Apple Watch for Pulse Rate Assessment Detects Unidentified Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Consumer rhythm-monitoring devices, such as the Apple Watch, are becoming more readily available. Irregular pulses can be detected using an optical sensor that is built into the wearable device. The Apple Watch (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA) is a class II medical device with pulse rate and electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring capabilities. Here, we report a case in which an arrhythmia that was conventionally perceived but undiagnosed was identified as an atrial fibrillation by the self-acquisition of the ECG data using an Apple Watch.

Automated summary

Consumer rhythm-monitoring devices, such as the Apple Watch, are now widely available and can detect irregular pulses using built-in sensors. This case report demonstrates the identification of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation through self-acquisition of ECG data using an Apple Watch.