Smartwatch ECG Tracing and Ischemic Heart Disease: ACS Watch Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Smartwatches have become a widely used tool for health self-care. Its role in ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not been assessed. OBJETCIVES To evaluate the usefulness of smartwatch ECG registry in IHD. METHODS We present an observational study of 25 consecutive patients with acute IHD. Conventional ECG and smartwatch tracing were obtained simultaneously at admission. Waves of conventional and smartwatch ECGs were objectively compared. A survey on medical attitude was conducted among 12 physicians (3 cardiologists, 3 intensivists, 3 emergency physicians, and 3 general practitioners) and a score (1 to 5) of concordance between the records was requested. RESULTS There were no differences in Q wave, R wave, ST segment, or T wave. There was a very strong correlation between ST segments, a strong correlation in Q waves and R waves, and a moderate correlation in T wave measurements. All specialists obtained a high level of agreement (4.45±0.45). Smartwatch tracings would lead to similar management compared to conventional ECG. There were only 6 (2%) discrepant cases due to differences in inferior repolarization, showing an almost perfect agreement (kappa=0.96). CONCLUSIONS In most patients with acute IHD, smartwatch ECG tracing is a reliable tool to make the diagnosis and guide appropriate medical care. However, due to their intrinsic limitations, inferior myocardial infarctions may be missed and require a conventional 12-lead ECG to rule them out.

Accuracy of Smartwatch Electrocardiographic Recording in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Setting: Rationale and Design of the ACS WATCH II Study

“…In this context, our research team recently executed a pilot study (ACS WATCH I) to assess the practicality of smartwatch recordings in select cases. The findings indicated that electrocardiographic recordings garnered through smartwatches hold potential as dependable aids for directing therapeutic interventions in Ischemic Heart Disease [6]. Nevertheless, a comprehensive validation study is imperative, given the limited scope of this pilot investigation.…”

Evaluation of Leading Smartwatches for the Detection of Hypoxemia: Comparison to Reference Oximeter

“…Nowadays, smartwatches offer much more than simply connecting to a mobile phone and managing basic functions. Recent studies have shown that, thanks to integrated sensors, smartwatches can monitor heart rate, ECG, and blood pressure, or measure peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) values [1][2][3][4]. The advantage of real-time monitoring of vital signs using smartwatches is their convenient placement on the forearm, which does not restrict the user in daily activities compared to conventional blood pressure cuffs or finger sensors for SpO 2 measurement.…”