A commercially available wearable health tracker that monitors heart rate and physical activity may have clinical value in comparing response to two treatments for atrial fibrillation and heart failure, a recently published study finds. Nature Medicine.
The study used a commercially available wearable device connected to a smartphone to collect data on responses to two drugs prescribed as part of an NIHR-funded clinical trial called RATE-AF.
The study, led by researchers from the cardA/c Group at the University of Birmingham, used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse more than 140 million data points on heart rate over 20 weeks in 53 subjects with an average age of 76. The team found that digoxin and beta-blockers had similar effects on heart rate, even after accounting for differences in physical activity, in contrast to previous studies which only assessed the short-term effects of digoxin.
The team developed an AI network that takes missing information into account to avoid overly optimistic assessments of wearable data streams. Using this approach, the team found that the wearable was comparable to standard tests often used in clinical trials and hospitals that require staff time and resources. The age of participants further highlights the future efficient value of wearables, regardless of age or experience with technology.
“Around the world, an increasing number of people are using wearable devices to monitor their activity and health in their daily lives. This study shows the potential for this new technology to be used to assess response to treatment and contribute positively to everyday patient care,” said Professor Deepak Kotecha from the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and lead author of the study.
“Heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure are expected to double in prevalence over the next few decades, resulting in a huge burden for patients as well as significantly increasing healthcare costs. This research is an exciting example of how artificial intelligence can support new ways of improving patient care.”
