Air Pollution Exposure, Heart Rate, HRV, Respiratory Rate, Resting Heart Rate, Sleep, SpO2
Conditions
Keywords
Indoor Air Purification, Apple Watch, Digital Health Research
Brief summary
This study aims to use the Apple Watch health metrics to assess short-term physiological responses in a randomized, double-blind, crossover real-world indoor purification intervention.
Detailed description
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses significant health risks. While indoor air purification is a proven mitigation approach, most studies have used medical devices with limited usability and practicality. Thus, this study aims to use the Apple Watch health metrics to assess short-term physiological responses in a randomized, double-blind, crossover real-world indoor purification intervention with the IQAir Atem X, the first of its kind in the UAE. The study aims to recruit 42 healthy, non-smoking young adults to undergo two 2-week interventions (real and sham filters), separated by a 1-week washout, at the New York University Abu Dhabi campus. Collected Apple Watch metrics include: heart rate, heart rate variability, daily resting heart rate, sleep respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep stages durations. Daily time-location surveys enable personal PM2.5 exposure estimation from fixed-site sensors. Physiological outcomes and their associations with filtration and PM2.5 exposure are analyzed with paired tests and linear mixed-effect regression models.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALReal Filtration
IQAir Atem X purifier with real filter (HyperHEPA) which is designed to remove PM2.5
BEHAVIORALSham Filtration
IQAir Atem X purifier with sham filter which does not filter any PM2.5. When installed inside the purifiers, the sham filter produced the same appearance and sound as the real one, making the two interventions indistinguishable to participants.
Sponsors
New York University Abu Dhabi
IQAir AG
LUT University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Own an Apple Watch Series 6 or above * Own an iPhone * iPhone and Apple Watch updated to the latest software versions (iOS 18 and watchOS 11, as of January 2025) to ensure consistent and latest algorithms for measuring health * Age range: 18 - 40 * Non-smoker, defined as never smoke in life or have stopped smoking for at least one year before the start of the study
Exclusion criteria
* Own a Apple Watch sold by Apple in the United States on or after January 18, 2024 which does not support SpO2 measurements. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A. * Own or currently use an air quality monitor that can measure particulate matter * Own or currently use an air purifier (humidifier or scent diffuser is fine) * Any known pre-existing conditions: asthma, diabetes, obesity (BMI \> 30), or chronic cardiorespiratory disease * Taking any medications that might affect the heart and lung function
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen Saturation Changes | During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded | Percentage of blood oxygen saturation is measured by the Apple Watch in the background throughout the two interventions. Values are compared between the real and sham filtration to assess the effect of air purification. Unit: % |
| Heart Rate Changes | During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded | Instantaneous heart rate is measured by the Apple Watch in the background throughout the two interventions. Values are compared between the real and sham filtration to assess the effect of air purification. Unit: number of heartbeats per minute |
| Daily Resting Heart Rate Changes | During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded | Resting heart rate is the daily average heart rate during rest measured by the Apple Watch in the background, reported by the Apple Watch as one single aggregated value per day, throughout the two interventions. Values are compared between the real and sham filtration to assess the effect of air purification. Unit: number of heartbeats per minute |
| Heart Rate Variability Changes | During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded | Heart rate variability, variation in time between consecutive heartbeats, is measured by the Apple Watch in the background throughout the two interventions. The Apple Watch specifically measures the Standard Deviation of NN intervals (SDNN). Values are compared between the real and sham filtration to assess the effect of air purification. Unit: millisecond |
| Sleep Respiratory Rate Changes | During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded | Respiratory rate is measured by the Apple Watch in the background during sleep throughout the two interventions. Values are compared between the real and sham filtration to assess the effect of air purification. Unit: number of breaths per minute |
| Sleep Stages Durations Changes | During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded | Nightly duration of sleep stages (Core, Deep, REM, and Awake) is calculated by summing individual sleep samples and their respective timestamps as measured by the Apple Watch in the background during sleep throughout the interventions. Values are compared between the real and sham filtration to assess the effect of air purification. Unit: hour |
Countries
United Arab Emirates
Outcome results
None listed