Samsung Galaxy Watch AI LVSD screening cleared in Korea

Samsung said in an official company post that its Galaxy Watch line will gain the ability to detect early signs of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, a form of heart muscle weakness that is a common precursor to heart failure. The company said the feature uses an artificial intelligence algorithm applied to electrocardiogram readings captured by the watch, and that South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cleared the technology for use in that country.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction, often accompanied by reduced ejection fraction, limits the heart’s ability to pump blood and is associated with roughly half of heart failure cases worldwide. Medical experts emphasize that earlier diagnosis and treatment can reduce hospitalizations and mortality, and Samsung framed the watch capability as a screening tool to identify people who may need clinical follow up.

Samsung said the AI model was developed in partnership with Medical AI, a South Korean health technology company that specializes in ECG analysis. The algorithm was trained against clinical 12-lead ECG data and adapted to interpret single-lead ECG tracings taken on a wearable device. Samsung indicated the...