There are only a few weeks before the release of the Apple Watch Series 10, or Apple Watch X. A few rumors have indicated that the new watch will include features such as monitoring and alerting for signs of sleep apnea. As such, questions have arisen about whether the new smartwatch will start to take shares from the sleep apnea diagnostic systems market, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
According to GlobalData, the sleep apnea diagnostic systems market was valued at $905 million in 2023 and is projected to reach sales of $1.3 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%.
Tina Deng, MSc, Principal Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Many smartwatches have already been designed to track sleep patterns and vital signs. However, they cannot replace an actual sleep study that includes either a polysomnogram or Home Sleep Apnea Test. While a smartwatch is not as accurate as gold standard approaches, it can still be used by clinicians to monitor obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients for extended periods without the need for many cables and sensors. The majority of individuals with sleep apnea remain undiagnosed, indicating a need for increased awareness and accessibility to diagnostic tools.”
Samsung Electronics has introduced a novel sleep apnea feature on the Samsung Health Monitor app, authorized by the FDA in February 2024. With more smartwatch brands launching products with the feature of sleep apnea detection, more people will choose the convenient approach before they visit the sleep clinics for the final diagnosis.
Deng concludes: “The market of smartwatches with sleep apnea detection is driven by a combination of convenience, accuracy, and FDA authorization, with a focus on addressing undiagnosed cases and improving existing technologies to meet evolving patient needs. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the emphasis on home monitoring reflect key trends shaping the future of sleep apnea diagnosis and management.”
