Overview
- Researchers randomized 437 outpatients aged 65 and older with elevated CHA2DS2-VASc scores at two Dutch centers to six months of Apple Watch monitoring or standard specialty care.
- New-onset atrial fibrillation was detected in 9.6% with smartwatch screening vs 2.3% with usual care (HR 4.40; risk difference 7.3 percentage points; number needed to screen 14).
- Investigators confirmed 21 diagnoses in the smartwatch arm vs 5 in controls, with 57% of watch-detected cases occurring without symptoms.
- The device’s alerts had an estimated positive predictive value of about 54% after remote adjudication by the independent HartWacht team within 24 hours.
- Emergency department visits and major adverse cardiovascular events were similar between groups at six months, and outcome trials such as REGAL and SAFER will evaluate effects on stroke and other endpoints.