the North Dakota Center for Sleep, praised the feature’s potential but noted that sleep apnea symptoms vary among individuals. She emphasized the need for understanding the feature’s limitations and its role in initiating discussions about sleep apnea.
Vik Kheterpal, a physician and principal at CareEvolution, which develops wearable technology studies, viewed Apple’s new feature as part of a broader movement to improve sleep apnea treatment. He criticized traditional methods for being infrequent, late, and costly, and saw this innovation as an opportunity to advance approaches to sleep apnea.
Apple’s health initiatives, initially focused on fitness tracking, have expanded to include features for electrocardiograms, atrial fibrillation detection, cardio fitness monitoring, and fall risk assessment. The company’s sleep apnea detection feature joins these advancements, offering both benefits and challenges. Joseph Ross, a Yale Medical School professor, cautioned that while enhanced screening tools are promising, they can also lead to issues such as over-diagnosis and increased healthcare costs.
Kheterpal acknowledged concerns about false positives but argued that the risks associated with sleep apnea are less severe compared to other conditions like prostate or breast cancer. He emphasized the need for action against systemic under-diagnosis of sleep apnea.
Apple is entering a competitive field, with Samsung having already received FDA clearance for a sleep apnea detection feature on its Galaxy Watch. Other companies, including Fitbit, have also explored sleep apnea technology. Apple has yet to disclose the specific sensors used for its sleep apnea detection, especially as it faces restrictions in the U.S. market due to a patent dispute with medical device company Masimo.
In summary, Apple’s latest innovations continue to push the boundaries of health technology, with new features aimed at improving sleep health and hearing capabilities through its wearable devices.
