‘Wear’ Are We? Digital Health Tools in the Detection and Management of Atrial Fibrillation

HMP Global January 3, 2023
Deepti Ranganathan, MBChB, and Christopher C Cheung, MD, MPH Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing, with an expected prevalence of 12.1 million people in the United States by 2050 and 17.9 million people in Europe by 2060.¹ Early diagnosis of AF facilitates risk factor modification, early rhythm control, and anticoagulation initiation for stroke prevention.² Untreated AF accounts for approximately 15%-20% of all strokes and is an independent risk factor for heart failure, cognitive decline, and increased mortality.³

Screening for AF

Given that one-third of patients with AF are asymptomatic, screening remains crucial.⁴ Various guidelines have recommended opportunistic electrocardiogram (ECG) screening in older patients, although the yield is variable, ranging from 1%-7%.^5,6 AF screening studies have evaluated a combination of methods, ranging from point-of-care ECGs and ambulatory ECG...

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