Do you run or hike with an Apple Watch? According to a new study from New York's Mount Sinai hospital, your wearable may be more effective than a swab test to determine if you have symptoms of Covid-19.
In a new study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Medical Internet Research, several hundred Mount Sinai staff were monitored for coronavirus-like symptoms from April to September while wearing an Apple Watch and iPhone app for data collection. Study participants were also ask to fill out a daily survey over the test period, with questions measuring both regular stress levels and any hints of virus-like symptoms.
The main takeaway for the research team was around heart rate variability (HRV) - or the time between heartbeats. This serves as a way to measure impact on the nervous system, and was recorded along with symptoms such as fever, cough, intestinal issues, and loss of taste and smell.
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The findings of the Warrior Watch Study demonstrated that "an Apple Watch was able to signal the onset of COVID-19 up to seven days before the individual was diagnosed with the infection via nasal swab, and also to identify those who have symptoms."
For more, visit MountSinai.org.
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