What vital signs can a face scan measure? Vitals AI's 20+ markers explained
A Vitals AI scan returns 20+ markers covering cardiovascular and respiratory vital signs, body composition, metabolism and wellness indicators. This page explains what each marker means, how it is classified and what inputs it uses.
The short answer
A 30-second Vitals AI scan provides 20+ health and wellness markers spanning cardiovascular and respiratory markers, body composition, metabolic estimates and wellbeing indicators.
Some markers are derived from camera-based physiological signals. Others are estimated, calculated or modelled using a combination of scan-derived results, user-provided information, our AI algorithm and the model used by Vitals AI. This describes how the markers are produced without exposing the underlying model logic.
The scan results surface the typical range or reference context for each marker where available, supporting informed wellbeing awareness, not diagnosis. The labels below explain what each marker represents and how it is produced.
For the technology behind the scan, see how Vitals AI works. For the research and benchmarking behind the model, see Vitals AI research. For the full product, visit the Vitals AI overview.
How to read the labels
Every Vitals AI marker carries one of four labels.
Measured: taken directly from a physiological signal the camera recovers, such as the pulse or breathing waveform.
Estimated: inferred from features in the camera signal by a model, rather than read from a cuff, scale or other device.
Derived: calculated from measured values or details you enter, using an established formula.
Modelled: produced by a population-based risk model from the risk factors you enter, together with your scan markers where noted.
Measured and estimated markers come from the scan itself. Derived and modelled markers may also need details such as age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference, cholesterol or family history. Each entry below lists exactly what it uses.
What a face scan does not measure
Vitals AI does not measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). Blood pressure and BMI are estimates rather than cuff or scale readings; the body-composition and metabolic markers are calculated from measurements or details you provide; and the health-risk markers are modelled wellness indicators. None of these is a diagnosis, and a scan does not replace clinical testing, a GP appointment or a medical assessment.
Vitals AI is offered for general wellness use by default. A separate CE MDR Class IIa certified model is available for regulated applications covering core vital-sign measurements, with the regulatory scope and supporting evidence explained on Vitals AI research.
The full marker list
How each marker on this page is produced, grouped by category.
Vital signs from the scan
Heart rate: measured
Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute, read directly from the pulse signal the camera recovers from your face.
Inputs: the scan only.
Heart rate variability: measured
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats, reported as SDNN in milliseconds. It reflects how your autonomic nervous system is regulating your heart. There is no single value that is normal for everyone, and HRV shifts with rest, activity, sleep and stress, so readings are most useful when taken under comparable conditions.
Inputs: the scan only.
Breathing rate: measured
Breathing rate is the number of breaths per minute, recovered from breathing-related movement and subtle colour changes during the scan.
Inputs: the scan only.
Blood pressure: estimated
Vitals AI presents systolic and diastolic blood pressure as estimates in mmHg, inferred from pulse-timing features in the facial video rather than measured with an inflatable cuff. Read it as an estimate for wellness tracking, not a replacement for a clinical reading. The evidence and limits are covered in Vitals AI research.
Inputs: the scan only.
Cardiac workload: derived
Cardiac workload is calculated from heart rate and the estimated systolic blood pressure (the rate-pressure product), as an indicator of how hard the heart is working at the time of the scan. Because it uses the blood-pressure estimate, treat it as an estimate too.
Inputs: the scan only (uses your heart rate and blood-pressure estimate).
Stress and recovery indicators
Stress index: derived
The stress index is a 0 to 10 score calculated from the spread of your heartbeat intervals, drawn from HRV. It describes patterns in the captured physiological data at the time of the scan. It is not a diagnosis of psychological stress.
Inputs: the scan only.
Parasympathetic activity: derived
Parasympathetic activity is a percentage worked out from the frequency make-up of your HRV. It reflects the "rest and digest" side of the autonomic nervous system, with higher values indicating greater parasympathetic influence.
Inputs: the scan only.
Body composition and metabolism
Body mass index: estimated
BMI is a weight-for-height indicator, estimated by Vitals AI directly from the facial scan and reported as a value with a WHO weight class. It is not a scale reading or a full description of body composition.
Inputs: the scan only.
Body fat percentage: derived
Body fat percentage is the estimated proportion of body weight made up of fat, calculated by formula.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, weight, height. No scan required.
Waist-to-height ratio: derived
Waist-to-height ratio compares waist circumference with height, a simple indicator of how body size is distributed.
Inputs you provide: height, waist circumference. No scan required.
Body roundness index: derived
Body roundness index is a shape-based indicator of abdominal fat, calculated from waist circumference and height.
