AliveCor's band for Apple Watch accurate in detecting AFib

A Cleveland Clinic study, set to be published in the American College of Cardiology, found the KardiaBand for the Apple Watch was capable of accurately detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Developed by AliveCor, producers of FDA-cleared personal electrocardiogram (ECG) technology, the KardiaBand is the only FDA-cleared medical device accessory for the Apple Watch. The study, the first to test the healthcare abilities of the Apple Watch, set out to determine is the KardiaBand could distinguish between AFib and normal heart rhythm.

Researchers found the Kardia algorithm was able to detect AFib and normal sinus rhythm with accuracy comparable to a physician’s interpretation of ECGs. Additionally, the algorithm distinguished between AFib and normal sinus rhythm with 93 percent sensitivity and 84 percent specificity, with sensitivity increasing to 99 percent when paired with a physician’s review of the recording.

"As our team continues to push the bounds on innovation in digital health, we are on a path to changing the way AFib and hyperkalemia can be detected, and to defining the ways in which products like Apple Watch can play a role in the future of health care," said Vic Gundotra, CEO of AliveCor.