Fitbit has just confirmed that the FDA has granted it permission to add background AFib detection to its platform, meaning users in the US will soon receive automatic alerts to an irregular heart rhythm, if their wearable detects one.
Based on the results of the Fitbit Heart Study, conducted in 2020, the company proved that the algorithm used by its PPG (Photoplethysmography) optical heart rate sensors “accurately identified undiagnosed AFib 98% of the time.” As such, Google (who completed its acquisition of Fitbit at the start of 2021) confirmed in late March 2022 that it would be submitting these findings to the FDA (the US government’s Food & Drug Administration) for approval.
Fast-forward to 11 April and Google reported that Fitbit had indeed received clearance from the FDA to seed this updated algorithm to its products, complete with its newfound ability to identify AFib and, if detected, fire off an Irregular Heart Rhythm notification to an affected Fitbit user.
Existing Fitbit Sense and Charge 5 users may already be familiar with AFib detection, as part of their devices’ native ECG app experience, however, this is a manual, user-initiated process, while this FDA-approved update would allow for passive background AFib monitoring and detection; increasing the chance of successful detection “while you’re still or asleep.”
By Fitbit’s own definition, AFib (atrial fibrillation) “can increase risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. Adults over 40 have a 1-in-4 risk of developing AFib in their lifetime,” and while Fitbit doesn’t market its products or this new feature as ‘medical-grade’, such notifications could help push someone to get a check-up from professional in order to verify and reduce the risk of the condition progressing into something more serious.
For the time being, the update is slated to be coming to US-based consumers “soon” and will be supported “across a range of heart-rate enabled devices.” We’ve reached out to Fitbit who confirmed that “it is assessing and working to bring this feature to users in other countries” too, but we’re also waiting on a definitive list of which Fitbit devices will support the feature.
We’ll update this article as and when we hear back from Fitbit, and in the meantime check out our Best Fitbit roundup to see what the company’s entire range currently offers.
