Apple Watch’s ECG Launches in Australia
The official announcement published in Apple Newsroom confirms that both the ECG app and the irregular heart rhythm notification are now available for the Apple Watch owners in Australia with the latest iOS 14.6 and watchOS 7.5 software updates.
Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer:
Aside from ECG (also called ECG or EKG), customers in Australia are now also permitted to turn on the irregular heart rate notification feature on their Series 3 watch or newer.
The irregular rhythm notification feature on the Apple Watch Series 3 and later occasionally checks heart rhythms in the background and sends the user a notification if an irregular heart rhythm that appears to be atrial fibrillation (AFib) has been identified.
This feature uses the optical heart sensor, with an irregular rhythm threshold set to five rhythm checks over a minimum of 65 minutes. Apple has confirmed that both the ECG app and the irregular heart rate notification have been included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) in Australia as Class IIa medical devices.
Apple Watch ECG Feature Availability
The ECG feature requires special electrodes built into the back crystal and Digital Crown to record the timing and strength of the electrical signals that make one’s heartbeat. These electrodes are found in the Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6 models. If you own an Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 3 or older, you won’t be able to use the ECG feature.
Apple notes that the ECG app is not intended for use by people under 22 years old.
The irregular rhythm notification uses the optical heart sensor, found in the Apple Watch Series 3 and newer. Bill Stavreski, General Manager for Heart Health and Research at the Australian Heart Foundation, was quoted in the press release as saying that data collected by the Apple Watch “could be used to help diagnose atrial fibrillation early.”
The official watchOS Feature Availability webpage on Apple’s website lists the countries and regions where the ECG and irregular rhythm notification features are available.
How to Use ECG on the Apple Watch
Users must set up ECG functionality in the Health app on their iPhone before being able to take an ECG reading directly on the wrist. To do so, select the Browse tab in the Health app on your iPhone and navigate to Heart > Electrocardiograms (ECG) > Set Up ECG App.
With the initial setup complete, open the dedicated ECG app on your Apple Watch to take a quick ECG reading. If the app is not visible on the watch, open the companion Watch on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab, then choose Heart > My Heart > ECG > Install.
