Oura Ring 4 goes beyond fitness: it is used in heart research

Oura Ring 4 smart rings go beyond the fitness tracker market. British doctors plan to use a wearable device as an auxiliary tool in medical trials aimed at helping patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Oura Ring 4 and HFpEF

HFpEF is a hard-to-diagnose condition in which the heart muscle becomes stiff and unable to pump as much blood as it needs. As part of a pilot project at Jersey’s main hospital in St Helier, participants will wear the Oura Ring 4 to monitor vital signs. These include resting heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, and general physical activity.

Research methodology

In addition to the smart ring, patients will use the SENS Motion patch, which is fixed on the thigh. This professional-grade medical sensor specializes in detailed analysis of physical activity and sleep quality. According to Aaron Henry, a cardiologist at Jersey Hospital, the integration of such technologies allows continuous monitoring of patients over a long 14-week cycle.

The entire process is fully automated: data from the ring and the patch are transferred to the patient’s smartphone, from where they are synchronized with the cloud storage. This allows doctors to remotely monitor the dynamics and effectiveness of the selected course of treatment.

Funding details and nuances

The Isle HFpEF project received a budget of £225,000 (equivalent to approximately UAH 11,965,000 or $286,500) with the participation of the University of Oxford. It is worth noting that the Oura company is not officially a partner of this clinical study.

While smart ring manufacturers are expanding the capabilities of their devices, it’s important to understand the context: Gadgets like the Oura Ring 4 are being explored in a current study for professional medical equipment. Previously, the Oura company introduced functions for early detection of symptoms of diseases, but users should remember the need to consult with specialists about health problems.