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Apple Watch Chief Jeff Williams Says ECG App is 'Huge Opportunity' to Empower People About Their Health
Apple today announced that its ECG app will be available on the Apple Watch Series 4 today as part of watchOS 5.1.2. Alongside that news, TIME has published a new interview with Apple's CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams.
The article begins with a story about 46-year-old Texas resident Kevin Foley, who was having trouble breathing normally during a movie. Fortunately, since he was wearing an Apple Watch and participating in the recent Apple Heart Study, he was alerted to signs of an irregular heartbeat and went to the emergency room.
At the hospital, doctors hooked Foley up to an ECG machine and found signs of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke and other potentially fatal complications. Foley spent the next few days in the hospital while doctors worked to return him to a normal sinus heart rhythm and is doing fine now.
"Apple's largest contribution to mankind will be in improving people's health and well-being," Cook boldly proclaimed.
"We have tens of millions of watches on people's wrists, and we have hundreds of millions of phones in people's pockets," said Williams. "There's a huge opportunity to empower people with more information about their health. So this is something we view as not only an opportunity, but a responsibility of ours."
Williams also appeared on CBS This Morning today to talk about the ECG app. The YouTube video can only be streamed in the United States.
The report says a traditional hospital ECG is often referred to as a "12-lead" machine, as its 10 different electrodes provide information on 12 different areas of the heart. The new Apple Watch is the equivalent of only a single-lead device, but research suggests the ECG app is still very accurate.
In a press release, Apple said the accuracy of its ECG app was validated in a clinical trial with around 600 participants. The study found the ECG app on Apple Watch demonstrated 98.3 percent sensitivity in classifying atrial fibrillation:
The article goes on to claim that some cardiologists and other experts have raised concerns that the Apple Watch's ECG feature is "unnecessary for the general population" and "could cause problems," including false positives.
"If everybody with an Apple Watch and an alert from an Apple Watch went to a heart-rhythm doctor that was super comfortable with this, then I think it would be O.K.," said Dr. John Mandrola, a cardiac electrophysiologist. "But there are going to be millions of people going to the doctor that in many cases will be just fine."
Apple responded that no medical test is 100 percent accurate, so some false positives are inevitable, according to the report. Moreover, the Apple Watch will only alert users to a potential heart-related problem if it detects five instances of what it considers a cardiovascular episode, including arrhythmia.
Importantly, in an internal document obtained by MacRumors, Apple cautioned that the ECG app is "not intended to be a diagnostic device or to replace traditional methods of diagnosis," and "should not be used to monitor or track disease state or change medication without first talking to a doctor."
To take an ECG reading from the Apple Watch, users will need to place a finger on the Digital Crown while wearing the watch. The reading is completed in 30 seconds, allowing users to determine whether their hearts are beating in a regular pattern or if there are signs of atrial fibrillation.
Irregular heart rhythm notifications will also be available on Apple Watch Series 1 through Series 4 models in watchOS 5.1.2.
Apple says the setup process for these heart health features will include details about who can use the features, what the features can and cannot do, what results users may get and how to interpret them, and instructions for what to do if users are feeling symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
watchOS 5.1.2 should be available through the Apple Watch app on a paired iPhone around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time as usual. At launch, the ECG app will be limited to the U.S., but Apple is likely working to get regulatory clearance elsewhere.
The article begins with a story about 46-year-old Texas resident Kevin Foley, who was having trouble breathing normally during a movie. Fortunately, since he was wearing an Apple Watch and participating in the recent Apple Heart Study, he was alerted to signs of an irregular heartbeat and went to the emergency room.
At the hospital, doctors hooked Foley up to an ECG machine and found signs of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke and other potentially fatal complications. Foley spent the next few days in the hospital while doctors worked to return him to a normal sinus heart rhythm and is doing fine now.
"Apple's largest contribution to mankind will be in improving people's health and well-being," Cook boldly proclaimed.
