Monitoring Atrial Fibrillation Using Wearable Digital Technologies: The Emerging Role of Smartwatches.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Digital Health
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia with significant health implications.
• Traditional AF monitoring methods often fall short in capturing recurrent episodes.
• Digital health advancements enable continuous, real-world rhythm surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on smartwatch-based AF monitoring technologies.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of smartwatches compared to traditional AF monitoring.
• To identify limitations and future directions for smartwatch AF detection.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of contemporary evidence.
• Analysis of smartwatch technologies: photoplethysmography, single-lead ECG, AI algorithms.
• Examination of validation studies, particularly in post-ablation follow-up.

Main Results:

• Smartwatch monitoring shows improved AF recurrence detection and burden characterization.
• Enhanced symptom-rhythm correlation and patient engagement observed.
• Limitations include motion artifacts, false positives, and adherence dependence.

Conclusions:

• Smartwatch AF monitoring complements traditional tools for proactive, individualized AF management.
• Further research needed on clinical validation, equitable implementation, and regulatory frameworks.
• Integration requires addressing technical challenges and data privacy concerns.