Most smartwatches also have built-in sensors for measuring and monitoring heart rate and creating an ECG that makes it possible to detect atrial fibrillation (Afib). Researchers at the University of Tampere have developed a new method that also makes it possible to diagnose congestive heart failure using a smartwatch.
In this new method, described in a publication in Heart Rythm O2, congestive heart failure is detected by analysing through the intervals between consecutive heartbeats. Besides with professional heart monitoring equipment, these intervals can also be measured with a heart rate monitor.
Heart rate interval analysis
The method, developed by the Quantum Control and Dynamics research group led by Professor Esa Räsänen, is based on advanced time series analysis. With this analysis, it is possible to investigate dependencies between heart rate intervals on different time scales, along with other complex features typical of different heart conditions.
For the study, multiple international databases of long-term electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings from healthy control subjects and patients with heart disease were analysed. In particular, the study focused on distinguishing patients with congestive heart failure from healthy control subjects and patients with atrial fibrillation. The study concluded that the new method was able to detect congestive heart failure with an accuracy of 90 per cent. This, the researchers claim, demonstrated its effectiveness and reliability as a diagnostic tool.
Accessible, affordable heart monitoring
Currently, diagnosing congestive heart failure often requires expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques, such as cardiac ultrasound. Detecting congestive heart failure based on inter-beat intervals alone was previously extremely difficult or almost impossible in patients with regular sinus rhythm. Atrial fibrillation, on the other hand, is much easier to detect and can already be identified using many of the devices freely available in shops, such as Fitbit and Apple's smartwatches.
The new method offers a much easier and more affordable way to screen congestive heart failure, for example, with heart rate monitors and consumer-grade smartwatches. This could lead to earlier detection of heart disease, improving treatment and prognosis for patients. ‘The new method opens up new possibilities for digital healthcare and patient self-monitoring,’ says PhD researcher Teemu Pukkila.
Next steps
The next step for the researchers is to verify the results with more extensive data and investigate how similar methods could detect other heart conditions more accurately. The results are a promising indication that advanced algorithms could revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
‘Our findings pave the way for early detection of congestive heart failure using readily available devices, making complex diagnostic procedures unnecessary,’ said professor of cardiology Jussi Hernesniemi, who participated in the study and also works as a cardiologist at Tays Heart Hospital.
