Use Your Fitbit Device to Easily Support COVID-19 Health Research

We know that early detection is critical to stop the spread of infectious disease outbreaks.  There has been early evidence that wearables, like Fitbit devices, can help predict the onset of infectious diseases, like the flu and COVID-19. 

That’s why we are collaborating with leaders like The Scripps Research Institute and Stanford Medicine on important research to see if wearable data can help detect, track, and contain COVID-19. These studies use data from wearables to determine if tracking changes in heart rate, activity, and sleep can provide an early indication of viral illnesses, like COVID-19, before actual symptoms start.

Read on to learn how you can easily support COVID-19 related health research, just by sharing your Fitbit data.

1. The Scripps DETECT study: To join the study, simply download the MyDataHelps app—found in Google Play or the App Store—and enroll in DETECT through the app and link it to your Fitbit account to share your data. The study is designed to be as passive and unobtrusive as possible and provides you with a summary of your data every month. Learn more at https://detectstudy.org/.
2. The Stanford Healthcare Innovation Lab COVID-19 PROTECT wearables study: To join the study, visit https://www.innovations.stanford.edu/. Scroll to the Wearables Data Study section and click ‘Enroll’. Complete the registration. An email will follow with further instructions.

By wearing your Fitbit device with heart rate tracking and choosing to share your data, you can help scientists better detect and respond to viral illness outbreaks like COVID-19.