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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
42
IQAir Atem X purifier with real filter (HyperHEPA) which is designed to remove PM2.5
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.
New York University Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Heart Rate Changes
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
Time frame: During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded
Daily Resting Heart Rate Changes
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
Time frame: During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded
Heart Rate Variability Changes
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
Time frame: During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded
Oxygen Saturation Changes
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: %
Time frame: During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded
Sleep Respiratory Rate Changes
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
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Time frame: During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded
Sleep Stages Durations Changes
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
Time frame: During each 2-week intervention (real and sham filtration); 1-week washout period is excluded