Apple Watch able to detect weak heart pump with adapted Mayo Clinic algorithm

Mayo Clinic has developed an algorithm to analyze data from Apple Watch electrocardiograms. The algorithm can detect weak heart pumps straight from EKG testing. It could detect potentially life-threatening conditions sooner than a physician.

Reported by STAT, this algorithm was presented at the Heart Rhythm Society conference in San Francisco. This study showed that weak heart pumps were detected in only a few patients. This test is part of a decentralized study including 125,000 Apple Watch EKG tests from participants across the US and 11 countries.

Cardiologists at the clinic believe the new results will “establish the early feasibility of embedding that capability in [Apple Watch].”

This demonstrates that you can design studies to explore the utility of single-lead (EKG) from devices like Apple Watch for clinical problems, and the researchers need to be commended for that. This should be viewed as a first step, but by no means is it ready for prime time.

Collin Stultz, cardiologist at Mass General Brigham in Boston

The study also utilized data from over 2,400 people who recently had EKGs. An app from the Mayo Clinic analyzes EKG tracings using the algorithm. Of the 16 patients said to have weak heart pumps, 13 of these were correct.

It helps detect heart problems early

While it is best to apply the algorithm to patients with a greater chance of developing heart disease, it is not clear who will benefit. However, the clinic is working on improving this. The clinic is currently undertaking a global study to evaluate various algorithms for heart function. The goal of the study is to identify heart disease early in patients so that they receive treatment before it gets worse.

According to the STAT article, a weak heart pump is treatable and affects about 3% of people globally. A weaker heart pump can lead to arrhythmias or heart disease.

If you’re a person who has high blood pressure and diabetes and you’re over 60, you may have a weak heart pump and not know it. You may not be going to your doctor too often, but a watch you buy at the store could tell you there’s an important signal that needs to be screened, so the implications of this are huge.

Paul Friedman, chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic and the leader of the study

More research is underway to ensure that the algorithm works with different individuals. It also aims to help high-risk patients seek better health outcomes early on.

9to5Mac’s Take

As more and more people purchase Apple Watches for health purposes, it seems about time additional benefits arrive. Although it will take time for the Apple Watch algorithm’s to become more efficient, it is encouraging to see some improvements. While these devices have saved lives before, they will probably save even more in the future.