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A recent study by researchers at Mayo Clinic has provided us with a more detailed insight into the ECG features of the Watch, focusing on detecting abnormalities in the heart such as left ventricular dysfunction.
According to the initial report by MyHealthyApple, this is a significant study because left ventricular dysfunction often leads to congestive heart failure:
“Left ventricular dysfunction of the heart often leads to congestive heart failure, which can lead to numerous cardiac disorders. The left ventricle is primarily responsible for pumping oxygen to vital organs in your body. Therefore, diagnosing any issues with the left ventricle as early as possible is crucial.”
The Mayo Clinic study explains that heart dysfunction is often undiagnosed as it is nearly asymptomatic. This means that patients may not know they have the condition. However, the ability to passively detect or aid in diagnosing the condition would be a significant breakthrough.
This new study involves 2,454 patients from the US and 11 other countries. These participants submitted over 125,000 ECGs from their Apple Watches from August 2021 to February 2022. These results were then
processed and analyzed through an exclusive AI algorithm developed by researchers.
According to explanations from MyHealthyApple, the findings indicate that
consumer-generated electrocardiograms obtained in non-clinical settings can identify patients with heart dysfunction.” The study also points out that
the potential of smartwatches to support early-stage remote digital health research is just beginning.
