'My watch kept on alarming all night about my heart rate': diagnosis of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation with fast ventricular response in a patient with a recent TIA as the result of a smartwatch alarm.
Immo WeichertPublished in: Oxford medical case reports (2019)
Atrial fibrillation is a leading cause of stroke and early detection and treatment of the condition are critical. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and may go undetected and untreated in the routine management of patients with ischaemic strokes or transient ischaemic attacks. Prolonged monitoring does increase the diagnosis rate of atrial fibrillation after an ischaemic cerebrovascular event. Biometric and ECG sensors have been integrated with smartphones, apps and wearable devices which may increase rates of diagnosis of arrhythmias. This case study describes an asymptomatic patient who two months after her initial transient ischaemic attack was alerted by her smartwatch about her nocturnal tachycardia and was subsequently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation ensuring appropriate secondary prophylaxis.
Keyphrases
- atrial fibrillation
- catheter ablation
- heart rate
- left atrial
- oral anticoagulants
- left atrial appendage
- direct oral anticoagulants
- heart failure
- blood pressure
- heart rate variability
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- case report
- obstructive sleep apnea
- cerebral ischemia
- physical activity
- left ventricular
- depressive symptoms
- sleep apnea
- low cost