Key Takeaways
- Wearables like the Apple Watch can improve the detection of atrial fibrillation (A-fib) compared to standard care.
- A-fib is a heart arrhythmia that can cause blood clots and is one of the leading causes of stroke.
- Studies have shown that wearables can detect heart arrhythmias four times more frequently than standard care.
- Wearables can aid doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, expediting the diagnostic process.
- The use of wearables can help diagnose those who don’t know they have the condition and improve patient care for those in treatment.
Introduction to Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation, often referred to as A-fib, is a heart arrhythmia that can cause blood clots and is one of the leading causes of stroke. For millions at risk of stroke, a simple tap on the wrist could one day save lives. New studies from the Amsterdam University Medical Center and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London have shown that wearables, such as the Apple Watch, can improve the detection of A-fib compared to standard care. This is a significant breakthrough, as A-fib is a major risk factor for stroke, and early detection is crucial for preventing this potentially life-threatening condition.
The Amsterdam Study
The Amsterdam study enrolled 437 patients aged 65 or older with elevated stroke risk and required 219 of them to wear an Apple Watch to track their heart rate for 12 hours a day for 6 months. The remaining 218 patients didn’t wear a watch and relied on standard care. The experiment detected heart arrhythmias four times more frequently in patients wearing an Apple Watch versus those who didn’t. Specific versions of the Apple Watch use photoplethysmography, a heart rate-detecting LED light sensor, and have a built-in single-lead electrocardiogram sensor to read your heart rate. This technology allows for continuous monitoring of heart activity, enabling early detection of A-fib.
The St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Study
The second clinical study, conducted by St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, showed that the Apple Watch could also be beneficial for detecting A-fib symptoms earlier and for monitoring patients after a standard treatment, such as a catheter ablation. The hospital found that patients could record clinical-grade ECGs on their Apple Watches at home when experiencing symptoms. Similar to the first study, the hospital found that patients using an Apple Watch detected A-fib earlier and more frequently than those receiving standard care. Catching symptoms earlier also reduces anxiousness and the likelihood that a patient will need to be hospitalized. This study highlights the potential of wearables to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Implications of the Studies
The findings from these studies show that wearables such as the Apple Watch could be used for long-term heart screening to detect heart health abnormalities and improve patient care for those in treatment. And it can help diagnose those who don’t know they have the condition. "Using smartwatches with PPG and ECG functions aids doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, thereby expediting the diagnostic process," said Michiel Winter, a cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC. This is a significant advancement in the field of cardiology, as it enables early detection and treatment of A-fib, reducing the risk of stroke and improving patient outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the studies conducted by the Amsterdam University Medical Center and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital demonstrate the potential of wearables to improve the detection of A-fib and reduce the risk of stroke. The use of wearables such as the Apple Watch can aid doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, expediting the diagnostic process. As the technology continues to evolve, it is likely that wearables will play an increasingly important role in the prevention and treatment of heart-related conditions. With millions of people at risk of stroke, the development of wearables that can detect A-fib is a significant breakthrough, and it has the potential to save lives.
