Samsung has been adding more fitness and health tracking features to its Wear OS smartwatches with new software updates. In the latest move, the company has announced that it will bring the sleep apnea detection feature to some of its Galaxy Watches in South Korea.
Sleep apnea detection to come to Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 6 in Korea in early 2024
The Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 6 series will get the sleep apnea detection feature in South Korea early next year. The company received approval for the new feature from Korea’s MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) agency as an SaMD (Software as a Medical Device), and it will be available through the Samsung Health Monitor app. This feature can detect if the user has sleep apnea symptoms, and then the user can get medical help before their condition worsens.
The data recorded by the blood oxygen sensor (SpO2) on the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 6 will be analyzed to check how it changes with apnea or hypopnea, and the Samsung Health Monitor app will offer an estimated AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) score. This feature will require at least two sleep cycles of more than 4 hours to work.
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What is sleep apnea, and how does it affect health?
Sleep apnea is a condition that can occur in some people where they stop breathing while sleeping, leading to reduced blood oxygen. It can create health issues, including cardiac disorder, cognitive disorder, hypertension, or stroke. While 1-2 million people in South Korea are estimated to have this condition, 75% of those people don't get an accurate diagnosis.
Hon Pak, Head of the Digital Health Team at Samsung MX, said, “We expect that Galaxy Watch users will be able to more easily and conveniently detect related symptoms early through the ‘sleep apnea early detection support function’ approved this time. Samsung Electronics will continue to strive to develop innovative technologies that help customers comprehensively understand and manage their health, including sleep.“
