Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – Smartwatches have used different technologies to monitor heart rates, but one of the most common methods is through a built-in optical heart rate sensor. The optical sensor uses light to detect the changes in blood flow and therefore determine the heart rate. It works by shining a light into the skin, and then detecting how much of that light is absorbed and reflected back by the blood vessels. When the heart beats, blood flow in the vessel’s changes, and this change can be detected by the sensor.
Researchers from the University College London (UCL) smart watches may play a role in identifying individuals having an elevated risk of developing heart failure as well as irregular heart rhythms later in life
The findings that appeared in The European Heart Journal – Digital Health, assessed data from 83,000 individuals who had taken a 15-second electrocardiogram (ECG) comparable to those conducted with the utilization of smart watches and phone devices.
The researchers marked ECG recordings having additional heart beats which are generally benign but, but when occurring regularly, are associated with conditions like heart failure and arrhythmia.
They discovered that individuals with an additional beat in this short recording had twice the risk of ending up with heart failure or an irregular heart rhythm over the next ten years.
ECG recordings analyzed were from individuals between 50 to 70 years old, having no known cardiovascular disease at that time.
Heart failure generally occurs as the heart pump losses its strength. It is often unable to be treated. Atrial fibrillation takes place when unusual electrical impulses suddenly begin firing in the top chambers of the heart, that results in an irregular and unusably faster heart rate. It can be life-limiting, resulting in issues such as dizziness, shortness of breath along with tiredness. This is associated with a fivefold elevated risk in a stroke.
Heart failure, can be chronic where the heart is not capable of pumping blood as effectively as it should. This can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs, legs, and other parts of the body, which can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling.
Heart failure can be caused by a variety of factors, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, and other conditions that can damage the heart muscle over time. It can also be caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking, a poor diet, and lack of exercise.
Treatment for heart failure typically involves a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, medical procedures such as implantation of a pacemaker or heart transplant. Early diagnosis and treatment are important in order to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life for people with heart failure.
“Our study suggests that ECGs from consumer-grade wearable devices may help with detecting and preventing future heart disease,” explained Dr Michele Orini of the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, who is the lead author further indicating that the next step will be investigating the way screening people utilizing wearables may best work in practice.
“Such screening could potentially be combined with the use of artificial intelligence and other computer tools to quickly identify the ECGs indicating higher risk, as we did in our study, leading to a more accurate assessment of risk in the population and helping to reduce the burden of these diseases.”
Researchers’ 1st evaluated the data from 54,016 individuals of the UK Biobank project having a median age of 58, whose health had been monitored for an average of 11.5 years following their ECG recording. The study then involved the analysis of a 2nd group of 29,324 individuals, having a median age of 64, as the researchers kept track for 3.5 years.
