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Is Sleep Apnea Detection for Apple Watch in Canada Coming?
Will Apple’s sleep apnea notification feature launch in Canada? It’s not entirely clear.
Sleep apnea is a condition that happens when someone stops breathing for a few seconds while they’re sleeping. It can result in snoring or gasping for air, making people feel super tired by the next morning after a terrible night of sleep. It can also cause negative health conditions, too.
Apple said during its special event yesterday that a new sleep apnea notification feature will soon be available for only the newest Apple Watch models:
The feature is intended for people ages 18 and older without a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Usually, getting a sleep apnea test requires visiting some sleep clinic and sleeping there overnight, or taking home equipment to monitor your sleeping sessions. Having this integration into Apple Watch will likely show so many more people that they might be suffering from sleep apnea.
What’s the solution to sleep apnea? Most people will get a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine that lets you breathe better while you sleep, as it blows a gentle stream of air through a mask into your nose and mouth, stopping any breathing pauses from sleep apnea. CPAP machines and equipment maintenance are expensive though, but can be covered by most extended medical plans if you have one.
If detected, a notification will read on your Apple Watch and iPhone, “possible sleep apnea”.
“Over multiple sleep sessions, Apple Watch has recorded elevated breathing disturbances that would be classified as moderate or severe sleep apnea,” says Apple’s alert, which sends you the date period of when the sleep apnea was detected.
What to do? Talk to your doctor says Apple. “If you have never received a diagnosis of sleep apnea you should discuss this notification with your doctor at your next appointment.You can export a chart of your breathing disturbances along with an explanation of the notification.”
Apple noted that the sleep apnea notification feature needs marketing authorization from global health authorities. The iPhone maker said the feature is expected to be available to over 150 countries and regions in September, specifically mentioning the US, the EU and Japan. There was no mention of Canada (oh, Canada).
The Hearing Aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 has yet to be approved for Canada. Could sleep apnea detection be another feature that Canada misses out on? We’ll find out soon enough, stay tuned.
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As a nurse, I can’t quite understand why Health Canada has issues with this technology given that it is marketed as a screening tool only. It only provides information to the wearer that they should follow up with their physician or HCP. It is not suggesting the wearer has a specific diagnosis.
Never underestimate the capture of regulators in protecting the status quo for industry.
It seems that it's not coming, as from the Apple websites US, there is the mention of sleep apnea, not on Canadian website.
US: "Our thinnest watch with our biggest display.1 Invaluable health insights, including sleep apnea notifications."
Canada: "Our thinnest watch with our biggest display.1 Get invaluable health insights with the Vitals app."
And if your look at the picture and big slideshow, the US site shows the watch with the "possible sleep apnea notification", the Canadian website just shows the regular vitals with no mention of apnea detection anywhere.
I hate when government and organizations deny us the information… I know it's not a diagnosis and it's clearly stated on the watch "possible sleep apnea". I'm not 5 anymore, it's for 18+, let me get the damn information!!
The Apple CA press release mentions sleep apnea…we’ll find out soon enough. Agreed on the last point!