Smartwatch: Looking beyond what you see

• Published in: Journal of electrocardiology Vol. 81; pp. 51 - 59
• Main Authors: Buelga Suárez, Mauro, Rebolleda Sánchez, Alfonso, Pascual Izco, Marina, García Montalvo, Jesús, Alonso Salinas, Gonzalo Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Atrial Fibrillation - diagnosis; Electrocardiography; Humans; Wearable Electronic Devices; CSV file format; Leads; Electrocardiogram app; Apple watch; Arrhythmias; Voltage
• ISSN: 0022-0736; 1532-8430
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2023.07.010

The clinical utility of the Apple Inc.® smartwatch in scenarios beyond detecting atrial fibrillation has been debated. Although the device has the capability to record electrocardiograms (ECG) and detect arrhythmias, voltage limitations hinder its accuracy in measuring real voltage when recording precordial leads. This limitation poses challenges for its clinical use in diagnosing ischemia and screening cardiomyopathies. This review aims to analyze the ECG recording capacity of the Apple Watch, investigate the reasons for voltage limitations, and explore alternative approaches for its use in these clinical scenarios. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the ECG recording capacity of the Apple Watch and the limitations encountered when recording precordial leads. Data in CSV format files were analyzed to gain insights into the underlying causes of voltage limitations. The Apple Watch demonstrates effectiveness in detecting cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation using photoplethysmography and ECG recording. However, voltage limitations during precordial lead recordings impede accurate voltage measurement, thereby limiting its clinical utility. Analysis of the data stored in the CSV files revealed that these voltage limitations are primarily attributed to the presentation format. Exploring alternative approaches for data processing could potentially overcome this challenge. This review highlights the potential for addressing voltage limitations through alternative data processing approaches. Further research is necessary to identify suitable alternatives that enable the Apple Watch to be effectively utilized in these clinical scenarios.