Study shows your smartwatch can detect impending fainting episodes

A Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 smartwatch can act as an advanced early-warning mechanism for imminent fainting, researchers assert (Samsung)

Innovative researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking system capable of predicting fainting episodes by harnessing data from smartwatches.

A clinical investigation, which encompassed 132 patients at Chung-Ang University Hospital, employed a Samsung Galaxy Watch to forge a real-time alert system, analyzing biosignals linked to heart rate dynamics.

This sophisticated system demonstrated the ability to forecast pending fainting incidents—termed vasovagal syncope—with an impressive accuracy exceeding 80%, up to five minutes prior to occurrence.

Professor Junhwan Cho from the Department of Cardiology at the hospital, who spearheaded the research, noted, “Patients experiencing syncope frequently endure trauma from falls, and in severe cases, may sustain significant injuries such as fractures or cerebral hemorrhages.”

“A timely alert from this technology could enable patients to assume a safer posture or seek assistance, markedly diminishing the risk of secondary injuries.”

A collaborative study conducted by Samsung and Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital in Korea successfully detected fainting risks using data from a Galaxy Watch 6 (Samsung)

The research team utilized the photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor integrated into the Galaxy Watch 6 to gather heart rate variability data from the participants.

An artificial intelligence algorithm was subsequently employed to scrutinize the data and ascertain the likelihood of an imminent fainting episode.

This marks the inaugural instance of a commercial smartwatch providing a reliable early-warning system for fainting episodes.

Jongmin Choi, head of Samsung’s health research and development, stated, “This study exemplifies the potential of wearable technology to transition healthcare from a focus on ‘post-care’ to a proactive ‘preventative care’ model.”

“We are dedicated to fostering technological advancements that enable our users to cultivate healthier daily lifestyles.”

The tech titan plans to further incorporate these health monitoring capabilities into its lineup of smartwatches and other wearable technology devices.

The findings of this noteworthy research were published in the recent edition of European Heart Journal – Digital Health, in a study entitled ‘Prediction of vasovagal syncope using artificial intelligence-enabled smartwatch photoplethysmography-derived heart rate variability’.

Source link: Inkl.com.