Performance of a medical smartband with photoplethysmography technology and artificial intelligence algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia with significant public health implications, including increased risk of stroke and mortality. Early detection is challenging but crucial for managing complications. Wearable technology with photoplethysmography (PPG) offers a potential solution for long-term, non-invasive monitoring. This study aims to evaluate the performance of three artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms (Happitech, Preventicus, and Philips Biosensing AF) in detecting AF using PPG signals from a medical smartband and compare it with the gold standard electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods: A medical smartband equipped with PPG technology was used to collect cardiovascular data from patients with and without AF. The sensitivity and specificity of the algorithm for detecting AF were determined by comparing their output to a trained technician's examination of concurrent ECG recordings.

Results: Seventy two participants (42% female, 57±17 years old) were included in this study. The medical smartband provided continuous PPG signals, with AI algorithms evaluating the data for AF episodes. The accuracy of AF detection by the algorithms was compared with that of the concurrent ECG recordings. Sensitivity varied between 80.0% (62.5-97.5%) and 97.6% (97.6-97.6%), specificity between 90.6% (80.5-100%) and 96.9% (90.8-100%).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of medical smartbands combined with PPG technology and AI algorithms for reliable AF detection. The findings suggest a promising direction for remote AF monitoring and early intervention, potentially reducing AF-related complications and healthcare costs.