Apple Stumbles in Race for Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring
Wearables are vying for the doctor’s prescription pad.
Apple
Apple Watch won’t be getting a blood pressure feature any time soon. Struggling with accuracy, the tech giant says it won’t be ready until “2024 at the earliest.”
What’s happening: Blood pressure monitoring could be the next big thing for wearables as nearly half (47%) of all Americans have hypertension.
With a stumble in development, Apple now finds itself behind a host of promising wearables:
Omron’s HeartGuide is the only FDA-approved wrist-worn monitor, relying on a small inflatable cuff lining the band.
Withings has a connected blood pressure cuff in its ecosystem and will launch a new generation with digital stethoscope and EKG in the coming year.
Swiss healthtech company Aktiia, creators of continuous BP monitor through optical sensors, raised a $17.5M Series A in late 2021 and is now in US trials.
Last April, Fitbit began trials to test approximating blood pressure by measuring pulse arrival time (PAT) with its tracker.
Punchline: Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. As health trackers become effective tools for primary care providers, wearable makers will rush to develop Rx’able features.
We break down how fitness, wellness, and healthcare are converging — and what it means for business, culture, and capital.
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