Research from Amsterdam UMC, in collaboration with Cardiology Centers Netherlands, shows that smartwatches equipped with heart monitoring functions can play a role in detecting cardiac arrhythmias. Analysis of data from 437 high-risk patients showed that cardiac arrhythmias were detected four times more often in those wearing a smartwatch. The results are published in JACC journal

Michiel Winter, cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC: “It’s important to detect a possible cardiac arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Such arrhythmia can lead to the formation of blood clots. If these clots travel to the brain, they can cause a stroke.” Traditionally, monitoring is done by placing stickers on the patient’s chest, which are connected to a small, portable ECG device. “Patients often find this method of monitoring inconvenient. Moreover, these devices have another disadvantage: they can only monitor for a maximum of two weeks at a time.”

Combined

A study by Amsterdam UMC involving 437 patients showed that smartwatches with both PPG (optical sensors) and ECG functionality improve the detection of atrial fibrillation compared to traditional monitoring. Nicole van Steijn, researcher at Amsterdam UMC: “Wearables like smartwatches are becoming increasingly common in daily life. However, until recently, there were no devices available that combined both heart rate monitoring via PPG technology and recording of electrical cardiac activity via ECG. PPG allows for discreet and continuous monitoring of heart rhythm irregularities, while the ECG function ensures accurate recording of heart rhythm and better recognition of arrhythmias. Recent technological developments have made this combined functionality possible, but the reliability and clinical applicability of this technology remained to be determined.”

No complaints, but an arrhythmia

In the study, 219 patients over 65 years old and at high risk for an arrhythmia wore an Apple Watch with combined PPG and ECG functions. The remaining 218 patients received traditional monitoring. All patients were monitored for six months, with the smartwatch users wearing their watches 12 hours per day. Winter: “After six months, 21 patients in the smartwatch group were diagnosed and treated for atrial fibrillation, four times as many as in the group without a smartwatch. Twelve of them had no symptoms of the arrhythmia.” In the group of patients with traditional monitoring, only five patients were identified with atrial fibrillation, and all five had symptoms.

Almost impossible

Winter: “It’s common for people to not feel atrial fibrillation. And then it’s nearly impossible to diagnose it using traditional methods. If patients don’t have any symptoms of the arrhythmia, they’re unlikely to report for an ECG. Atrial fibrillation is also sometimes short-lived. Traditional methods only monitor for a few days to a maximum of two weeks, and therefore often can’t ‘catch’ the arrhythmia.”

Noticed faster

It is therefore likely that in the group with traditional monitoring, there are patients with atrial fibrillation who have not yet been diagnosed. Winter: “A wearable not only proves suitable for long-term monitoring, but also increases the detection rate of cardiac arrhythmias.” Another advantage of monitoring with a smartwatch with PPG and ECG functions is that patients are continuously monitored, allowing for immediate diagnosis upon the onset of the arrhythmia. Winter: “In short, with this long-term and continuous monitoring, cardiac arrhythmias are detected more quickly and easily, allowing for immediate intervention.”

Source https://www.amsterdamumc.org/en.htm