Real-World Validation of Huawei Wearable Technologies for Hypertension Risk Screening in Malaysia

Background: Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, yet many people do not know they have it. In Malaysia, nearly half of all adults with elevated blood pressure are unaware of their condition. Standard clinic blood pressure checks can miss cases of high blood pressure or falsely flag temporary stress-related spikes. While 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is the standard method for an accurate diagnosis, it is not practical for large-scale screening. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a novel Huawei smartwatch, which uses photoplethysmography (PPG) technology to estimate blood pressure, can accurately identify individuals at high risk for hypertension in a real-world setting. Study Design \& Procedures: Participants: Approximately 500 adults will be enrolled over a 24-month study period. Screening: All participants will use the Huawei smartwatch screening tool to monitor their blood pressure estimates. Validation: A subgroup of approximately 50 participants identified as high-risk by the smartwatch will undergo 24-hour ABPM (the clinical gold standard) to confirm whether they have high blood pressure. Goal: Researchers aim to validate the accuracy of the smartwatch screening tool against 24-hour ABPM to determine if wearable technology can support early detection and timely treatment of undiagnosed hypertension in the community.