Apple ’s Watch Shows It Has ‘Heart’ in New Study

New light is being shed on the effectiveness of wearable technology to detect atrial fibrillation (Afib) thanks to preliminary results from a new study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers and Apple. The Apple Heart Study was launched in November 2017 with more than 40,000 participants to determine whether a mobile app that uses data from a heart-rate pulse sensor the Apple Watch can identify Afib. For the study, each participant was required to have an Apple Watch (series 1, 2 or 3) and an iPhone. The most recent Apple Watch, which features a built-in ECG, wasn’t part of the study, as it was released after the study’s launch (but more on that later). The Cupertino, CA-based company said the Apple Heart Study app intermittently checked the heart-rate pulse sensor for measurements of an irregular pulse. If an irregular pulse was detected, the participant received a notification and was asked to schedule a telemedicine consultation with a doctor involved in the study through American Well. Participants were then sent ambulatory ECG patches through BioTelemetry, which recorded the electrical rhythm of their hearts for up to a week. Here are some of the results from the study: Overall, only 0.5% of participants received irregular pulse notifications, an important finding given concerns about potential over-notification. Comparisons between irregular pulse-detection on Apple Watch and simultaneous ECG patch recordings showed the...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Source Type: news