Abstract

Wearable devices in atrial fibrillation screening: A review

Author(s): Ginger Jiang, C. Michael Gibson

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that increases stroke risk, even in patients who are asymptomatic and previously undiagnosed. The US Preventive Services Task Force and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have highlighted AF screening as a priority topic for further research. Recently, wearable devices employing a variety of technologies have emerged as an accurate and cost-effective means for AF screening. Several contemporary large clinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility of AF screening using wearable devices, though these studies included mostly young individuals with a low likelihood of new onset atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular complications. Further studies are needed to better understand whether wearable device-based AF screening strategies can lead to improved clinical outcomes among largely asymptomatic participants.