Apple has officially expanded its hypertension notifications feature to several new major markets, including Australia , aiming to alert users to signs of chronic high blood pressure. Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney diseases. It often goes undiagnosed because it frequently has no symptoms, even during a clinical visit, it can be missed by a single measurement.
Hypertension notifications on Apple Watch use data from the optical health sensor to scrutinize how a user’s blood vessels respond to the beats of the heart. The algorithm will monitor in the background reviewing data after 30-day periods. It will help to detect constant signs of hypertension.
Hypertension notifications on Apple watch use data from the optical heart censor to scrutinize how a user’s blood vessels respond to each heartbeat. The algorithm monitors in the background, reviewing data over 30-day periods to detect consistent signs of hypertension. The modifications are scientifically validated; the feature was developed using advancements in machine learning and training data from over 10,000 participants. Its performance was rigorously analysed in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants.
Commenting on the launch, Professor Garry Jennings, chief medical advisor at the Australian Heart Foundation said: “Hypertension awareness in Australia is far too low, so we welcome new technologies that alert people that they might have hypertension and should seek confirmation from their doctor.”
Upon receiving a notification, users are further recommended to record their blood pressure for seven days using a third-party blood pressure cuff and share the results with their healthcare provider. This is in line with consistent guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypertension.