Apple Watches can keep track of everything from steps to heart health
Countless people all over the world wear smart accessories, like Apple Watches, to keep track of their health. These wrist-worn gadgets can log medications, count daily steps and even measure heart health through nifty built-in sensors.
Yet if you’re wondering just how effective these watches are in real time, look no further. Scientists at Amsterdam University’s Medical Centre (UMC) have now investigated just this, delving into the potential of these devices to assist in detecting atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a prevalent heart rhythm disorder that can cause a rapid, erratic pulse and symptoms such as fatigue, chest pain, exercise difficulties, and palpitations. Although treatments can help manage its symptoms, irregular atrial beating can cause clot formation. If these clots travel to the brain, they may cause a stroke.
While Apple Watches cannot detect strokes or provide diagnoses, they can at times monitor your heart rate to detect an irregular rhythm that may indicate atrial fibrillation. The tool can also be used by people already diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to keep track of their health.
With this in mind, the Netherlands-based study investigated over 400 patients aged over 65 with an elevated risk of strokes. While 219 participants were given an Apple Watch to monitor their health for 12 hours per day, 218 others received standard care.
After six months of monitoring their progress, data revealed that abnormal heartbeats were detected ‘four times more often in those who wore an Apple Watch,’ potentially lowering stroke risk.
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Cardiologist Michiel Winter, who worked on the project, explained: “Traditionally, monitoring takes place with other ECG devices, but patients can find them a bit irritating, and most of them can only monitor for two weeks at a time.”
He added: “We saw that after six months, we diagnosed and treated 21 patients in the group wearing the smartwatch, of whom 57% were asymptomatic. This was against just five diagnoses in the group receiving standard care, all of whom experienced symptoms.
“…Using smartwatches with PPG and ECG functions aids doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, thereby expediting the diagnostic process. Our findings suggest a potential reduction in the risk of stroke, benefiting both patients and the healthcare system by reducing costs. This reduction would offset the initial cost of the device.”
These findings have been shared at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual symposium in London. According to Winter, they provide strong evidence that a wearable device is suitable for long-term screening and can also improve the detection rate of irregular heart rhythms.
Nicole van Steijn, PhD candidate at Amsterdam UMC, also added: “Wearables that track both your pulse and heart’s electrical activity by combining PPG and ECG functions have been around for a while now.
“However, how well this technology works for the screening of patients at elevated risk for atrial fibrillation had not yet been investigated in a real-world setting.”
Apple has been approached for comment.
Apple’s guidance on irregular heart rhythm notifications
Apple Watches occasionally monitor your heartbeat to detect an irregular rhythm that may suggest atrial fibrillation (AFib). This feature is only available in specific countries and regions, and is not intended for people under 22 years old.
To set up notifications, you should:
- Ensure your iPhone and Apple Watch are up to date.
- Open your iPhone, go to the Health app and then tap Search.
- Here, you can then tap Heart, followed by Irregular Rhythm Notifications.
- Follow the on-screen prompts, confirming your age and whether you have already been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
- Turn on notifications.
Further guidance from Apple adds: “If you receive a notification, the irregular rhythm notification feature on your Apple Watch identified an irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib and confirmed it with multiple readings.
“If you have not been diagnosed with AFib by a physician, you should talk to your doctor. If you have been diagnosed with AFib by a physician, learn how you can track your AFib History on Apple Watch.”