"We have tens of millions of watches on people's wrists, and we have hundreds of millions of phones in people's pockets," said Williams. "There's a huge opportunity to empower people with more information about their health. So this is something we view as not only an opportunity, but a responsibility of ours."
Williams also appeared on CBS This Morning today to talk about the ECG app. The YouTube video can only be streamed in the United States.
The report says a traditional hospital ECG is often referred to as a "12-lead" machine, as its 10 different electrodes provide information on 12 different areas of the heart. The new Apple Watch is the equivalent of only a single-lead device, but research suggests the ECG app is still very accurate.
In a press release, Apple said the accuracy of its ECG app was validated in a clinical trial with around 600 participants. The study found the ECG app on Apple Watch demonstrated 98.3 percent sensitivity in classifying atrial fibrillation:
Rhythm classification from a gold standard 12-lead ECG by a cardiologist was compared to the rhythm classification of a simultaneously collected ECG from the ECG app. The study found the ECG app on Apple Watch demonstrated 98.3 percent sensitivity in classifying AFib and 99.6 percent specificity in classifying sinus rhythm in classifiable recordings. In the study, 87.8 percent of recordings could be classified by the ECG app."The FDA has been very rigorous, and they should be," said Williams, referring to the Apple Watch's heart health features.
The article goes on to claim that some cardiologists and other experts have raised concerns that the Apple Watch's ECG feature is "unnecessary for the general population" and "could cause problems," including false positives.
"If everybody with an Apple Watch and an alert from an Apple Watch went to a heart-rhythm doctor that was super comfortable with this, then I think it would be O.K.," said Dr. John Mandrola, a cardiac electrophysiologist. "But there are going to be millions of people going to the doctor that in many cases will be just fine."
Apple responded that no medical test is 100 percent accurate, so some false positives are inevitable, according to the report. Moreover, the Apple Watch will only alert users to a potential heart-related problem if it detects five instances of what it considers a cardiovascular episode, including arrhythmia.
Importantly, in an internal document obtained by MacRumors, Apple cautioned that the ECG app is "not intended to be a diagnostic device or to replace traditional methods of diagnosis," and "should not be used to monitor or track disease state or change medication without first talking to a doctor."
To take an ECG reading from the Apple Watch, users will need to place a finger on the Digital Crown while wearing the watch. The reading is completed in 30 seconds, allowing users to determine whether their hearts are beating in a regular pattern or if there are signs of atrial fibrillation.
Irregular heart rhythm notifications will also be available on Apple Watch Series 1 through Series 4 models in watchOS 5.1.2.
Apple says the setup process for these heart health features will include details about who can use the features, what the features can and cannot do, what results users may get and how to interpret them, and instructions for what to do if users are feeling symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
watchOS 5.1.2 should be available through the Apple Watch app on a paired iPhone around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time as usual. At launch, the ECG app will be limited to the U.S., but Apple is likely working to get regulatory clearance elsewhere.
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[ 152 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
12 months ago
Sadly, this is a gimmick feature.
As someone that had open heart surgery, I strongly resent this statement. Is the AW going to be THE main check-up tool? No. But it provides a level of flexibility and continuous availability that was not possible before - at least not without some "unnatural" intrusion such as a band. This is just a watch with an important functionality added.
And heck, I'd rather bother my doctor with a few false positives than risk missing an important true positive. You know, I pay him and he accepts the payment, which will include this type of services.
12 months ago
Well, he was hardly going to say, "The ECG barely works, and even if it did, I'm still not sure why anybody would actually use it. What are they even for? Getting hearts or something? The thing is, most people already have hearts."
12 months ago
Sadly, this is a gimmick feature. The only thing it will do is freak people out and send them to cardiologists. I think cardiologists will get the most gain from this feature, as the number of people trying to see a cardiologist will increase exponentially. The EKG with two leads is useless. It tells you nothing. It's not bad for you; it just gives you no reliable information (good or bad). People who would take their EKG with an Apple Watch and pay attention to the results are already concerned about heir heart heath. Those who are not concerned, will not even waste time on this feature. Those who are concerned need to see a cardiologist and not rely on this gimmick.
