Apple Is Partnering With Stanford For A Heart Study To Detect Irregular Heart Rhythms, US Apple Watch Owners Can Participate In It

Apple today announced it has launched a ResearchKit-based Apple Heart Study app , The study was first announced back in September and kick...

Apple today announced it has launched a ResearchKit-based Apple Heart Study app, The study was first announced back in September and kicks off today. It uses the Apple Watch's heart rate sensor to collect data on irregular heart rhythms and notify users who may be experiencing atrial fibrillation.

As part of the study, if an irregular heart rhythms were found, the participant will receive notifications from Apple Watch and iPhone, a free consultations with a study doctor and an electrocardiogram (ECG) patch for additional monitoring.

In order to calculate heart rate and rhythm, the Apple Watch's sensor uses green LED lights flashing hundreds of times per second and light-sensitive photodiodes so it can detect the amount of blood flowing through the wrist. Apple is partnering with Stanford University's School of Medicine to perform the research.

"Through the Apple Heart Study, Stanford Medicine faculty will explore how technology like Apple Watch's heart rate sensor can help usher in a new era of proactive health care central to our Precision Health approach," said Lloyd Minor, Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine. "We're excited to work with Apple on this breakthrough heart study."

The health study is open to anyone in the United States with an Apple Watch Series 1 or later (the original iWatch is not compatible) who is at least 22 years old. Simply download the Apple Heart Study from the App Store to get started. The app itself requires an iPhone running iOS 11 or later.

Apple Watch also saw the first FDA-approved accessory with an EKG reader. The accessory medical-grade Kardia Band for Apple Watch, which can detect abnormal heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation, in the United States.

Via MacRumors And 9to5Mac