New Insights: Wearable Monitoring Devices May Increase Health Care Usage in AF Patients
Recent research in the Journal of the American Heart Association has revealed that the use of wearable cardiac monitors among individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) might lead to a higher consumption of health care services versus AF patients who do not use these technological aids. The study also identified that a subset of individuals utilizing these wearables may suffer from anxiety linked to their heart condition and the ongoing self-monitoring.
Analyzing the Data and Core Discoveries
This investigation, carried out at an outpatient electrophysiology facility from December 2022 to February 2023, analyzed the health-related behaviors of 172 AF patients with an average age of 73, of which 42% were female. The team, under the guidance of Lindsey Rosman, PhD, from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, assessed patient survey responses and scrutinized electronic health records over the course of nine months. Of the 172, 83 individuals who regularly used devices like Apple Watches or Fitbits were pitted against a control group of 87 patients, with careful matching based on socioeconomic background and medical history.
Those employing wearable technology were more vigilant in tracking their AF symptoms and expressed greater levels of worry and preoccupation with their AF management. Dr. Rosman and her research team discovered that 20% of these patients were dealing with increased anxiety, especially after receiving notifications of abnormal heart rhythms from their devices.
The study’s critical findings illustrated that the category of patients using wearable technology sought more AF-specific medical services. This group showed an increased frequency of outpatient visits, diagnostic tests for heart rhythm, and procedures like ECGs, echocardiograms, and even AF ablation procedures compared to their counterparts without wearable technology. They tended to reach out more to health care providers through informal means of communication, such as telephone calls and online patient portals.
The researchers behind the study succinctly suggest that “AF patients employing wearable devices exhibit a substantial preoccupation with their cardiac symptoms, a tendency towards excessive symptom monitoring, and raise more issues concerning their treatment for AF as opposed to those who don’t use these monitoring tools.” They also highlighted the irony in how wearable technologies, designed for patient reassurance and safety, can conversely lead to anxiety and added pressure on health services.
Expert Commentary and the Horizon
In an associated editorial, Christopher C. Cheung, MD, MPH, and Mussa Saad, MD, recognize that the findings are thought-provoking, signifying a possible increase in health care activity resulting from the adoption of wearable technologies. Nonetheless, they raised concerns over potential biases due to the study’s retrospective model. They called attention to the importance of educating patients about these devices and how to accurately interpret the data, particularly concerning false alarms.
In terms of potential conflicts of interest, Dr. Rosman noted that she has received funding and consultancies from multiple entities, as detailed in her study disclosures, whereas Drs. Cheung and Saad reported no financial ties of concern.
