Wearables can help detect heart problems: Stanford study

Wearable devices can be used to detect and analyze irregular Heartbeat, screening seemingly healthy people for latent Heart problems, a recently published Stanford study shows.

Researchers found "wearable technology can safely identify Heart rate irregularities," according a statement from Stanford Medicine on Saturday.

Preliminary findings "demonstrate ability of wearable technology to detect atrial fibrillation", a condition of irregular Heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, Heart failure and other Heart-related complications. The condition is a leading cause of stroke and hospitalization in the United States.

More than 419,000 Apple Watch users signed up for the study, which was sponsored by Apple Inc and launched in November 2017. The Apple Heart Study app intermittently checked the Heart-rate pulse sensor on their watches for measurements. Once an irregular pulse was detected, the participant would receive a notification and be asked to schedule a consultation with a doctor.

Researchers hope consistent monitoring through wearable devices can increase the chance of detecting dangerous Heart conditions that often go undiagnosed.

"The results of the Apple Heart Study highlight the potential role that innovative digital technology can play in creating more predictive and preventive health care," said Lloyd Minor, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine.

"Atrial fibrillation is just the beginning, as this study opens the door to further research into wearable technologies and how they might be used to prevent disease before it strikes -- a key goal of precision health," he added.