According to AppleInsider,The early results of a three-year health study conducted by the University of Michigan using Apple Watch have provided clinicians with extensive data from previously underrepresented groups.
The Department of Precision Health at the University of Michigan is conducting a three-year observational study to “understand the relationship between biosensors and health information.” It is trying to observe how much health data can be collected, how useful these data are for treatment, and in particular to determine its reliability.
According to the Michigan Health Laboratory, the earliest results of the study are already helping to solve the reliability problem. The Michigan Predictive Activity and Clinical Trajectory (MIPACT) study found that Apple Watch seems to be more stable and accurate than other sources of biosensors.
Jessica Golbus, MD, cites that the activity level measured by the Apple Watch iscell phoneThere is a clear difference between the measured activity levels. Specifically, mobile phones tend to underestimate the number of steps.
“I think this means that not all mobile device signals are equal,” she said, “and, in the future, the interpretation of these signals will require understanding of the equipment that collects these signals.”
The study has 6,700 patents, and so far, everyone has worn Apple Watch on almost 90% of the study days. They wear it for an average of 15.5 hours a day.
Golbus said that the recruitment of this study has proven to be one of its greatest successes. This research is related toAppleIt was initiated by the company to recruit participants of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and current health conditions.
Researchers from the university said that 18% of the participants were 65 or older, 17% were African, and 17% were Asian. Golbus said that these groups are basically under-represented in digital health research, so the research is also under-represented.
“My patients ask me quite frequently what their wearable device data means,” Golbus said. “It’s really challenging to understand its impact on their long-term health.”
The University of Michigan is now working to match Apple Watch data with patients’ medical records and investigation reports.
“We have data on participants before and after the pandemic,” Golbus continued, “so we really have the ability to assess how physiological parameters have changed during the pandemic, both as a result of the disease and due to the pandemic’s effects. The global impact of all our lifestyles.”