Connected bracelets could detect Covid-19 before the first symptoms

The sensors of the connected objects of the wrist follow the state of health of their wearer: heart rate and variability of the heart rate, some can also measure the temperature of the skin, the frequency of breathing, or blood flow. All this information can allow the early detection of Covid-19, according to a preliminary study.

Encouraging discoveries

Researchers based in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Canada and London carried out a study with 1,163 guinea pigs between the start of the pandemic and April 2021. All of them had to wear an Ava connected bracelet overnight, which is usually used to track stages of fertility. The latter records the physiological signs of the user every ten seconds.

The bracelet data was collected by a mobile application. At the same time, this sample underwent regular Covid tests. The study reveals that with the support of artificial intelligence, it was possible to correctly identify 68% of Covid-positive people two days before the symptoms appeared.

This is a good result even if all the cases of contamination could not be identified. The researchers note, however, that a machine learning algorithm fed by data from a bracelet or a watch could serve as a presymptomatic or asymptomatic detection tool for Covid-19.

They also write that the sensors of these connected objects are easy to use, they are also inexpensive. ” Our research shows how these devices, combined with artificial intelligence, can push the boundaries of medicine and detect diseases before symptoms appear. “. At the medical level, it is a step forward, but also in terms of upstream care by the social security systems.

A new study will now be conducted on a larger scale (20,000 people) to confirm or refute these discoveries.