Worried about your blood pressure? Some wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, can track blood pressure. But it usually still requires a cuff and not all have clearance north of the border through Health Canada. The new Aktiia Bracelet, however, has received Health Canada approval for sale in Canada, marking the first market for it outside of Europe.
The device, which looks like a wristband, is a consumer blood pressure wearable that allows you to take accurate, automated readings up to 50 times per day. The best part? You don’t need to use a blood pressure cuff alongside it.
How does it work? The bracelet can take readings both while the wearer is awake and asleep using advanced optical sensors and proprietary algorithms to measure blood pressure through
Optical Blood Pressure Monitoring (OBPM). It effectively analyzes subtle changes in the diameter of arteries with each heartbeat.
The comfortable wearable connects to a smartphone app where you can view the data and share insights with physicians at the next visit. Unlike traditional cuff-based monitors, Aktiia’s bracelet offers continuous measurements without interrupting daily activities. Note that it is not intended for diagnosis and modification of treatment. Consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Aktiia says the bracelet is clinically validated for accuracy with CE mark certification and Health Canada approval. The battery lasts for up to nine days per charge, and the app provides both comprehensive monthly reports and personalized insights.
“Traditional blood pressure cuff monitoring can be intrusive and often lead to incomplete or inaccurate readings due to factors like white coat syndrome, which affects up to 30 per cent of patients,” says Dr. Jay Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Aktiia. “Akttia’s bracelet provides a much more complete picture of a user’s blood pressure patterns, enabling better-informed healthcare decisions and improved outcomes.”
“By bringing our technology to Canada, we’re making it easier for millions of people to take control of their cardiovascular health through continuous, hassle-free monitoring,” adds Aktiia CEO Raghav Gupta. “Canada has offered Aktiia smooth pathways for product adoption, clinical trials, and partnerships with healthcare providers across the country.”
Aktiia’s presence in Canada began in 2023, marked by the beginning of its collaboration with (GAPP) study investigators Professors David Conen MD MPH at McMaster University and Lorenz Risch MD MPH at the Private University of Liechtenstein and the Dr. Risch Laboratory.
The GAPP study, a large prospective cohort study in the Principality of Liechtenstein involving over 2,000 participants monitored for more than a decade, aims to identify genetic and phenotypic factors influencing blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. As part of its ongoing research, the study uses Aktiia’s innovative 24/7 blood pressure monitoring. The collaboration is set to uncover connections between long-term blood pressure patterns and genetic, biomarker, imaging, and healthcare data, potentially leading to discoveries in the field.
The Aktiia bracelet is available now at https://aktiia.com/ca/ for $335, but it will sell at a promotional price of $301.50 for the next two weeks.