Wearables could help doctors identify cardiovascular disease earlier

Consumer wearables like smartwatches may be useful for more than just tracking your workouts—they could also help detect cardiovascular diseases earlier, according to a best practices framework that the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which hosts the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) published on February 7.

Cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death globally and cost the US healthcare system roughly $219 billion every year, according to the CDC. Wearables could be an easy, accessible way to identify early signs of cardiovascular conditions, like atrial fibrillation, according to the CTA and ACC.

“Technology is unlocking the potential to detect and diagnose cardiovascular disease earlier and with improved accuracy,” Kerri Haresign, senior director of technology and standards at CTA, said in a statement. “We see an opportunity to address global healthcare workforce shortages and ensure that the most advanced cardiovascular health technology is available for medical professionals to improve and save lives.”

The framework outlines how providers can incorporate consumer wearables into workflows. Integrating data from consumer tech into electronic health records will “enable the clinician and the user to have a comprehensive view of the consumer’s health status and make informed management decisions,” the framework states.

“As we progress, it is imperative to maintain vigilance, addressing potential pitfalls associated with these solutions,” Effie Andrikopoulou, a physician and member of the ACC’s Innovation Work Group, said in a statement. “Ensuring the highest quality performance and equitable implementation remains pivotal, allowing us to deliver on ACC’s mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health for all.”