Cardiogram, a health monitoring company known in part for its integration with Apple Watch, expanded its reach on Wednesday with the release of an app update that delivers support for a range of Fitbit devices.
The latest version of Cardiogram, available for free on the iOS App Store and Google Play store, enables compatibility with any Fitbit device with a heart rate sensor. This includes the Fitbit Charge family, Fitbit Versa family, Fitbit Inspire HR, Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Alta HR.
Previously, Cardiogram was limited to Apple Watch and Wear OS devices paired to an iPhone.
Cardiogram's work on heart health is centered around a deep neural network called DeepHeart which, when applied to data gleaned from a wearable device's optical heart rate sensor, can detect early signs of diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation with a high degree of accuracy. The pioneering detection and screening tools were validated in a series of clinical studies conducted in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco.
"With the accurate 24/7 heart rate data from Fitbit wearables, Cardiogram can make its algorithm more accurate and potentially save lives, by helping users at elevated risk of certain health conditions and guiding them to condition management."
Cardiogram has enjoyed high adoption and usage rates among Apple Watch users, but the app's developers note support for Fitbit hardware was a long-standing request.
The expansion allows DeepHeart to tap into a portion of Fitbit's massive install base of 27 million active users. Data collected from new participants will help refine the algorithm, making it more accurate and ultimately more useful to end those at risk.
To enable data collection for Fitbit, device owners need to agree to join Cardiogram's research study with UCSF Cardiology.
Cardiogram is a free download from the iOS App Store. A subscription service, Cardiogram Premium, is also available for securely sharing collected data with family members and doctors.