Samsung revealed on Thursday the results of a new third-party study highlighting the ability of its Galaxy smartwatches to detect vital signs associated with fainting spells before they occur. This development comes as the wearable technology sector strives to enhance medical reliability, moving beyond traditional fitness tracking to predicting emergency health crises.
Samsung collaborated with Chung-Ang Gwangmyung University Hospital in Korea to evaluate over 130 patients experiencing fainting episodes. The study involved wearing a Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 equipped with a PPG sensor that measures changes in blood flow under the skin using light to collect data on heart rate variability. This data was then analyzed using an artificial intelligence algorithm.
The watch was able to predict fainting spells with remarkable accuracy several minutes in advance, achieving 84.6% accuracy and 90% clinical sensitivity. In other words, the smartwatch proved its effectiveness, at least in this case study.
It should be noted that this study has not yet undergone peer review, a step that would provide crucial validation for these findings. A larger, external study, particularly one conducted outside of a medical setting, would significantly strengthen these results.
While fainting spells are rarely life-threatening, they can indicate underlying medical conditions and may result in injuries from falls. However, heart rate and blood pressure can be monitored for warning signs, and in some cases, fainting can even be predicted, as demonstrated by the Galaxy Watch 6.
“This study exemplifies how wearable technology can help shift healthcare from a reactive to a proactive model,” said Jongmin Choi, head of Samsung Electronics’ Health R&D Group, in a statement.
Samsung has not yet revealed its plans for using the study’s findings but has confirmed its intention to expand the health monitoring capabilities of its wearable devices.
