A study published in the JAMA Health Forum, reported that the use of contemporary wrist-worn wearables was cost-effective, linked to a decline in the incidence of stroke, and could aid in the detection of less frequently occurring atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes by being able to monitor for potentially irregular heart rhythm on a nearly continuous basis.

The studys researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigated eight screening options, six of which used wrist-worn wearables and two of which used pulse palpation and ECG at a time when wearable technology is becoming more and more popular among consumers. The six devices used two types of technology: photoplethysmography (PPG), which involves the non-invasive measurement of changes in blood volume at the wrist as a pulse indicator, and electrocardiography (ECG), to detect the electrical activity of the heart.

Using a model that simulates a 30-million-person cohort of people 65 and older, the researchers discovered that the "economically preferred" strategy was wrist-wearable PPG, followed by wrist-worn ECG and a clinical-grade rhythm monitoring patch worn on the body for two weeks for confirmation. 

The findings may inspire further investigation into the most effective use of wrist-worn screening to enhance AF-related outcomes, such as stroke prevention. (News-medical.net, Aug 8 2022)