A recent study has shown that the Apple Watch's feature designed to monitor signs of high blood pressure cannot be relied upon as a substitute for regular medical checkups.
Experts emphasize that relying on this feature may give a false sense of security, stressing the need for individuals to continue to measure their blood pressure regularly using traditional devices.
Apple clarifies that the "High Blood Pressure Notifications" feature is not intended to diagnose or treat high blood pressure or manage other conditions, such as blood clots, stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, or high cholesterol. The watch also cannot detect heart attacks, and not everyone experiencing one will receive a notification.
This feature aims to identify patterns of chronic hypertension using a heart sensor and a 30-day assessment period. In a new study, researchers from the University of Utah Health and the University of Pennsylvania noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this feature for the Apple Watch last year.
The researchers published their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reviewing Apple's data and the technology's practical impact. They explained that "only 41.2% of those with undiagnosed hypertension will receive an alert about their potential condition, while 58.8% will receive no alert. Among those without hypertension, 92.3% will receive no alert, while 7.7% will receive an inappropriate alert." They emphasized that the results indicate "moderate evidence to confirm hypertension" and "weak evidence to rule it out."
Practical analysis showed that the absence of an alert gives young people a greater sense of security, but worries older people more, as they are more prone to developing high blood pressure.
The researchers concluded that the feature offers new opportunities to identify those with undiagnosed hypertension among the more than 200 million Apple Watch users, but italso carries the potential for diagnostic errors.
They emphasized: "The feature is not designed to diagnose the disease, but rather to encourage users to seek medical evaluation. However, a false sense of security may lead to delaying examination and missing opportunities for early detection and treatment."
The team noted that the limitations include reliance on Apple's estimates of sensitivity and quality, "which may not cover the full performance of the device."
In an editorial, experts from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston wrote: "The main drawback of the feature is that 59% of undiagnosed infected people will not receive any alert, which could lead to a false sense of security and delays in care."
Professor Brian Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: "High blood pressure is known as the silent killer because it is often asymptomatic. Smart technologies can help people who want to monitor their health, and the alert feature may encourage formal medical check-ups. But they are not a substitute for traditional blood pressure measurement, and should not be relied upon solely to alert us to high blood pressure."
