<p class="drop-cap">Fitbit says it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new PPG (photoplethysmography) algorithm to identify atrial fibrillation (AFib). The algorithm will power new Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature on Fitbit.</p>
<p>Fitbit is a subsidiary of Google.</p>
<p>AFib is a form of irregular heart rhythm that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24345399/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24345399/";}">affects nearly 33.5 million people globally</a>, and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1866765/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1866765/";}">individuals with AFib have five times higher risk of stroke</a>. Unfortunately, <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1105575" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1105575";}">AFib can be difficult to detect</a> as there are often no symptoms and episodes can come and go.</p>
<p>Fitbit&#8217;s new PPG AFib algorithm can passively assess your heart rhythm in the background while you’re still or asleep. If there’s anything that might be suggestive of AFib, you’ll be notified through our Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature — allowing you to talk with your healthcare provider or seek further assessment to help prevent a significant medical event, such as stroke.</p>
<p>When your heart beats, tiny blood vessels throughout your body expand and contract based on changes in blood volume. Fitbit’s PPG optical heart-rate sensor can detect these volume changes right from your wrist. These measurements determine your heart rhythm, which the detection algorithm then analyzes for irregularities and potential signs of atrial fibrillation.</p>
<p>The clinical validation for Fitbit’s PPG algorithm is supported by data from the landmark Fitbit Heart Study, which <a href="https://press.fitbit.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Fitbit-Announces-Large-Scale-Study-to-Identify-Atrial-Fibrillation/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://press.fitbit.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Fitbit-Announces-Large-Scale-Study-to-Identify-Atrial-Fibrillation/default.aspx";}">launched</a> in 2020 and enrolled 455,699 participants over five months. The study was conducted entirely virtually during the pandemic, making it <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33865810/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33865810/";}">one of the largest remote studies of PPG-based software</a> to date. Data presented at the 2021 <a href="https://newsroom.heart.org/news/novel-algorithm-on-wearable-devices-can-detect-irregular-heartbeat-may-prompt-early-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://newsroom.heart.org/news/novel-algorithm-on-wearable-devices-can-detect-irregular-heartbeat-may-prompt-early-care";}">American Heart Association Scientific Sessions</a> found that the Fitbit PPG detections correctly identified AFib episodes 98% of the time, as confirmed by ECG patch monitors.</p>
<p>Because AFib can be so sporadic, the optimal way to screen for it is through <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17322588/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17322588/";}">heart rate tracking technology when the body is still or at rest</a> — making overnight detection when people are asleep especially important. The unique capabilities of Fitbit devices — especially its 24/7 heart rate tracking and long battery life — give it the potential to accelerate identification through long-term heart rhythm assessment.</p>
<p>With FDA clearance of the PPG-based algorithm, Fitbit now provides two ways to detect AFib. Fitbit’s ECG app, which takes a spot-check approach, allows you to proactively screen yourself for possible AFib and record an ECG trace that you can then review with a healthcare provider. Additionally, the new PPG-based algorithm allows for long-term heart rhythm assessment that helps identify asymptomatic AFib that could otherwise go undetected.</p>
<p>The Fitbit PPG-based algorithm and Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature will soon be available to consumers in the U.S. across a range of heart-rate enabled devices. We want to make AFib detection as accessible as possible to help reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening events — like stroke — and ultimately improve overall heart health for everyone. We’ll continue to work with the <a href="https://press.fitbit.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/The-Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Pfizer-Alliance-and-Fitbit-Collaborate-to-Address-Gaps-in-Atrial-Fibrillation-Detection-with-the-Aim-of-Accelerating-Diagnosis/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-onclick="{";event";:";page interaction";,";category";:";in-article links";,";action";:";link click";,";label";:";https://press.fitbit.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/The-Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Pfizer-Alliance-and-Fitbit-Collaborate-to-Address-Gaps-in-Atrial-Fibrillation-Detection-with-the-Aim-of-Accelerating-Diagnosis/default.aspx";}">BMS-Pfizer Alliance</a> to develop educational content for patients and healthcare providers that will help identify and support people in the U.S. with irregular heart rhythms consistent with atrial fibrillation.</p>
<p>Apple&#8217;s Watch also has a feature that can check for abnormal heart beat.</p>

SAN FRANCISCO -- Wispr, the voice-to-text AI that turns speech into clear, polished writing in every…
SAN FRANCISCO -- Numeric, an AI accounting automation platform, has raised a $51 million Series…
Apple has announced 45 finalists for this year’s App Store Awards, recognizing the best apps…
The University of California (UC) and the California Nurses Association (CNA) have reached a tentative…
SAN FRANCISCO -- House Rx, a health tech company focused on making specialty medications more accessible and…
Britain's King has given an award to the King of NVIDIA! NVIDIA founder and CEO…