Fitbit recently supported research that proved the effectivity of wrist-worn trackers that incorporate movement and cardiac sensors. Examples of these include the Fitbit Alta HR, Blaze, and Fitbit Charge 2. Specifically, their functions encompass the ability to accurately determine light, deep and REM sleep stages.
The results of the study, scored independently by polysomnography technicians, show that the devices do indeed track sleep stages with a reasonable degree of accuracy in normal adult sleepers. In practical terms, this avoids the cost and artificial sleep environment of sleep laboratories. The ability to gather reliable sleep data should prove invaluable for those looking to save money on a sleep lab.
In April 2017, Fitbit introduced new sleep features to provide data on the user’s sleep habits. Sleep Stages, a key component of the Alta HR, Blaze, and Charge 2, uses heart rate variability to estimate the amount of time spent in light, deep and REM sleep. For the research itself, Fitbit looked into millions upon millions of extensive data on sleep across the world. In fact, these numbers and data place Fitbit in the proper position to identify sleep trends on a macro level.