Apple Watch Series 4 more than 98% accurate at detecting AFib, finds study

[PHILIP1193]

Interesting read and explains how they got approval.....

https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/14/appl...curacy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Benz63amg]

That’s great to hear, ordered my SS Series 4 44mm last night, upgrading from a series 3. The health sensors on the watch are what sold me yet again, it truly is great to have something as simple as a watch do all of these great health tracking in addition to being a great watch.

 

[matrix07]

I’m not surprised. This is very serious matter and Apple won’t release it if they think it won’t be good enough.

 

[MEJHarrison]

98% is great. What I didn't see in the article is how good doctors are at detecting this? We all know doctors aren't infallible. I'm sure they don't have a 100% success rate either. I'd be curious to see some comparisons along those lines.

 

[oeagleo]

I wouldn't think that anyone would expect the AW to be equivalent to an actual Hospital ECG, but it is at least a rudimentary analysis that you can send to the Dr. and have him/her decide if you need to come in for a more complete checkup. I like the idea of sort of a "pre-check", if you get "that feeling".

 

[IllIllIll]

98% is great. What I didn't see in the article is how good doctors are at detecting this? We all know doctors aren't infallible. I'm sure they don't have a 100% success rate either. I'd be curious to see some comparisons along those lines.

I'm a doctor. It's not an issue of a doctor "detecting this", it's an issue of how accurate the ECG waveform is. The bottom line is, atrial fibrillation is not that hard to detect on an ECG waveform, whether it's done on a $400 consumer grade wearable or a multi-thousand dollar hospital 12-lead ECG machine. Even 12 leads, in most cases, is overkill for detecting afib. All you need is one waveform that's relatively noise-free, which is what the Apple Watch has (given the electrode placement, it's essentially a Lead I waveform).

But to answer your question, anyone who's been trained to read ECGs should be able to diagnose afib by looking at an ECG waveform pretty much 100% of the time. I actually find it funny that 9to5 is hyping this up. 98% is nothing special, it should have been 99 or 100%.

 

[Baldrake]

The more interesting number from the article is that the watch is more than 99% accurate at identifying a healthy ECG. It had better be a lot better than 99%, or the hospitals will be flooded with healthy people thinking they're about to have a stroke.

 

[MEJHarrison]

I'm a doctor. It's not an issue of a doctor "detecting this", it's an issue of how accurate the ECG waveform is. The bottom line is, atrial fibrillation is not that hard to detect on an ECG waveform, whether it's done on a $400 consumer grade wearable or a multi-thousand dollar hospital 12-lead ECG machine. Even 12 leads, in most cases, is overkill for detecting afib. All you need is one waveform that's relatively noise-free, which is what the Apple Watch has (given the electrode placement, it's essentially a Lead I waveform).

But to answer your question, anyone who's been trained to read ECGs should be able to diagnose afib by looking at an ECG waveform pretty much 100% of the time. I actually find it funny that 9to5 is hyping this up. 98% is nothing special, it should have been 99 or 100%.

Very interesting. Thanks for speaking up.

 

[CashGap]

That’s great to hear, ordered my SS Series 4 44mm last night, upgrading from a series 3. The health sensors on the watch are what sold me yet again, it truly is great to have something as simple as a watch do all of these great health tracking in addition to being a great watch.

My left wrist is "owned" by a variety of automatic watches. I've been wearing a Series 2 on my right wrist for a year, and was just about to drop it. The main benefit, TO ME, had been autologin on my MBP, and a Touch Bar MBP could eliminate that benefit.

This feature sold me, SS with Milanese loop is on the way. It will be off my wrist for charging and showers, only.

 

[richard371]

Wow wish I could bring myself to wearing a different watch on each arm but I think I would look silly. I really prefer my Daytona over the AW but they (AWs)are getting so good I may be forced to wear the Daytona less

My left wrist is "owned" by a variety of automatic watches. I've been wearing a Series 2 on my right wrist for a year, and was just about to drop it. The main benefit, TO ME, had been autologin on my MBP, and a Touch Bar MBP could eliminate that benefit.

This feature sold me, SS with Milanese loop is on the way. It will be off my wrist for charging and showers, only.

 

[brianric]

I had a nurse at the platelet donor center who turned me down for irregular heat beat detected. The day before Omron did an update to the software of my blood pressure monitor which showed just about every blood pressure reading going back over two years showing irregular heart beat detected. Saw primary care, who did EKG, then had confirmed by cardiologist. I have A-Fib. Currently on blood thinner (Eliquis) and a beta blocker. May have to have surgery or a pacemaker put in. My question is how did the primary care and other doctors I've seen missed this over a two year period but a nurse at the platelet donor center catches it? Your damn right I'm going to buy an Apple Watch 4.