# Feasibility of Smartwatches for Atrial Fibrillation Detection in Older Adults

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · 2021 · $31,030

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac rhythm abnormality that currently affects over 6 million Americans. This statistic
is expected to double over the next decade given the increasing prevalence of AF risk factors such as advanced
age and obesity. Atrial fibrillation confers a 5-fold risk of ischemic stroke, but can be treated effectively with
anticoagulation therapy. Despite the efficacy of available treatment options, 1 in 5 patients with AF present with
stroke as their initial manifestation of the arrhythmia. This is attributable to the significant challenge in diagnosing
AF due to its episodic and sometimes asymptomatic nature. Existing AF monitoring strategies are burdensome
or costly and invasive, and thus have low patient adherence and satisfaction. Recently, commercially available
wrist-based wearable devices, or smartwatches, have shown to be accurate for AF detection, and may represent
a promising tool for identifying AF. However, commercial devices are not primarily designed for use by older
adults for arrhythmia detection, and there is a significant research gap in the feasibility of using smartwatches
for arrhythmia detection in this population. Furthermore, no previous research has investigated the potential for
implementation and integration of smartwatches into the healthcare system and infrastructure.
Using data collected from the in-house randomized control trial Pulsewatch, and by conducting qualitative
assessments in usability and implementation, this proposal addresses the evidence gap in the feasibility of
smartwatches for AF detection with three specific aims: 1) to evaluate individual-level factors associated with
adherence of using a smartwatch for AF detection, 2) to explore patient characteristics associated with
acceptability of smartwatches and identify specific usability challenges and nuances for older adults, and 3) to
identify barriers and facilitators of implementing smartwatches for use in a clinical setting. We approach the
problem with a user-centered focus and apply rigorous and systematic scientific methods in completing these
aims. Knowledge generated from this proposal will provide future researchers and stakeholders with practical
evidence in the potential use of smartwatches for detection of AF.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242947
- **Project number:** 5F30HL149335-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric Yuxiao Ding
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $31,030
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-18 → 2022-09-17

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242947

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242947, Feasibility of Smartwatches for Atrial Fibrillation Detection in Older Adults (5F30HL149335-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242947. Licensed CC0.

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