A smartwatch is a wristwatch-type information terminal that has come to be seen in a wide range of generations.
I don't think there are many people who wear it just to check the time.
Some estimate that the number of vehicles sold in fiscal 2021 will exceed 3 million units, a threefold increase in five years.
Today, there are various types of devices that can measure the state of the human body, such as heart rate and blood oxygen saturation.
Based on this data, there are cases where the date and time of death of a corpse that has been long since death has been determined.
One senior police officer said it was "unusual".
He interviewed the site where the use spreads.
(Kobe Broadcasting Station Reporter Mizuha Ide)
One month after missing, the body brought in
Kobe University's Department of Forensic Medicine, which examines bodies involved in crimes and accidents and investigates the cause of death, accepts as many as 50 autopsies each month.
One day, the body of a man in his 30s who seems to have passed away for some time was brought in.
After leaving home to go to work, he disappeared, but about a month later, he was found in a car in a parking lot in Hyogo Prefecture, away from his home.
At the discretion of the police chief, an autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of death.
``Date and time of death'' difficult to identify
In this case, the exact circumstances of death were not known.
One of the most important things in the autopsy is when did he die?
When investigating the date and time of death, we will work out information such as security cameras around the scene where the person was found and the operation records of the mobile phone used.
However, in the case of a corpse that has been dead for a long time and is severely damaged, it is said that it is extremely difficult to specify the date and time of death in detail based only on the autopsy results.
Dr. Takahashi, who was in charge,
"In cases where more than a month has passed since the death, it is almost impossible to judge that 'it is believed that he died around XX:XX.' However, as an autopsy, when did he die? We can't move forward without knowing why, why he died, and under what circumstances he died."
Identify with smartwatch?
Under these circumstances, what caught my attention was the smartwatch that the man wore on his arm.
It was equipped with a function to automatically measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation.
As a result of analyzing the data with the cooperation of the bereaved family, the data was finally lost when the heart rate of 54 times per minute was recorded around 7:40 am.
Furthermore, the blood oxygen saturation also recorded 87% at about the same time for the last time.
As a result, the time of death was determined to be around 7:40 a.m., the time when the last record was left on the smartwatch, based on the condition of the body and the consistency with the eyewitness information.
In addition, the condition of the corpse did not confirm whether it was an accident.
The function of the smart watch evolves year by year.
A senior police officer said the use of smartwatches to determine the date and time of death is unusual.
Senior police officer
: "I think the information measured by the smartwatch will be a powerful clue in investigating the circumstances at the time of death. This is a rare case, but it was judged comprehensively, including other information. Especially. In the case of an incident, there is a possibility that the measured data may be used conveniently, so we will have to make a careful judgment by comparing it with other information.
” In order to clarify the situation, we would like to consider the possibility of using it in the future after identifying the issues.
Dr. Takahashi
: “Recently, smart watches that can record electrocardiograms have appeared, and by using the data, we may even be able to find out what kind of heart condition was right before death. Accurate information. An autopsy is also said to be the "final medical treatment" for those left behind.
I would like to clarify the circumstances at the time, such as the date and time of death and the cause of death, as accurately as possible.”
It is estimated that the number of users will increase
Smart watches equipped with functions that can measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation are popular among a wide range of generations as disease prevention and health awareness increase due to the spread of new corona infections.
According to a private research company, MM Research Institute, domestic sales of smart watches will be approximately 3.43 million units in the year of 2021.
It is expected to increase by approximately 49.6% compared to FY2020, expanding to 6.39 million units in FY2026.
In the background of the expected expansion, in addition to measuring heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, smart watches can record data related to health management such as electrocardiograms and calorie consumption, so a wide range of fields such as medical care and daily physical condition management. There are expectations that it will be used for
Widespread use in medical settings
Some models display a warning based on the measured information if there is a risk of illness.
At the Chubu International Medical Center in Gifu Prefecture, last year, a new specialized outpatient clinic was set up for people who detected abnormal heartbeats with a smartwatch.
Dr. Takashi Nakajima, a cardiologist and an arrhythmia treatment specialist, is in charge.
In the future, we believe that the demand for such specialized outpatient services will increase with the spread of such services.
Dr. Nakajima
: Many of the people wearing smartwatches today are relatively young, but as that generation ages, the health risks will increase. In the future, I expect that the number of patients who feel a sense of urgency about the information measured by smartwatches and visit hospitals will increase.”
Physician “Detects signs of illness and provides early treatment”
One of the reasons for setting up a specialized outpatient clinic was the number of people who saw warnings about the dangers of illnesses on their smartwatches.
Hiroshi Inami (57), who lives in Gifu Prefecture, is also one of the people who visited this hospital after receiving information about smartwatches.
Two years ago, Mr. Inami was surprised to see an electrocardiogram app installed in a smartwatch.
There was a warning of "atrial fibrillation", a type of arrhythmia that causes part of the heart to spasm.
Mr. Hiroshi Inami
"I bought a smart watch because I was worried about my heart after suffering from angina pectoris several years ago. When I feel shortness of breath or feel pain, I measure my own electrocardiogram. When the warning was displayed, my pulse rate was so high that I couldn't speak even if I just sat down.
" was diagnosed.
According to the doctor, there was a risk of heart failure or cerebral infarction if left untreated.
After that, Mr. Inami underwent surgery and his condition is calm, so it is now a habit to check him regularly.
Dr. Nakajima says that the advent of smartwatches has ushered in an era in which even individuals can record data such as electrocardiograms without stress.
Dr. Nakajima
: “Until now, it was common for people to go to the hospital after experiencing symptoms, and then to get the details only after an examination.However, smartwatches are worn on a daily basis. Since the patient can make measurements based on their own judgment when they feel something abnormal, we believe that we can also expect early detection of signs of illness, leading to early treatment.”
In an aging society, “wider range of utilization”
A smartwatch that shows new possibilities.
Experts point out that as the range of uses in society expands, it is also important to connect it to "watching over" those who wear it.
President of the Japanese Society of Forensic Medicine/Professor Shinichi Kubo, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University
“By using smartwatches to monitor the safety of workers working in factories and construction sites, it may be possible to prevent serious work-related accidents. In addition, as the number of nuclear families increases and the aging of the population accelerates, there is a risk that the number of so-called "isolated deaths," in which people die unnoticed, will increase. , I hope that efforts such as notifying your family doctor will spread further in the future.”
Where does personal information go...
On the other hand, the data measured by the smart watch is personal information.
The public and private sectors are currently discussing mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of measured health information with medical institutions.
to protect my health.
And how should I use it to keep an eye on my family's health?
As the functions of smartwatches improve dramatically, how to handle that data is also likely to become an issue.