J Am Coll Cardiol

Smartwatch boosts atrial fibrillation detection in randomized trial

January 26, 2026

A randomized trial (NCT05686330) of 437 adults ≥65 years with elevated stroke risk found that six months of Apple Watch–based rhythm monitoring identified new atrial fibrillation (afib) in 9.6% of participants vs. 2.3% with standard care (hazard ratio, 4.40). Several silent episodes were caught only through smartwatch screening, supported by remote ECG review within 24 hours.

Clinical takeaway: Smartwatch‑enabled rhythm monitoring may meaningfully improve detection of previously unrecognized afib in high‑risk older adults.

Source:

van Steijn NJ, et al. (2026, January 22). J Am Coll Cardiol. Enhanced Detection and Prompt Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation Using Apple Watch: A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41569211/