Research Day
MY WATCH SAVED ME!"-SMARTWATCH DETECTION OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA
Document Type
Abstract
Date
2021
Abstract
Introduction: Smartwatches have become commonplace, but their features are well evolved. New sensors have been developed, including those designed to detect heart rate and provide electrocardiogram (ECG) reads. Studies have demonstrated the watch's ability to detect atrial arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. In this case, we describe a patient whose smartwatch detected an arrhythmia, subsequently leading to the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia.
Case Presentation: A 49-year-old woman with a past medical history of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF), and Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III presented to the hospital with chief complaint of palpitations. She was sitting at home and had acute onset of palpitations associated with lightheadedness and mild dizziness. She checked her Apple Watch and found her heart rate was 160 bpm. She did an ECG using her watch and sent it to her Cardiologist. She was advised to go to the emergency department (ED) immediately. Her blood pressure was found to be 70/40 mmHg. ECG showed ventricular tachycardia and urgent cardioversion was performed. Patient's rhythm returned to sinus afterwards.
Discussion: One of the main causes of death in patients with HFrEF is cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. New smartwatches are being studied for monitoring of atrial arrhythmic events but not ventricular arrhythmias. There are some case reports of ventricular arrhythmic events recorded, although there is no definitive literature in this regard. The ease of use makes smartwatches a promising technology for detecting ventricular arrhythmias and likelihood of improving patient outcomes.