Apple CEO Tim Cook during an event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, United States, Monday, September 9, 2024. A large screen and the ability to detect sleep apnea are part of an event on Monday that also included the iPhone 16 smartphone. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration Monday Clear apple’s new sleep apnea detection feature is live, which means it will appear on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 later this month.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person’s breathing to stop and start repeatedly throughout the night. The disease affects more than 30 million people in the United States, but only about 6 million have been diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. American Medical Association. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause fatigue and lead to more serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
“We’re excited about the incredible impact this feature can have on the millions of people living with undiagnosed sleep apnea,” said Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, in a video announcing the feature. “
Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature marks the company’s latest attempt to position its wearable devices as cheaper and simpler alternatives to many existing health care tests and devices. The sleep disorders market can be lucrative.
For example, to evaluate sleep apnea, patients often take home or lab tests and monitor them overnight. Prices vary based on insurance coverage, but the average cost of lab testing is $3,000, according to one laboratory. Study in 2022 In Journal of Primary Care and Community Health.
Home testing is usually less expensive, but can still cost hundreds of dollars. Sleep apnea test at home sleep doctor For example, the price is $189. Apple’s latest watch, the Series 10, starts at $399.
Dr. David Kuhlmann, a doctor who has treated sleep disorders in Missouri for nearly two decades, said Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature “could be a game changer” for patients who are reluctant to seek testing. . Kuhlman also serves on the board of directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the professional association for sleep medicine clinicians.
Kuhlman said this feature would be especially helpful for patients who sleep alone, and he thinks many people will be surprised to find out they are showing signs of sleep apnea.
Even so, Kuhlman said users should be cautious about Apple’s sleep apnea data because the readings could be wrong. He said it’s unlikely that insurance companies will start paying for sleep apnea treatments like CPAP machines that are based solely on Apple Watch data, which is why patients must follow up with a health care provider to get a formal diagnosis.
“People really need to get a diagnosis in order to get treatment,” Kuhlman told CNBC.
Kuhlman said the feature could lead to an increase in visits to health care providers, which could ultimately reduce overall costs for the U.S. health care system. Ideally, if patients develop sleep apnea earlier, they can avoid paying for treatment for more serious conditions in the future.
“By identifying them with these underlying sleep disorders and treating them, it may actually help save money and help improve quality of life.”
how it works
Apple Watch Series 10 sleep apnea alert.
apple inc.
Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature works by analyzing a new indicator that the company calls “breathing impairment.” Apple Watch identifies breathing disorders by using an accelerometer to measure wrist movements that indicate disruption to normal breathing patterns.
Users can view their nighttime metrics in the Health app, where they will be categorized as “elevated” or “not elevated” (i.e. normal). Apple will analyze breathing disorder data once a month and notify people if they show “consistent signs” of severe or moderate sleep apnea. Users can view data for one month, six months, or one year.
The Apple Watch Series 10 supports 18 hours of battery life, so people interested in using this feature may need to charge the device during the day.
Apple can also generate a report that the user can submit to a doctor to discuss next steps. The report includes three months of respiratory disorder data as well as some additional information, the company said. Users can also access educational materials in the Health app.
Apple said the notification algorithm was developed based on “an extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea testing” and that the feature was validated in clinical studies.
“Now I’d love to buy an Apple Watch so I can try it out for myself,” Kuhlman said.
