Apple Watch can detect Covid-19 one week before regular tests

New research shows the Apple Watch can detect Covid-19 up to seven days before symptoms arise

The latest study from Mount Sinai published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Medical Internet Research revealed that the heart rate sensor in the Apple Watch is able to effectively predict a Covid-19 diagnosis up to a week before the PCR nasal swab tests that are currently being used.

In the groundbreaking investigation Warrior Watch Study, researchers equipped staff at the New York hospital with a Series 5 Apple Watch. The study required the participants to use the Apple Health app and asked that they fill out a daily survey to provide feedback about their potential symptoms.

Several hundred healthcare workers were enlisted to participate, and data was collected between April and September 2020. The primary metric from the Apple Watch that was being monitored was heart rate variability (HRV) – a key indicator of strain on one’s nervous system. This data was combined with information given by participants about their symptoms (if they had any), including fever, dry cough and loss of taste and smell.

During the course of the study, the research team was not only able to predict infections seven days before tests were able to, but it also showed that the HRV of participants who had tested positive for Covid-19 returned to normal fairly quickly, around one to two weeks after their diagnosis.

The Watch Warrior Study shows that the heart rate sensors in modern wearables, particularly the Apple Watch, are incredibly versatile and can be used for more than just monitoring fitness. It can be a predictor for future diseases and pandemics, helping us isolate and reduce the spread of Covid-19. Using just a smartwatch, with no need for a PCR test, healthcare workers can avoid being in close contact with someone who is trying to find out if they have the virus, reducing their risk of infection.