Wearable Heart Monitor Enhances Detection of Irregular Heart Rhythms

A study led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute found that using a wearable heart monitor patch that records heartbeat for 14 days increased atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnoses by 52% compared to usual care, but did not significantly reduce stroke hospitalisation rates. The research was presented at the ESC Congress 2024 in London, UK, and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiologists. The trial, which enrolled approximately 12,000 U.S. patients aged 70 and older with no prior history of AF, was stopped early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a median follow-up of 15 months, the device-wearers saw a significant increase in AF diagnoses, but no reduction in stroke-related hospitalizations.

The study's authors suggest that while the heart monitor patches effectively identify more cases of AF, the impact on stroke prevention remains unclear. They argue that AF screening should not be routinely recommended until there is more definitive information on who should be screened and its overall impact on stroke prevention. The European Society of Cardiology has called for national and European Union Health Plans to focus on preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and educating the population about cardiovascular health. Further, larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of AF screening in reducing stroke hospitalizations.