Apple touts results from massive AF-detection Apple Watch study

Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) today released data from its 419,297-patient Apple Heart Study, showing that the device is capable of aiding in the detection of atrial fibrillation using its light-sensor based technology. Results from the study were released today at the American College of Cardiology’s 68th Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans. The study was designed to test how well Apple’s Watch could identify and prompt clinical evaluations for atrial fibrillation, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company said. In the study, data was collected from a mobile application using Apple Watch’s photoplethysmography technology to intermittently measure blood flow activity and detect changes that could indicate an irregular contraction or heartbeat. That data, in the form of a tachogram, was then analyzed by an algorithm designed to detect irregular heart rhythms. If the algorithm detected an irregularity, the Watch and its associated application then sent a notification to the study participant. Researchers compared the notifications to subsequent results from a seven-day worn ECG patch, analyzing how well the algorithm on the watch matched the ECG findings, as well as the percentage of notified patients who  sought medical help through the application. “The app continuously gathers data in the background without the wearer of the device doing anything, so it’s very opportunistic in this way. [Overall], this study improves our understanding of how this wearable techn...
Source: Mass Device - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Clinical Trials Featured mHealth (Mobile Health) Apple Source Type: news