Apple has introduced a new feature in its Apple Watch Series 11 models, which will be available from Friday, that can notify users if they may have high blood pressure. Unlike traditional methods, this feature does not measure blood pressure directly but relies on artificial intelligence applied to the watch’s existing sensors. The feature will also be available for users of the Apple Watch Series 9 and later models.
Explaining the development, Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health, said the company used AI to analyse sensor data from 100,000 participants enrolled in a heart and movement study launched in 2019. By matching heart-related sensor signals with conventional blood pressure readings, Apple created an algorithm that was later validated in a study involving 2,000 participants.
The company highlighted that the new feature is designed to help address a global health challenge. High blood pressure affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, yet nearly half of those with the condition remain undiagnosed. This is often because the standard device for measuring blood pressure, a cuff called a sphygmomanometer, is mostly used during medical check-ups.
Desai also noted that while Apple has strong privacy measures, which limit the amount of user data it can access, large-scale studies provide important insights. “One of the ironies here is we don’t get a lot of data outside of the context of large-scale studies. But data from those studies gives us a sense of, scientifically, what are some other signals that are worth pulling the thread. Those studies are incredibly powerful,” she said.
The new feature, which has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is designed to notify users if they may have high blood pressure. It then encourages them to confirm their readings with a cuff and consult a doctor.
Apple plans to make the feature available in more than 150 countries. According to Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer of the American College of Cardiology, this development could help many people identify hypertension early and reduce risks of conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Bhatt emphasised that the feature should not be seen as a replacement for traditional measurements or professional medical advice. She added, “There is also the risk of false reassurance. Those who don’t get an alert may wrongly assume they don’t have hypertension.”
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