An electrocardiogram (ECG) section has appeared on the iOS version of Garmin Connect shortly before its official launch. The feature appears to be available for the Fenix 7, Epix 2 and possibly a few other devices.
ECG measurements with a smartwatch can provide important information about a person’s heart health. An EKG records the heart’s electrical activity, which can reveal problems with the heart’s rhythm or structure. Some smartwatches with ECG capability can detect abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), a leading cause of stroke. As a result, these types of devices can be used to help identify potential health problems early.
Much has already been written about the upcoming ECG Garmin functionality. It’s not like the company has done a particularly good job of keeping things under wraps.
We started with a medical study using a Garmin watch to take the EKG and look for Afib. Then an early firmware update allowed users to take a basic EKG on their Venu 2 Plus watch. More information on functionality followed, including FDA clearance for a Garmin ECG app.
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The latest leak comes via Garmin Connect. Version 4.52.2 of the iOS app adds an ECG tab in the Health section. The prerequisite is that you have activated two-factor authentication for your Garmin account (2FA). Exactly why this is necessary is not clear.
The other requirement is probably that you have a watch that can take such measurements. Garmin tailors each user’s smartphone display to the device they own. Epix 2 and Fenix 7 owners have reported on the Garmin forums and Reddit that they are seeing the new ECG scope. As well as a person with a Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE. Venu 2 Plus will probably also be on this list.
The feature does not appear to be region specific. Users in the US, Canada, Slovakia, and a few other countries have all reported seeing the new section.
There is also an entry “UDI for Medical Device Software” under Settings. Presumably this is the Unique Device Identifier for the ECG.
Garmin quickly realized that the pre-release had accidentally gotten into the app. The ECG section was removed in version 4.62.3.
It’s not clear which Garmin watches get an EKG
It will be interesting to see which Garmin watches get ECG support. The function requires hardware that can measure voltage, such as B. metal panels or a metal button as a contact point and a metal back. So it’s not just about whether or not the watch has the latest sensors like Elevate 4 heart rate. Of course, Garmin’s usual gimmicks about which watches get certain features also play a role.
It’s also quite possible that the ECG will debut on a future watch. The functionality will then gradually be extended to alpha and beta test groups of older watches.
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