Smartwatches with\u00a0both PPG and\u00a0ECG functionality\u00a0improve the detection of atrial fibrillation in comparison with\u00a0standard care. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC\u00a0analysed\u00a0the data from\u00a0437\u00a0patients\u00a0and detected\u00a0heart\u00a0arrythmia four times more often in those who wore an Apple Watch. These results are\u00a0published today in\u00a0JACC\u00a0(Journal of the American College of Cardiology).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Traditionally,\u00a0monitoring takes place with other ECG\u00a0devices, but patients\u00a0can\u00a0find them a bit irritating, and\u00a0most of them\u00a0can only monitor for two weeks at a time.”<\/p>\n
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Michiel Winter, cardiologist, Amsterdam UMC<\/p>\n
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Atrial fibrillation is the arrhythmia associated with stroke.\u00a0Irregular atrial\u00a0beating can lead to\u00a0the formation of clots. If these clots travel to the brain, they can cause a stroke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Wearables that track both your pulse and heart’s electrical activity\u00a0by combining PPG and ECG functions\u00a0have been around for a\u00a0while\u00a0now. However, how well this technology works for the screening of patients at\u00a0elevated\u00a0risk for atrial fibrillation\u00a0had not yet been investigated\u00a0in a real-world setting”\u00a0adds\u00a0Nicole van Steijn, PhD candidate at Amsterdam UMC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Research, led by Winter\u00a0and\u00a0conducted by Van Steijn, provided\u00a0219\u00a0patients over the age of 65\u00a0and at\u00a0elevated stroke risk\u00a0with an Apple Watch, while\u00a0218\u00a0patients received\u00a0standard care.\u00a0Patients were\u00a0monitored\u00a0for\u00a0six months,\u00a0with\u00a0smartwatch\u00a0users wearing the watch for 12 hours a day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We saw that after six months\u00a0we\u00a0diagnosed\u00a0and treated\u00a021\u00a0patients in the group wearing the smartwatch, of whom\u00a057%\u00a0were\u00a0asymptomatic.\u00a0This\u00a0was against\u00a0just\u00a0five\u00a0diagnoses\u00a0in the group\u00a0receiving\u00a0standard\u00a0care,\u00a0all of whom experienced\u00a0symptoms,” says Winter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These research results\u00a0have also been presented\u00a0at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual symposium in London and, in the eyes of Winter,\u00a0offer solid evidence that a wearable\u00a0is not only suitable for long-term\u00a0screening but also increases the detection rate of heart arrythmias.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Using smartwatches with PPG and ECG functions aids doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, thereby\u00a0expediting\u00a0the diagnostic process. Our findings suggest a potential reduction in the risk of stroke,\u00a0benefiting\u00a0both patients and the healthcare system by reducing costs. This reduction would offset the\u00a0initial\u00a0cost of the device,” concludes Winter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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