Samsung said its Galaxy Watch6 could warn users of an impending fainting episode up to five minutes before it occurs, based on a joint clinical study with Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital in South Korea.
The study, which was published in the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, focused on vasovagal syncope (VVS), a common condition in which a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure leads to temporary loss of consciousness.
Researchers led by Prof. Junhwan Cho evaluated 132 patients with suspected VVS using induced fainting tests. Participants wore a Galaxy Watch6 equipped with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, which tracks blood flow to measure heart rate variability (HRV).
An artificial intelligence model then analyzed these patterns to detect early warning signs. The system was able to predict fainting episodes up to five minutes in advance with an accuracy of 84.6 percent.
It recorded a sensitivity of 90 percent, indicating a high ability to detect actual cases, and a specificity of 64 percent, suggesting a higher likelihood of false positives.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, up to one-third of people experience at least one episode in their lifetime. While typically not life-threatening, such episodes can result in injuries from sudden falls, including fractures and concussions.
Samsung said the results point to the growing role of wearable devices in preventive healthcare, although the feature is not yet available for public use and requires further real-world validation.
