In my cardiology practice I like to think I treat men and women equally. But I have noticed something. I miss the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea more often in women than in men.
That matters. Sleep apnea is a major cause of high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation. These are the very conditions I work hard to prevent and control every day. So why am I missing it more often in women?
It is not because I fail to ask the questions. When I ask a male patient about snoring, his spouse is often in the room. She is quick to offer an observation that changes everything. Doctor, he snores like a freight train. That single comment can unlock a diagnosis. For women that witness is rarely present because the majority of women come to the doctor alone.
A 2017 study in Current Research Integrative Medicine supports this. Wives are far more likely to attend their husbands’ visits than husbands are to attend their wives. That simple difference shapes what gets noticed and what stays invisible.
The gender gap is not just about who actually has sleep apnea. It is about who gets recognized and treated and this is a perfect example of why wearables can help treat unreported symptoms.
The Rise of the Wearable as a Digital Witness
This is where the Evie Ring by Movano Health comes in. It was designed specifically for women and it is the first smart ring cleared by the FDA as a medical device. Unlike most wearables that are marketed for wellness Evie carries regulatory validation for what it measures.
Evie cannot replace a partner in the exam room. But it can serve as the digital witness women often lack. It captures objective data that might never surface otherwise. Nighttime drops in oxygen. Elevated breathing rate. Abnormal heart rate patterns.
These are not just numbers. They are signals that can uncover sleep apnea and other health problems that too often go unnoticed in women.
Closing Thought
Women have long served as the Chief Medical Officers of their families. They make sure children, parents and partners are cared for first. Devices like the Evie Ring offer a powerful solution by providing a silent, ever-present “digital witness”. For me, this is just one example of why wearables can be important for woman’s health and why a focus on Femtech is important. Let me know your thoughts on why men don’t accompany women to the clinic, because I see it every day. What other Femtech offerings are out there that we should know about and what others should be developed?