Even when you see a cardiologist, the real 12-lead EKG tells you very little. I am in the process of being seen by a cardiologist the first time in my life. I had the real 12-lead EKG done, and it came back absolutely normal. Because of the symptoms that I have, the doctor ordered an Echo Cardiogram, which came back normal as well. Then, he ordered a stress test, and saw something that could point to a Coronary Arterial Disease, it is inconclusive, so more testing is needed. The next step is a non-invasive CTA (CT Angiogram), which has a 91-95% accuracy rate. After that, the most conclusive test is the the intrusive angiogram with a scope inserted through the arteries into the heart. That's how much testing is required to conclusively diagnose a heart condition.
An Apple Watch with two leads for EKG is a toy. I hope Apple will sell more Apple Watch Series 4 because of this gimmick, but personally, I chose to keep my Apple Watch Series 3. Frankly, I would prefer Apple improving the heart-rate monitor reliability in the Apple Watch, as the existing one has very low accuracy.
What are your qualifications for this rant?
12 months ago
I bought a SEIKO watch in 1994 that had a built-in blood pressure monitor. It was a disaster.
No, but I have half a brain.
[doublepost=1544111585][/doublepost]
Never mind. I like it. I want Apple to sell more Apple watches. Really. I do. I'm a shareholder, and anything helps right now.
Thanks for the heads-up. Your views can then be safely ignored on this matter.
12 months ago
Sadly, this is a gimmick feature. The only thing it will do is freak people out and send them to cardiologists. I think cardiologists will get the most gain from this feature, as the number of people trying to see a cardiologist will increase exponentially. The EKG with two leads is useless. It tells you nothing. It's not bad for you; it just gives you no reliable information (good or bad). People who would take their EKG with an Apple Watch and pay attention to the results are already concerned about heir heart heath. Those who are not concerned, will not even waste time on this feature. Those who are concerned need to see a cardiologist and not rely on this gimmick.
Even when you see a cardiologist, the real 12-lead EKG tells you very little. I am in the process of being seen by a cardiologist the first time in my life. I had the real 12-lead EKG done, and it came back absolutely normal. Because of the symptoms that I have, the doctor ordered an Echo Cardiogram, which came back normal as well. Then, he ordered a stress test, and saw something that could point to a Coronary Arterial Disease, it is inconclusive, so more testing is needed. The next step is a non-invasive CTA (CT Angiogram), which has a 91-95% accuracy rate. After that, the most conclusive test is the the intrusive angiogram with a scope inserted through the arteries into the heart. That's how much testing is required to conclusively diagnose a heart condition.
An Apple Watch with two leads for EKG is a toy. I hope Apple will sell more Apple Watch Series 4 because of this gimmick, but personally, I chose to keep my Apple Watch Series 3. Frankly, I would prefer Apple improving the heart-rate monitor reliability in the Apple Watch, as the existing one has very low accuracy.
Just curious...are you a medical doctor or medical research scientist?
12 months ago
ERs, prepare to get flooded with false alarms
Doctors always scare us with scaring ourselves.Being empowered is about being in control and there’s always someone willing to find the negative in giving people control.
There will Always be stupid people. But I would rather have a few false positives and save a few lives than block useful tech and let people die.
12 months ago
Sadly, this is a gimmick feature. The only thing it will do is freak people out and send them to cardiologists.....
Even when you see a cardiologist, the real 12-lead EKG tells you very little. I am in the process of being seen by a cardiologist the first time in my life. I had the real 12-lead EKG done, and it came back absolutely normal. Because of the symptoms that I have, the doctor ordered an Echo Cardiogram, which came back normal as well. Then, he ordered a stress test, and saw something that could point to a Coronary Arterial Disease, it is inconclusive, so more testing is needed. The next step is a non-invasive CTA (CT Angiogram), which has a 91-95% accuracy rate. After that, the most conclusive test is the the intrusive angiogram with a scope inserted through the arteries into the heart. That's how much testing is required to conclusively diagnose a heart condition.
