Samsung on Thursday announced the expansion of a crucial health tracking feature to more countries. Sleep Apnea, which was introduced with the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra models in the US, will now be available in 34 more European markets, in addition to Australia and Singapore. It is offered as a supplementary tool which leverages the Samsung Health app and the BioActive Sensor on the Galaxy Watch to monitor signs of obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea on Samsung Galaxy Watch
Samsung shared details of the expansion of Sleep Apnea in a newsroom post. The company says this feature has received the CE (Conformité Européenne or European Conformity) certification for the European Economic Area (EEA), reaffirming its compliance with the EU’s health, safety and environmental protection standards.
Consequently, it is rolling out in 34 new European markets. Additionally, Samsung is also introducing the feature for Galaxy Watch users in Australia and Europe.
The tech conglomerate emphasises that its Sleep Apnea risk detection feature has gained De Novo authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is also approved by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Brazil’s health regulatory agency ANVISA, and the Canadian government’s Health Canada department.
According to Samsung, the Sleep Apnea feature is available on the Galaxy Watch via the Samsung Health Monitor app. It requires a Galaxy Watch running Wear OS 5.0 or later, paired with a phone with Android OS 9.0 or later.
Samsung says it is designed to enhance sleep health awareness by monitoring signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. It requires a certain amount of sleep data for more accurate measurement. And the results of the analysis will appear after two sleep cycles while wearing the watch.
However, the company advises caution that the Galaxy Watch is not a medical-grade device and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. The potential health markers are just suggestions and not diagnoses. Thus, users must seek out a healthcare provider for a definitive diagnosis if the smartwatch detects potential sleep issues.
