AI-Powered Breakthrough: Apple Watch's New Blood Pressure Alert Feature
The Apple Watch Series 11 introduces an AI-powered feature alerting users to possible high blood pressure, extending back to Series 9 models. Developed from heart sensor data and validated on 2,000 people, it aims to help detect hypertension early, despite not replacing traditional blood pressure cuffs.
The latest Apple Watch models, set for release on Friday, introduce a groundbreaking feature utilizing artificial intelligence to notify users of potential high blood pressure. Unlike traditional cuffs, the watch employs AI models applied to existing sensor data to provide this notification, available on Apple Watch Series 9 and newer.
According to Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple's health vice president, the company has long sought to identify high blood pressure in users. This condition affects over 1 billion globally, with many cases undiagnosed partly due to reliance on sphygmomanometers commonly used in clinical settings. Apple's AI examined data from 100,000 participants in its 2019 heart study, developing an algorithm validated with a study of 2,000 individuals.
After obtaining FDA approval, the feature, which prompts users to measure their blood pressure with a cuff and consult a doctor, plans to launch in over 150 countries. Ami Bhatt, from the American College of Cardiology, noted its potential to reduce incidents like heart attacks and strokes but stressed that it doesn't replace professional diagnosis.
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