An Apple Watch with two leads for EKG is a toy. I hope Apple will sell more Apple Watch Series 4 because of this gimmick, but personally, I chose to keep my Apple Watch Series 3. Frankly, I would prefer Apple improving the heart-rate monitor reliability in the Apple Watch, as the existing one has very low accuracy.
No, 2 leads is most definitely NOT a toy. The 12 lead EKG provides a far greater level of resolution, as to the particualr areas of your heart that are having issues. But the fact that there is an issue can be determined with a 2 lead EKG.
Tests have shown that the percentage of false positives is very low. If your watch tells you that you have fibrillation issue; you had damn well best get to see a MD. There is a very low percentage chance, that this will be a false alert. Now, you may not chose to use it; and that is your choice.
But for others, this is a fantastic opportunity to not only measure a "snapshot", but to have a record of snapshots over multiple times. If you have afribulation issues, they may not always manifest themselves at the Dr's office. That why heart patients are given portable units. This is a portable unit, and the patient can take a reading at any point in time, when he feels "unwell". This can be periods of fatigue, nausea, weakness, unable to catch his breath, etc.
12 months ago
That more people will finally go to see a cardiologist. Finally. Considering the obesity rate in the US, this is a good thing.
The frequent misconception held by lay commenters is that all cardiac problems are heart attacks and that the patients fit a typical profile of poor diet and lack of exercise. Thus, they think this new feature is detecting heart attacks. Actually, it's detecting abnormal heart rhythms, which are usually not fatal in themselves, but can result in a fatal stroke if left untreated for too long. To simplify things: in atrial fibrillation, the upper and lower chambers of the heart (atria and ventricles respectively) are not working in sync, so the ventricles are not fully filled up before they pump the blood out. The heart is working less efficiently, so your exercise tolerance is reduced; and there can be blood pooling in the chambers instead of being pumped out. That can clot and cause a stroke.The case described in the Time article is a pretty typical example of what the device and app really can do. Persistent atrial fibrillation isn't easy to diagnose without an ECG: you might feel less fit than usual, or be vaguely aware of your heart. In my case, I probably went a week before seeing my doctor. In the case in the article, the app was able to point out immediately that there was a problem. The patient saw his doctor, who confirmed the AF, probably put the patient on an anticoagulant medication to prevent clotting, and probably had a cardioversion, an RF ablation or other procedure to get the heart back into normal sinus rhythm and keep it there.
Once you know you have a history of AF, you can use the watch (or in my case a Kardia device) to monitor your rate and rhythm. I've subsequently had two AF episodes since my first one, both detected within minutes with the Kardia, and
it also helped my cardiologist and me figure out that some chest pain I was having was a side effect of my medication rather than another heart problem. Because I could check my ECG at any time and because we had a good management plan for any AF recurrence, I was able to discontinue the medication, which is all the better for maintaining my normal activity and exercise.
12 months ago
As someone that had open heart surgery, I strongly resent this statement. Is the AW going to be THE main check-up tool? No. But it provides a level of flexibility and continuous availability that was not possible before - at least not without some "unnatural" intrusion such as a band. This is just a watch with an important functionality added.
And heck, I'd rather bother my doctor with a few false positives than risk missing an important true positive. You know, I pay him and he accepts the payment, which will include this type of services.
Agree. One thing Apple Watch has done is wake owners into taking more interest and care of their health. The actual technology might not be a silver bullet for 100% accuracy, and once we plateau in the number of people willing to buy an Apple Watch, the pressure is on Apple to start increasing the accuracy.
People also seem to be missing key points here: 1) you only get the warning following a sustained and prolonged run of negative indicators and 2) the Watch only recommends that you 'may' wish to contact your Doctor. It's not glowing and shouting that you'll die with five minutes.
As much as I despise Tim Cook and Apple in general at the moment, I really appreciate my Apple Watch and the impetus it has given me to seek out new information about my health and the encouragement it gives me to at least ensure I meet the recommended minimum activity each day. And you know what? I do feel a tiny bit better for it.
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