A similar study conducted by Stanford University found that participants wearing a variety of Garmin, Fitbit, Apple, and other trackers found that 81 percent of patients who tested positive for coronavirus had up to nine and half days before the onset had changes in their resting heartbeat. of symptoms.
One of the challenging things about COVID-19 is that many people are asymptomatic, which means they have no symptoms but are still contagious. This makes it difficult to limit this infection by using the traditional method of identifying and quarantining someone who is ill.
The consequences of the studies are clear. “Developing a way to identify people who may be ill even before they know they are infected will really be a breakthrough in the management of COVID-19,” said Dr. Hirten said. “This technology enables us not only to track and predict health outcomes, but also to intervene in a timely and remote manner, which is essential during a pandemic that requires people to stay apart.”
These are not the only researchers noticing the early COVID-19 symptoms that can be picked up by a smartwatch. A company called NeuTigers, born out of Princeton University research, has developed an artificial intelligence product called CovidDeep that can help identify people with the virus in clinical situations or nursing homes.
The company used a portable patient monitor, Empatica E4, to take a variety of skin, heart rate and blood pressure measurements. They entered the information into CovidDeep and found that they were able to detect the virus at a rate of 90 percent – more accurate than normal temperature tests. Eventually, they plan to manufacture their own app that can work with Fitbit, Withings, Apple, Samsung and other smartwatches.
Even without custom algorithms, a smartwatch or portable can still be useful. The PGA Tour recently began using Whoop health trackers, and this may have helped player Nick Watney realize he was positive. “They’ve done studies where your breathing rate will increase during the night … it’s a sign that you may have something,” champion Rory McIlroy said in June. ‘It was actually his Whoop who told [Watney] his breathing rate rose, and so he thought he might have it. ”