WHOOP Identifies a Novel Pregnancy Digital Biomarker to Screen for Premature Birth

Whoop, the human performance company, has identified a new digital biomarker for non-invasive screening of premature birth. Whoop will develop new tools to integrate the biomarker, based on heart rate variable (HRV), into their offering and continue research into this space using de-identified member data. 

Why it’s Notable: 

• Premature birth is a significant issue worldwide; more than 10% of babies are born before full-term, with healthcare inequalities exacerbating this statistic. Researchers from Whoop have identified a new digital biomarker for non-invasive screening of premature birth. Labeled as the ‘Whoop Inflection Point’, researchers found an inversion in maternal heart rate variability (HRV) seven weeks prior to delivery. The addition of this new digital biomarker in consumer wearables, has the potential to increase access to early indications of premature birth, especially among those affected by healthcare inequalities.  

• Whoop is planning on building tools to utilize the new digital biomarker, as well as offering new tools showing a Weekly Performance Assessment, allowing members to gain a better understanding of their pregnancy through information on their HRV and resting heart rate, relative to a model of vital signs. Whoop will continue their research  using de-identified member data and likely continue to expand into this space.

Industry Implications: 

• Whoops research and identification of the new digital biomarker speaks to a larger trend of industry expansion into women's health, with the global femtech market expected to grow from  $12.5B in 2022 to $22.28B by 2028. Wearable companies have been taking advantage of this, moving into the women's healthcare space. So far, the main focus has been in fertility, mostly ovulation and period tracking. Earlier this year, Apple launched their temperature tracking sensor, specifically designed for women to track their ovulation. Whoop can use this discovery as a way to differentiate itself from competitors, entering into a more niche space in women's digital health. 

• There is an increasing trend within consumer wearables to not only provide raw data to the user, but also to provide actionable insights to improve health. The major players in this space; Fitbit, Apple, Samsung, and Garmin  have all expanded their offering to include FDA-cleared health insights such as ECG and blood pressure into their wearables. Going forward, it may be necessary for these companies to identify new digital biomarkers to compete in the growing market. As women’s health is traditionally an under-researched area, an appetite to compete may be the catalyst to drive research in this space.