Comment by ignoramous
14 hours ago
The paper itself: https://www.apple.com/healthcare/docs/site/Using_Apple_Watch...
Seems like Apple's 95% accuracy estimate for VO2 max holds up.
Thirty participants wore an Apple Watch for 5-10 days to generate a VO2 max estimate. Subsequently, they underwent a maximal exercise treadmill test in accordance with the modified Åstrand protocol. The agreement between measurements from Apple Watch and indirect calorimetry was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and mean absolute error (MAE).
Overall, Apple Watch underestimated VO2 max, with a mean difference of 6.07 mL/kg/min (95% CI 3.77–8.38). Limits of agreement indicated variability between measurement methods (lower -6.11 mL/kg/min; upper 18.26 mL/kg/min). MAPE was calculated as 13.31% (95% CI 10.01–16.61), and MAE was 6.92 mL/kg/min (95% CI 4.89–8.94).
These findings indicate that Apple Watch VO2 max estimates require further refinement prior to clinical implementation. However, further consideration of Apple Watch as an alternative to conventional VO2 max prediction from submaximal exercise is warranted, given its practical utility.
That’s saying that they’re 95% confident that the mean measurement is lower than the treadmill estimate, not that the watch is 95% accurate. In other words they’re confident that the watch underestimates VO2 max.