The Apple Watch Series 10 uses a combination of factors to differentiate between sleep apnea and other types of breathing disturbances during sleep:
Monitoring Breathing Disturbances
The watch uses its accelerometer to monitor small movements at the wrist that are associated with interruptions in normal respiratory patterns. This data is tracked by a new metric called "Breathing Disturbances"[1][6].Analyzing Disturbance Data Over Time
While some breathing disturbances are normal, the watch analyzes the data over a 30-day period to determine if the disturbances are consistent and potentially indicative of sleep apnea. It requires at least 10 nights of sleep tracking data within that 30-day window[5].Classifying Disturbance Levels
The nightly Breathing Disturbances data is classified as either "elevated" or "not elevated" in the Health app. This allows users to view the disturbance levels over one-month, six-month, or one-year periods[6].Using Advanced Machine Learning
The sleep apnea notification algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning and an extensive dataset of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests. This allows the watch to accurately analyze the breathing disturbance data[1][6].Validating in Clinical Studies
The sleep apnea detection feature was validated in a large clinical study. In this study, every participant identified by the algorithm as having sleep apnea was confirmed to have at least mild sleep apnea[6].So in summary, the watch looks for consistent, elevated levels of breathing disturbances over time using advanced algorithms, and has been validated to accurately identify signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. It does not diagnose the condition, but rather identifies potential signs that a user should consult with a healthcare provider.
Citations:[1] https://aasm.org/apple-watch-series-10-features-sleep-apnea-notifications/
[2] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-watches-will-soon-have-sleep-apnea-detection-heres-how-it-will-work/
[3] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/inside-the-apple-watch-series-10s-new-sleep-apnea-detection-feature/
[4] https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-watch-series-10-gains-sleep-apnea-detection-and-it-could-save-your-life/
[5] https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/16/apple-watch-sleep-apnea-detection-gets-fda-approval/
[6] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/09/introducing-apple-watch-series-10/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN2MSmw8wCM
[8] https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-10/why-apple-watch/