A patient wears a Samsung Electronics Galaxy Watch while lying on a bed. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that a clinical study conducted jointly with Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital has demonstrated that biosignal analysis technology in the Galaxy Watch can predict vasovagal syncope with high accuracy ahead of an episode — marking the world's first such study using a commercial smartwatch.
The findings were published in the latest issue of European Heart Journal – Digital Health, a peer-reviewed journal of the European Society of Cardiology.
Vasovagal syncope is a condition in which a sudden drop in blood pressure caused by excessive stress or tension leads to a temporary loss of consciousness. The condition poses a particular risk because unexpected falls can result in secondary injuries, including fractures and cerebral hemorrhage.
A research team led by Cho Jun-hwan of the Division of Cardiology at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital enrolled 132 patients with suspected vasovagal syncope. Participants wore a Galaxy Watch6 during a head-up tilt test — a procedure used to reproduce syncope episodes and determine whether a patient's autonomic nervous system is the underlying cause.
The Galaxy Watch6's photoplethysmography sensor collected real-time heart rate variability data, which was then analyzed using an artificial intelligence algorithm. The analysis achieved an 84.6 percent accuracy rate in predicting vasovagal syncope approximately five minutes before an episode occurs — providing patients with a critical window to assume a safe posture or seek assistance before losing consciousness.
"The lifetime cumulative prevalence of syncope reaches 40 percent, and one-third of those affected experience recurrent episodes," said Cho.
"Real-time detection of syncope risk will be of great help in preventing accidents in patients who have difficulty recognizing prodromal symptoms."
"This study is an example of how wearable technology can help shift healthcare from a post-care model to a preventive care model," said Choi Jong-min, head of Health R&D Group within the Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.
"Samsung Electronics will build on these research results as we work to deliver preventive health care solutions through Galaxy Watch."
Source: Korea Times News
