UHN features Apple Watch in a new study to advance remote management of heart failure

Toronto (September 18, 2020) – The Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (University Health Network) are collaborating with Apple, Inc., to give heart failure patients even more control over their health, and usher in a new era of remote monitoring possibilities. 

The study will investigate how physiological signals from Apple Watch – such as heart rate and the new blood oxygen feature – can help with better management of heart failure with the goal of driving better clinical outcomes for heart failure patients. 

The study will be led by Dr. Heather Ross, Division Head of Cardiology at UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Scientific Lead at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, and participation will be by invitation to heart failure patients receiving care at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. 

Traditionally, management and assessment of congestive heart failure patients takes place in a clinic, utilizing a number of diagnostic exercise tests that are expensive and can be difficult for some patients. This study will investigate the ability for patients to perform these assessments in the comfort of their own home.  

“Congestive heart failure is one of the most serious heart conditions that can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for millions of persons around the world,” said Dr. Ross. “Understanding and learning how physiologic signals from Apple Watch and iPhone can be utilized, may lead to innovative solutions for management of this disease and allow us to intervene early and prevent poor clinical outcomes.” 

The study will launch later this year with privacy and transparency for participants as a priority. All user data will be encrypted, and participants have the ability to opt-out at any time.  

Dr. Ross, a world-renowned cardiologist, leads a team of clinician-scientists that are setting the standard of care and research for heart failure patients both in Canada, and around the world. 

“Our team is always asking ourselves how we can meaningfully improve patient outcomes for what has become the most rapidly rising cardiovascular disease in Canada,” explains Dr. Barry Rubin, Medical Director and Chair of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. “We look forward to joining with the team at Apple to continue transforming the future of heart failure management.”  

UHN is the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, and is uniquely positioned with both talent, and infrastructure, to lead this important research. 

“The combination of Apple Inc., the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is a very exciting partnership, said Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO of University Health Network. “When I think of what may be possible for patients and clinicians, it underlines the importance of thinking in new ways about giving people the care they need where they would like to receive it – in their home. Apple is known for innovation around the world and it will be exciting to have our researchers and clinicians working with them on the devices of the future.” 

Please click here for a message from Dr. Heather Ross: https://youtu.be/IFVOYCIhZ1Q 

About the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research

The Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research aims to develop new diagnoses, treatments and tools to prevent and individually manage heart failure – Canada’s fastest growing cardiac disease. Enabled by an unprecedented gift of $130 million from the Rogers family in 2014, the Centre was jointly conceived by its three partner organizations: The Hospital for Sick Children, University Health Network, and the University of Toronto. Together, they committed an additional $139 million toward the Centre – representing a $270 million investment in basic science, translational and clinical research, innovation, and education in regenerative medicine, genomics, and the clinical care of children and adults. It is addressing heart failure across the lifespan. www.tedrogersresearch.ca / @trogersresearch

About the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre

The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, established through the generous support of The Peter and Melanie Munk Charitable Foundation, is the premier cardiac centre in Canada. Each year, over 163,000 patients receive innovative and compassionate care from a multidisciplinary team who treat some of the most complex cases of heart and vascular disease. Our clinical and research expertise has improved the lives of patients around the world, while we continue to train more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is based at Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – all members of University Health Network. For more information, visit www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca

About University Health Network

University Health Network consists of Toronto General, recently ranked the #4 Hospital in the World according to Newsweek Magazine, and Toronto Western Hospital, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The scope of research and complexity of cases at University Health Network has made it a national and international source of discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. University Health Network is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. www.uhn.ca