Using a wearable device, such as a smartwatch, to track health data and symptoms is supposed to help people monitor their health and address symptoms as early as possible for positive health outcomes. However, for people with atrial fibrillation, also known as AFIB, using a wearable device to monitor heart rate and alert users of an irregular heart rhythm may not be as helpful as users think.
A new study in the Journal of the American Heart AssociationLed by Lindsay Rosman, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, the study is the first to demonstrate that wearable devices, such as smartwatches, can significantly amplify anxiety and increase healthcare use in patients with atrial fibrillation.
The study included 172 UNC Health patients with a previous diagnosis of atrial fibrillation who completed a survey and linked their information to electronic medical records. About half of the study sample had a wearable device, and their data was compared to that of people who did not have a wearable device. Rosman and her team found that atrial fibrillation patients who use wearable devices are more likely to be worried about their heart symptoms, report concerns about their atrial fibrillation treatment, and use healthcare resources compared to atrial fibrillation patients who do not have these devices. Healthcare providers and clinics were also affected, as wearable device users were more likely to call the clinic and message their healthcare providers than people who did not have a device.
Additionally, 1 in 5 AF patients who used wearable devices in this study experienced intense fear and anxiety in response to irregular rhythm notifications from their device. And a similar proportion (20%) routinely contacted their doctors when ECG results were abnormal or indicative of possible AF. But it’s not clear whether they actually needed to see a doctor, given the alerts from their devices. It’s also not clear whether their reported anxiety contributed to worsening symptoms, although anxiety has been a well-documented contributing factor for several conditions, including AF.
“Given the significant increase in wearable device use in this patient group (and in the general population),” Rosman said, “we believe that prospective studies and randomized trials are needed to understand the net effects of wearable devices, including their alerts, on patients’ healthcare use and psychological well-being, as well as the downstream effects on providers, hospitals, and health systems.”