Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled a new version of his smartwatch with a larger screen and sleep apnea detection capabilities during an event at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on Monday, September 9, 2024. The event will also see the launch of the iPhone 16. Photo by David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday appleThe new sleep apnea detection feature is now available to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users via a software update.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly throughout the night. According to the American Medical Association, the condition affects more than 30 million people in the United States, but only about 6 million are diagnosed. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause fatigue and lead to more serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
“We’re thrilled that this feature can have a profound impact on the millions of people living with undiagnosed sleep apnea,” Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, said in the feature’s announcement video.
Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature is the company’s latest attempt to position its wearables as a cheaper, simpler alternative to many existing health tests and medical devices — and a potentially lucrative market for sleep disorders.
For example, to be tested for sleep apnea, patients typically undergo an at-home test or a lab test that monitors them throughout the night. Prices vary based on insurance coverage, but the average cost of a lab test is $3,000, according to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.
At-home tests tend to be relatively inexpensive, but can still cost hundreds of dollars. Sleep Doctor’s at-home sleep apnea test, for example, costs $189. Apple’s latest Watch, the Series 10, starts at $399.
Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature “could be a game changer” for patients who have been hesitant to get tested, said David Kuhlman, a Missouri doctor who has treated sleep disorders for about 20 years and is on the board of directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the professional association for sleep medicine clinicians.
Kuhlman said the feature could be especially useful for patients who sleep alone, many of whom may be surprised to discover they are exhibiting signs of sleep apnea.
Still, Kuhlman said users should approach Apple’s sleep apnea data with some caution because the readings could be false.It’s unlikely that insurance companies will start paying for CPAP machines or other sleep apnea treatments based solely on Apple Watch data, so it’s important patients see their health care provider for a formal diagnosis, he said.
“You need to be diagnosed in order to get treatment,” Kuhlman said in an interview with CNBC.
Kuhlman said the feature will likely lead to increased doctor visits and ultimately lower costs across the U.S. health care system. Ideally, patients could detect sleep apnea early so they don’t have to pay to treat more serious conditions down the line.
“Finding out that they have an underlying sleep disorder and getting them treated can actually save them money and improve their quality of life.”
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Apple Watch Series 10 sleep apnea alert.
Apple Inc.
Apple’s sleep apnea detection feature works by analyzing a new metric the company calls “disordered breathing.” The Apple Watch uses an accelerometer to measure wrist movement to identify disordered breathing by indicating disruptions to normal breathing patterns.
Users can view their nightly measurements in the Health app, where they’re classified as “elevated” or “not elevated,” meaning normal. Apple analyzes this breathing disorder data monthly and notifies users if they see “consistent signs” of severe or moderate sleep apnea. Users can view data for one month, six months, or one year.
The Apple Watch Series 10 supports 18 hours of battery life, so those interested in using this feature may need to charge their device during the day.
Apple can also generate a report that users can take to their doctor to discuss next steps. The company says the report includes three months of breathing disorder data, along with some additional information. Users can also access educational materials within the Health app.
Apple said its notification algorithm was developed using an “extensive dataset from clinical-grade sleep apnea testing” and that the feature has been validated in clinical studies.
“Now I’m dying to buy an Apple Watch and try it out for myself,” Kuhlman said.