Recently Apple released iOS 14.6 and watchOS 7.5. Along with the updates comes the ability for us in Malaysia to take an electrocardiogram (ECG) using our Apple Watch. The feature is now available on Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6.

According to the press release: “The ECG app and the irregular rhythm notification feature received regulatory approval from the Medical Device Authority (MDA) in Malaysia as Class B software medical devices”.

The ECG app, lets you take a 30 second test to let you know if your heart rhythm is classified as either atrial fibrillation AFib, AFib with high heart rate, sinus rhythm, low or high heart rate, inconclusive, or poor recording. The results can even be exported to PDF for your doctor to see.

For Apple Watch Series 3 and later, there is the irregular rhythm notification feature. It does five rhythm checks over a minim of 65 minutes. You this will be done in the background, so you don’t have to attended to it like the ECG app.

I have met a local cardiology expert who love these features during a work assignment years ago. He loved it so much he went to Singapore to get the Apple Watch but only to find out that the features were not yet available in Malaysia until recently.

The Apple Watch ECG app and irregular rhythm notification press release quotes Dr Mohamed Ezani Taib, cardiothoracic surgeon at the National Heart Institute Kuala Lumpur.

“The ECG app on Apple Watch will certainly bring a new dimension to patient care as a very accessible initial indicator of heart health,” said Dr Mohamed.

“AFib cases account for approximately one-third of our 200,000 cases annually here at the National Heart Institute, of which 40 percent are undiagnosed. Therefore, having an early warning system will be of immense benefit that will enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat heart rhythm issues earlier and potentially reduce the risk of complications, such as stroke, in the longer term”.

Of course, these heath applications came with a lot of warning and disclaimers. The most important ones are these features are not meant to detect heart attacks and strokes. And these features does not replace a doctor. Always consult your healthcare professional.

Read More: ECG app and irregular rhythm notification now available on Apple Watch in Malaysia.