Google Teaches Smartwatches to Spot Hypertension Without a Cuff

Researchers at Google have developed an artificial intelligence tool that uses data from a standard wearable device to detect signs of high blood pressure — no cuff required. A paper detailing their work was published in the journal Nature, where they describe how they used the technology on 196 participants compared to 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), considered the gold standard. Their results showed that the watch correctly identified high blood pressure 65.8% of the time, compared to just 55.3% when measured during a routine doctor’s appointment. Now, these results are being used to power a new blood pressure trends feature within the Google Health app.

Over half of individuals suffering from high blood pressure aren’t even aware of it, while a typical trip to the doctor’s office often fails to catch all instances of the condition. Wearing a smartwatch on your wrist provides a discrete way to keep tabs on your blood pressure risk; it won’t give you an official diagnosis, but it may prompt you to seek medical attention. This isn’t intended to replace traditional blood pressure monitors, however. Google makes it clear that this isn’t a replacement for a traditional cuff, but rather a way to encourage people to see their doctor. Should further testing prove successful, this could help make blood pressure screenings more affordable and accessible than ever before.