Galaxy Watch 4 can become an important health tool. According to a study published by the medical journal Sleep Health, conducted by Samsung Medical Center and Samsung Electronics, the South Korean smartwatch offered measurements of AOS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) similar to those of traditional medical devices, although the technology is not yet 100% accurate.
The study monitored 97 adults with sleep disorders and, after several tests, concluded that the Galaxy Watch 4 can be used to monitor patients. The researchers performed simultaneous measurements on several people suffering from the disorder, both with Samsung’s wearable and with a traditional medical system.
Tests showed that the South Korean smartwatch offered readings aligned with those of the medical device. That is, when there were changes in the oxygenation level in the reference model, the watch displayed similar data, proving that the SpO2 sensor used by the company is really accurate.
With these results, it is possible to conclude that Galaxy Watch 4 can be an important ally for patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (AOS), reducing the need for more expensive hospital procedures, for example.
This disorder, which occurs while the person is sleeping and snoring, blocks the passage of air due to the collapse of the walls of the pharynx, causing a respiratory arrest. AOS affects up to 38% of adults worldwide, with 50% of men and 25% of middle-aged women experiencing a moderate to severe level.
It is noteworthy that while the Galaxy Watch 4 delivers good results, the study states that “further improvements in wearable device algorithms are needed to obtain more accurate and reliable information about oxygen saturation measurements.” Therefore, the device technology is not 100% accurate and still lacks improvements.
The Galaxy Watch 4 has been considered a great ally when it comes to health. In June of this year, Samsung partnered with InCor, the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo, to monitor patients at a distance using the watch.
The partnership aims to develop an assisted digital telemonitoring platform with the help of brand smartwatches. The initiative has chances to be expanded and even applied in the Unified Health System (SUS), but for now, it is still in the research phase.