Fitbit is Close to Measuring Blood Pressure on its Watches
Fitbit has announced that it is conducting tests in which it would be possible to record blood pressure on its devices.
The process is carried out through the Fitbit Labs application, and at the moment tests are being carried out with the Fitbit Sense, although later this function could reach the rest of the brand’s models.
HOW WILL FITBIT MEASURE BLOOD PRESSURE?
The foundation of this technology is based on the PAT parameter, also known as Pulse Arrival Time, which is a measure of how quickly blood reaches the wrist after being pumped out of the heart.
Fitbit has already found a link between PAT and blood pressure in a previous study and now wants to get more data in a large-scale user study.
The Fitbit Labs app will initially be available to Fitbit Sense users in the United States, and eligible users will be invited to participate.
Fitbit wants to examine the effect of PAT on everyday actions like eating or showering. The purpose is to record this parameter in situations where the Fitbit ecosystem now has almost no data, to obtain a complete map of the PAT in any situation.
According to the brand, the goal is to “explore the potential link between PAT and blood pressure control.”
“While the ability to easily measure and monitor blood pressure in a wearable application has always been of great interest, it has been quite difficult to capture readings accurately until now. We hope to achieve it very soon”, according to statements by the company itself.
WHO WILL GET IT FIRST?
Once most manufacturers have managed to introduce oxygen saturation measurement into their devices, the next big goal is blood pressure monitoring.
Health monitoring has been gaining ground in the priorities of users of sports heart rate monitors and no brand wants to be left behind in this speed race.
Many companies are focused on this type of sensor and it is possible that by the end of 2021 there may already be a model on the market.
Apple has won blood pressure monitoring patents that indicate at least an interest in the field, while prestigious optical sensor maker Valencell also unveiled the technology at the latest CES.
We also know that Amazfit is working on blood pressure monitoring through the wrist, although more details are unknown at the moment.
It is not surprising that the attention of heart rate monitor manufacturers is so focused on monitoring blood pressure. In the United States alone, hypertension affects 1 in 2 senior citizens.
A study by Valencell showed that 31% of Americans with hypertension only measure their blood pressure a few times a year, while only 4% check this parameter several times a day, according to medical recommendations.
Making data simply and automatically available on a wristwatch would be a huge boon to people with hypertension, as well as a huge, juicy economic pie for manufacturers.