Key Takeaways

Apple just made it easier to monitoratrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of stroke, with an Apple Watch feature.

“While there is still research work to be done to best understand how to use these devices to monitor AF, the data to date has been helpful in showing us that the devices can detect AF in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals,” saidRobert Harrington, MD, an interventional cardiologist and the chairman of the department of medicine at Stanford University.

Why Monitoring AFib Digitally Helps

AFib is the most common form ofcardiac arrhythmia(irregular heartbeat) that affects at least 2.7 million Americans. If left untreated, it can lead to blood clots, stroke, and heart failure.

Wearable devices that monitor AFib can improve prevention and early diagnosis since many cases of AFib are asymptomatic. Some patients won’t be aware of their condition until a physical examination or they experience a cardiac event such as a blood clot or stroke.

Apple isn’t the only company developing effective heart monitoring apps and algorithms. FitBit sponsored a study in 2020 testing out a new software algorithm and found that it correctly identified AFib 98% of the time.

What’s Next for Digital Therapeutics

Many tech and pharmaceutical companies are partnering up to bring digital therapeutics to smartphones and wearables, which may help users manage chronic health conditions like heart disease, atopic dermatitis, and diabetes.

For example, Pfizer and digital care company Sidekick Health recently created a partnership to market an interactive digital therapeutic solution to improve patient adherence to treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Harrington explained that more research is needed to confirm technical feasibility and prove that the monitoring device brings an added value and benefit to the current standard of treatment.

“I do welcome this potential change in how we remotely monitor a number of chronic diseases including heart rhythm abnormalities and high blood pressure,” he said. “As long as a series of studies are done to prove feasibility and improved patient outcomes, I would recommend a digital therapeutic to my patients. In the meantime, I would certainly support that my patients consider participation in clinical studies that are focused on this type of work.”

What This Means For YouA smartwatch might be able to identify and monitor irregular heart rhythms like AFib, which often go undiagnosed.

What This Means For You

A smartwatch might be able to identify and monitor irregular heart rhythms like AFib, which often go undiagnosed.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.510(k) premarket notification: atrial fibrillation history feature.American Heart Association.Joining forces for atrial fibrillation patients.Martinez C, Katholing A, Freedman SB.Adverse prognosis of incidentally detected ambulatory atrial fibrillation. A cohort study.Thromb Haemost. 2014;112(2):276-286. doi:10.1160/TH4-04-0383Perez MV, Mahaffey KW, Hedlin H, et al.Large-scale assessment of a smartwatch to identify atrial fibrillation.N Engl J Med. 2019;381(20):1909-1917. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1901183American Heart Association.Novel algorithm on wearable devices can detect irregular heartbeat, may prompt early care.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.510(k) premarket notification: atrial fibrillation history feature.American Heart Association.Joining forces for atrial fibrillation patients.Martinez C, Katholing A, Freedman SB.Adverse prognosis of incidentally detected ambulatory atrial fibrillation. A cohort study.Thromb Haemost. 2014;112(2):276-286. doi:10.1160/TH4-04-0383Perez MV, Mahaffey KW, Hedlin H, et al.Large-scale assessment of a smartwatch to identify atrial fibrillation.N Engl J Med. 2019;381(20):1909-1917. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1901183American Heart Association.Novel algorithm on wearable devices can detect irregular heartbeat, may prompt early care.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Food and Drug Administration.510(k) premarket notification: atrial fibrillation history feature.American Heart Association.Joining forces for atrial fibrillation patients.Martinez C, Katholing A, Freedman SB.Adverse prognosis of incidentally detected ambulatory atrial fibrillation. A cohort study.Thromb Haemost. 2014;112(2):276-286. doi:10.1160/TH4-04-0383Perez MV, Mahaffey KW, Hedlin H, et al.Large-scale assessment of a smartwatch to identify atrial fibrillation.N Engl J Med. 2019;381(20):1909-1917. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1901183American Heart Association.Novel algorithm on wearable devices can detect irregular heartbeat, may prompt early care.

Food and Drug Administration.510(k) premarket notification: atrial fibrillation history feature.

American Heart Association.Joining forces for atrial fibrillation patients.

Martinez C, Katholing A, Freedman SB.Adverse prognosis of incidentally detected ambulatory atrial fibrillation. A cohort study.Thromb Haemost. 2014;112(2):276-286. doi:10.1160/TH4-04-0383

Perez MV, Mahaffey KW, Hedlin H, et al.Large-scale assessment of a smartwatch to identify atrial fibrillation.N Engl J Med. 2019;381(20):1909-1917. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1901183

American Heart Association.Novel algorithm on wearable devices can detect irregular heartbeat, may prompt early care.

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