Summary: A Korean researcher is using a cuff-less wearable device, Sky Labs’ CART BP pro, to noninvasively monitor blood pressure during sleep to better understand the link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular risk.
Key Takeaways:
- CART BP pro allows for high-frequency nighttime blood pressure measurements (e.g., every 5 minutes).
- The cuff-less ring provides real-world cardiovascular insights that could support long-term patient monitoring and risk prediction.
- It is already in use at over 1,300 hospitals in South Korea and is reimbursed by national health insurance, enhancing its accessibility.
A research presentation by Jin Oh Na, a professor at Korea University Guro Hospital Cardiovascular Center, introduced the application of CART (Cardio Tracker) BP pro, a cuff-less ring, in exploring the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular patterns, offering an opportunity to gain deeper insights into cardiovascular risks during sleep.
With the CART BP pro, made by South Korea-based startup Sky Labs, researchers can gather uninterrupted blood pressure data, offering an opportunity to better understand cardiovascular patterns during sleep.
Na made the research presentation, “Sleep and Cardiovascular Health: Why It Matters,” at the 2025 Annual Spring Scientific Conference of the Korean Society of Cardiology. Na’s upcoming research will explore the correlation between sleep apnea and cardiovascular risks using CART BP pro to measure blood pressure noninvasively during sleep.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that affects cardiovascular health but is frequently underdiagnosed. In Korea, about 85% of OSA patients remain undiagnosed, often dismissed as simple snoring,” says Na in a release. “We are planning a study to measure nighttime blood pressure every five minutes using CART BP pro, with the aim of developing a model that may help identify patients at risk and support long-term assessment.”
CART BP pro offers several advantages for both clinical practice and research:
- Blood pressure data collection over extended periods, rather than relying on single-point measurements.
- Nighttime monitoring that does not interfere with natural sleep, making it suitable for studying nocturnal hypertension.
- Convenient home use, supporting patient comfort and adherence.
Na points out that while polysomnography is the current gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea, it does not allow for precise blood pressure monitoring during sleep. He explained that cuff-based devices may disturb sleep due to pressure inflation and are not suitable for high-frequency nocturnal measurements. By using CART BP pro, researchers expect to collect more consistent, real-world data without interfering with sleep.
Currently available at more than 1,300 hospitals and clinics throughout South Korea, CART BP pro has received regulatory approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and is eligible for national health insurance reimbursement, making it more accessible to a broader range of patients.
