Samsung’s Galaxy Watch sleep apnea detection feature has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The Samsung Health Monitor app can identify potential sleep apnea based on analysing the wearer’s sleep patterns throughout the night. The company says that the sleep apnea monitoring tool will be made available to compatible Galaxy Watch models later this year.
This follows the South Korean authorities previously granting approval last year.The ability to detect a “potentially serious sleep disorder” where breathing repeatedly stops and starts. While there is no exact word on what Galaxy Watch models would have this feature, it is expected that the latest of the lineup – Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic – should receive sleep apnea detection via a software update. In South Korea, the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch6 series have sleep apnea detection.
The feature can help users check for signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To use the feature, users must be 22 years or older and not have been diagnosed with sleep apnea before. The feature monitors moderate to severe OSA over a period of two nights and requires users to track their sleep for more than four hours twice over a ten-day period.
OSA is a common and chronic condition that affects about 25% of men and 10% of women in the US, according to the National Sleep Foundation. People with the condition tend to stop breathing while they sleep, which can lead to reduced sleep quality, disrupted oxygen supply, and increased daytime tiredness. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and stroke.
Samsung hopes that this feature will help more people detect moderate and severe forms of the condition and encourage them to seek medical advice when necessary.