As one of the most common chronic diseases, the dangers of hypertension are well-known, yet the awareness rate among people remains around 50%. Therefore, regular screening is the primary means of identifying potential health risks.
Earlier, the well-known Peking University First Hospital, in collaboration with Wuhan University People’s Hospital and Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, initiated a “Blood Pressure Screening Study”. In this project, the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro smartwatch, developed by Huami Technology, was used along with its blood pressure monitoring engine, PumpBeats™, to conduct health screenings for participants. Since its launch last November, several participants have timely identified potential hypertension risks and have begun further offline treatment.
Recently, this blood pressure screening project has launched a “Nighttime Blood Pressure Screening” feature, allowing participants not only to monitor their blood pressure during the day but also to conduct continuous blood pressure screenings during sleep.
It is noteworthy that the significance of “Nighttime Blood Pressure Screening” lies in its ability to better predict cardiovascular risks compared to office blood pressure levels, daytime average blood pressure, and 24-hour average blood pressure. The success of this research project is largely attributed to the series of blood pressure screening features of the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro.
Currently, the blood pressure screening project of the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro supports two screening methods: single-point blood pressure screening and nighttime continuous blood pressure screening. The former allows for a one-button blood pressure screening in 30 seconds, while the “nighttime continuous screening” enables users to conduct continuous blood pressure monitoring in a relatively quiet state. Coupled with sleep algorithms, the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro can also determine the user’s sleep state (light sleep, deep sleep, REM) and breathing conditions during sleep, thus accurately assessing blood pressure health during sleep.
As a smartwatch used for clinical research, “accuracy” is a prerequisite for conducting “blood pressure screening studies”. Previously, Huami Technology collaborated with Peking University First Hospital to conduct a clinical trial, comparing measurements with standard electronic blood pressure monitors. The PumpBeats™ blood pressure monitoring engine showed an average absolute deviation of 5.3 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) for systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements.
This level of precision is the foundation for the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro’s involvement in blood pressure screening projects at multiple top-tier hospitals.
Leveraging Huami Technology’s 6-channel PPG sensor, BioTracker 3.0, the PumpBeats™ blood pressure monitoring engine can detect changes in blood volume in microvessels and, combined with AI algorithms, achieve continuous blood pressure monitoring.
Compared to the invasive or cuff-based non-invasive blood pressure measurements commonly used in clinical settings, the PumpBeats™ blood pressure monitoring engine enables the smartwatch to perform non-invasive, cuffless blood pressure screening. This not only eliminates the need for traditional cuffs, providing a seamless measurement experience, but also allows for continuous monitoring 24/7, which is particularly crucial for “nighttime blood pressure screening”.
In the past, nighttime blood pressure monitoring often required cuff-based dynamic blood pressure monitors, which, aside from being bulky and less portable, could cause discomfort and awaken the wearer, thus affecting measurement accuracy. The GTR 3 Pro, with its inherent comfort as a smartwatch, addresses this pain point, enabling repeated and anytime measurements, especially at night, which is the basis for the launch of the “nighttime blood pressure screening” project in the blood pressure screening study.
Additionally, it has been revealed that Huami Technology is also advancing 24/7 continuous blood pressure screening technology, hoping to explore a new pathway for screening hidden hypertension through prolonged smartwatch usage.
Returning to the earlier point, hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases in people’s lives, yet only half of the population is aware of it, a phenomenon particularly evident among younger groups. According to data from the “2015 Nutrition and Health Status Survey of Chinese Residents”, the awareness rate of hypertension among young people (ages 18-44) in China is 22.0%. Therefore, smartwatches that combine accessory functions with health monitoring are focusing on blood pressure health.
In the past year, several wearable manufacturers, including Samsung, Huawei, and Huami, have successively launched smartwatches that support blood pressure monitoring. Among them, the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro is one of the few smartwatches in the domestic market that supports non-invasive, cuffless blood pressure screening.
As a smartwatch under the Amazfit brand that emphasizes urban living, the GTR 3 Pro’s biggest feature is its classic round shape and lightweight design, maximizing the experience of daily wear. With the launch of the blood pressure screening study and nighttime blood pressure screening project, the health value of the GTR 3 Pro has further expanded.
For ordinary users, the “nighttime blood pressure screening” study allows for timely identification of personal health risks. Moreover, whether through a seamless experience or continuous nighttime monitoring, the GTR 3 Pro provides a precise and reliable new means for promoting blood pressure health, further proving the importance of smartwatches as “health on the wrist”.