Apple and Stanford Medicine today announced the results of the Apple Heart Study. The study enrolled over 400,000 participants, making it the “largest study ever of its kind,” according to Apple. The findings were presented in New Orleans this morning.
The goal of the study, Apple says, was to evaluate Apple Watch’s irregular rhythm notification. If an irregular rhythm was detected, participants received a telehealth consultation with a doctor and an electrocardiogram patch for additional supervision.
As for the results, Stanford Medicine researchers say the Apple Heart Study showed 0.5 percent of the 419,093 participants received an irregular heartbeat notification:
Stanford Medicine researchers presented their findings today at the American College of Cardiology’s 68th Annual Scientific Session and Expo. Study results showed 0.5 percent of the over 400,000 participants received an irregular heart rhythm notification, illustrating the feature’s ability to give a user important health information without creating unnecessary burden to their doctor’s schedule.
Building on this, Apple says that “many participants” sought additional medical advice following the irregular heart beat notification. The information from their Apple Watch allowed them to “have more meaningful conversations” with their doctors, according to Apple.
Apple COO Jeff Williams touted the company’s partnership with Stanford in the announcement:
Further, Apple’s vice president of health Sumbul Desai said that physicians are always searching for ways to offer better health information to patients. Apple Watch does just that, she touted:
Stanford Medicine researchers presented the full findings at the American College of Cardiology’s 68th Annual Scientific Session and Expo in New Orleans, LA today.
Thank you to the team at @StanfordMed, the researchers and participants who made this groundbreaking study possible. https://t.co/RSLOMTU1uN
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 16, 2019
The Apple Heart Study 2160 notification of 419,000. (0.5%). Virtual study design, novel study design . pic.twitter.com/LqvSRLHnbi
— heba wassif (@DrHebaMD) March 16, 2019
