5 hours Ago By Liz Rogers
If a smartwatch could tell if you need to take medication, would you wear it? Researchers at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) are investigating that possibility with the help of participants in a clinical trial. AGH is among the nation’s top enrollment sites for the trial exploring how an Apple smartwatch can be used to tailor daily oral anticoagulants (blood thinners) in certain patient populations diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The REACT-AF trial, which stands for “Rhythm Evaluation from AntiCoagulaTion with Continuous Monitoring of Atrial Fibrillation,” is led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
“Atrial fibrillation (known as AFib) is an irregular, often rapid heart rhythm that originates in the top chambers of the heart, reducing blood flow, increasing the risk of stroke and causing symptoms including palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue,” said Dr. Amit Thosani, an electrophysiologist leading the trial at AGH and Director of the Mario Lemieux Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders at Allegheny Health Network. “AFib slows overall blood flow, which can cause clots to form in the heart that may then travel to the brain, increasing the likelihood of stroke.
In severe cases, it can also lead to heart failure.” The American Heart Association estimates that over 12 million people will be diagnosed with AFib by 2030. Many patients are prescribed anticoagulants (blood thinners) as a treatment for stroke prevention, but they come with some possible side effects.
“Blood thinners are used to prevent blood clots from forming due to the irregular heart rhythms and erratic blood flow,” says Thosani. “They are often prescribed for AFib patients to reduce their risk of stroke. In many cases, anticoagulants may be the best treatment for stroke prevention, but they have also been associated with an increased risk of bleeding.
” So how can a smartwatch help these patients? In this trial, participants wear Apple smartwatches for 14 hours per day. They are paired with iPhones and have software that monitors irregular heart rhythms. “If a patient goes 30 consecutive days without an episode of erratic heart beats lasting longer than one hour, they may be able to stop their anticoagulant medication under clinical supervision,” Thosani said.
“This data can then be analyzed to better understand individual patterns and responses to blood thinners, allowing doctors to tailor dosages and treatment plans for each patient.” The study is seeking patients who will be monitored for up to five years. Some will stay on their blood thinner for the study while the experimental group will stop their blood thinner and receive an Apple Watch that continuously monitors for AFib every 15 minutes.
To be eligible for the study, patients must be between 22 and 85 years old, have a history of AFib, have an iPhone, and be at a low to moderate risk for stroke. Thosani sees wearable technology as promising for the future of medicine and clinical trials. “Trials like REACT-AF show tangible outcomes when it comes to cardiac patients and their health,” he says.
“There are many applications for heart health improvement with smartwatches, but it’s promising to see that devices such as this give patients more understanding and information to take control of their health decisions for the betterment of their overall quality of life.” The trial is open to patients who: Are between 22 and 85 years old; Have a history of AFib; Have an iPhone; Are at a low to moderate risk for stroke. If you are interested in joining the clinical trial, Thosani recommends speaking to your cardiologist or calling 412-DOCTORS to learn more or to make an appointment with the AHN Cardiovascular Institute.
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