New Research Finds Apple Watch Can Detect Arrhythmias Other Than AFib

The American Heart Association Journal has published new data from the ongoing Apple Heart Study that uses data from Apple Watch to identify irregular heart rhythms.

According to new research published this week in American Heart Association Journal (via MyHealthyApple), Apple Watch can detect arrhythmias other than Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). The Apple Watch Series 6 is a reliable way to obtain heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients suffering from lung diseases under controlled conditions, the research shows.

The Apple Watch irregular pulse detection algorithm was found to have a positive predictive value of 0.84 for the identification of AFib.

In a new second analysis, researchers examined participants of the Apple Heart Study that had received an ambulatory ECG patch after an index irregular pulse notification.

Among 419,297 participants enrolled in the Apple Heart Study, 450 participant ECG patches were analyzed, with no AF on 297 ECG patches (66%). Non-AF arrhythmias (excluding supraventricular tachycardias <30 beats and pauses <3 seconds) were detected in 119 participants (40.1%) with ECG patches without AFib. 76 participants (30.5%) reported subsequent AF diagnoses.

The Apple Watch Series 7, due to be released sometime this fall, doesn’t feature any new health sensors than those of the previous generation.

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