Apple Watch shows early promise in AFib diagnosis

A large-scale study has provided some evidence that the Apple Watch could be used to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) and provide a potentially life-saving early warning for the condition – although the result suggests the tech isn’t quite ready for prime time. The ‘virtual’ Apple Heart Study allowed subjects with an iPhone and Apple Watch to enroll online, download an app and use it for several months to see if it was possible to detect AFib remotely, cross-checking the app findings with conventional testing using an electrocardiogram. One out of every four people will experience AFib at some point in their lifetime, raising their risk of stroke and heart failure, although the condition often goes undiagnosed. Having AFib gives a four- to five-fold increased risk of stroke, and it kills around 130,000 people in the US every year.