Researchers have successfully used the Galaxy Watch 6 to predict fainting episodes up to five minutes in advance. The study, conducted by Samsung alongside Chung-Ang Gwangmyeong University Hospital in South Korea, combines the smartwatch’s sensors with AI-powered algorithms to forecast these events.
Galaxy Watch 6 AI System Predicts Fainting with 84.6% Accuracy
Using the Galaxy Watch 6’s photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor and an AI model, the team achieved an accuracy rate of 84.6% in identifying when a person was likely to faint before it happened.
The findings were published in volume 7 of European Heart Journal – Digital Health. The research involved 132 patients with vasovagal syncope, a condition marked by a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that reduces blood flow to the brain and can lead to fainting.
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Although the Galaxy Watch 6 already includes a built-in PPG sensor, predicting fainting events on its own remains challenging. While the research shows promise, it is still a proof of concept demonstrating what such technology could achieve. For a commercial rollout, Samsung would still need approval from health regulators.
Even with Samsung’s involvement in this kind of research, it does not guarantee that fainting detection features will be added to future Galaxy Watches. Current models like the Galaxy Watch 8 already track metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels.
Early Warnings Could Prevent Syncope Injuries
Professor Junhwan Cho from the university’s Department of Cardiology notes that nearly 40% of people experience syncope at some point. He explains that early warnings could allow patients to sit or lie down safely, helping prevent secondary injuries.
A key aspect of the study was that researchers went beyond simple heart rate monitoring and analyzed heart rate variability (HRV), which tracks the time gaps between heartbeats in milliseconds. Irregular patterns in this interval can indicate an impending collapse of the body’s regulatory system.
Read the original article on: tecmundo
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