Detection and Diagnostic Accuracy of Cardiac Arrhythmias Using Wearable Health Devices: A Systematic Review

Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran; Neway A Urgessa; Prabhitha Geethakumari; Prathima Kampa; Rakesh Parchuri; Renu Bhandari; Ali R Alnasser; Aqsa Akram; Saikat Kar; Fatema Osman; Ghadi D Mashat; Lubna Mohammed

doi:10.7759/cureus.50952

Detection and Diagnostic Accuracy of Cardiac Arrhythmias Using Wearable Health Devices: A Systematic Review

Cureus. 2023 Dec 22;15(12):e50952. doi: 10.7759/cureus.50952. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
² Research, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
³ Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioural Neurosciences & Psycholgy, Fairfield, USA.
⁴ Internal Medicine, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, NPL.
⁵ Internal Medicine/Family Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
⁶ General Surgery, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
⁷ Internal Medicine, Dallah Hospital, Riyadh, SAU.
⁸ Neurosciences and Psychology, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
⁹ Pediatrics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.

Abstract

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is the wearable devices' most widely used technology for monitoring heart rate. The systematic review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards and guidelines. This systematic review seeks to establish the effects of wearable health devices on cardiac arrhythmias concerning their impact on the personalization of cardiac management, their refining effect on stroke prevention strategies, and their influence on research and preventive care of cardiac arrhythmias and their re-evaluation of the patient-physician relationship. The population, exposure, control, outcomes, and studies (PECOS) criteria were used in the systematic review. This review considered studies that covered the tests conducted on individuals who presented with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and also healthy people. The intervention for studies included wearable health devices that could detect and diagnose cardiac arrhythmias. The study considered articles that reported on the personalization of cardiac management, stroke prevention strategies, influence in research and preventive care of cardiac arrhythmias, and the re-evaluation of the patient-physician relationship. Two independent researchers were used in the extraction of the data. In case of dispute, the issue was resolved using a third party. The study's quality analysis was conducted using AXIS. The management of atrial fibrillation (AF) lies heavily in the prevention of stroke. The accuracy being reported in the prediction of arrhythmias and the monitoring of heart rates makes wearable devices an efficient means to personalize health care. Personalization of health and treatment in preventing and managing arrhythmias becomes possible due to the portability of smart wearable devices. However, limitations may be observed due to the high costs incurred in their purchase and use. Using smart wearable devices for the detection of cardiac arrhythmias was very significant.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation (af); cardiac arrhythmias (ca); photoplethysmography; stroke; wearable device.

Publication types

Review