Inputs you provide: sex, height, waist circumference. No scan required.
Body shape index: derived
Body shape index (ABSI) relates waist circumference to height and weight, as an indicator of body shape and associated health risk.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, weight, height, waist circumference. No scan required.
Conicity index: derived
Conicity index describes abdominal fat distribution from waist circumference, weight and height.
Inputs you provide: sex, weight, height, waist circumference. No scan required.
Daily energy expenditure: derived
Daily energy expenditure estimates the total energy you use over a day. It is different from BMR: BMR counts rest only, while daily energy expenditure also includes the energy used through activity.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, weight, height, activity level. No scan required.
Basal metabolic rate: derived
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the estimated energy your body uses at rest to support basic functions such as breathing and circulation.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, weight, height. No scan required.
Health and risk indicators
Wellness score: modelled
The wellness score is a 0 to 100 composite of selected scan vitals and personal risk factors, giving a broad summary of the information in the calculation.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, total and HDL cholesterol, diabetes status, smoking status, hypertension treatment. Needs a scan.
Vascular age: modelled
Vascular age expresses your estimated cardiovascular risk against an age-based reference. It is a modelled indicator, not a measurement of the physical age of your blood vessels.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, smoking status, diabetes status, hypertension treatment, total and HDL cholesterol. Needs a scan (uses your blood-pressure estimate).
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk: modelled
This estimates the likelihood of a cardiovascular event over a defined period, using the factors in an established risk model.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, race, smoking status, diabetes status, hypertension treatment, total and HDL cholesterol. Needs a scan.
Cardiovascular event risk: modelled
This estimates the likelihood of a first major cardiovascular event over a defined period.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, smoking status, diabetes status, hypertension treatment, total and HDL cholesterol. Needs a scan.
Cardiovascular risk score: modelled
The cardiovascular risk score shows how each factor contributes to your overall cardiovascular result. It explains the calculation rather than acting as a separate diagnosis.
Inputs you provide: as for cardiovascular event risk. Needs a scan.
Hypertension risk: modelled
This estimates the likelihood of developing high blood pressure over the coming years.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, weight, height, smoking status, family history of hypertension. Needs a scan (uses your blood-pressure estimate).
Diabetes risk: modelled
This estimates the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
Inputs you provide: age, sex, weight, height, fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, family history of diabetes, family history of hypertension, hypertension treatment. Needs a scan.
Fatty liver disease risk: modelled
This estimates the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from abdominal-shape indices.
Inputs you provide: sex, height, waist circumference. No scan required.
These are modelled wellness indicators, produced by population-based risk models. They are not diagnoses, and no single score should be read as a clinical conclusion.
Do I need to answer questions to get results?
No, not for the core scan markers. Heart rate, HRV, breathing rate, blood pressure and BMI all come from the scan alone. The derived body-composition markers and the modelled risk indicators need a few details from you, because they are calculated from those inputs. Each entry above lists exactly what it uses.
Questions, answered
What can a face scan measure?
A Vitals AI scan measures heart rate, HRV and breathing rate from the camera signal, estimates blood pressure and BMI, derives body-composition and metabolic markers from the details you enter, and produces modelled wellness and health-risk markers.
What is the difference between measured, estimated, derived and modelled?
Measured markers come directly from the recovered camera signal. Estimated markers are inferred from that signal by a model. Derived markers are calculated from measured values or your details using a formula. Modelled markers are produced by a population-based risk model from the inputs it needs.
Is the blood-pressure result a real blood-pressure reading?
No. Vitals AI presents blood pressure as an estimate inferred from the facial video. It is not a cuff reading and should not replace a clinical measurement.
What is SDNN?
SDNN is the standard deviation of the time between normal heartbeats. Vitals AI uses it, in milliseconds, to report heart rate variability.
Does Vitals AI measure SpO2?
No. Blood oxygen saturation is not part of the Vitals AI marker set.
Is body composition measured directly by the scan?
No. BMI is estimated from the scan, and the other body-composition markers are calculated from details you provide. They are best used to track change over time rather than as a single precise reading.
Is basal metabolic rate the same as daily energy expenditure?
No. Basal metabolic rate is the energy your body uses at rest. Daily energy expenditure adds the energy used through activity, so it is always the larger figure.
Which results need personal information?
The core scan markers come from the camera signal. The body-composition, metabolic and risk markers may need details such as age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference, cholesterol, glucose, activity level or family history.
Can these results diagnose a health condition?
No. Vitals AI provides wellness indicators and estimates. It does not diagnose disease or replace professional medical advice.
Related reading and next step
Go deeper, then explore the product.
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