EVALUATION OF THE CLINICAL EFFICACY OF WEARABLE DEVICES IN THE DETECTION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that significantly increases the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular complications. Early detection of AF is essential for the prevention of these events, and wearable devices have a promising tool for remote monitoring. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability of the devices. An integrative literature review was performed with articles selected from a search in the PubMed and Virtual Health Library Regional Portal (VHL) databases. The descriptors used were: (“wearable devices” OR “wearables” OR “smartwatches” OR “portable monitors” OR “wearable ECG”) AND (“atrial fibrillation” OR “AF” OR “AFib”) AND (“accuracy” OR “efficacy” OR “effectiveness” OR “clinical results” OR “quality of life”) AND (“traditional methods” OR “Holter” OR “ECG” OR “event monitoring”). Studies comparing wearable devices with traditional methods in the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, focusing on efficacy, accuracy or quality of life, were included. Reviews, meta-analyses and irrelevant articles were excluded. Screening was performed using Rayyan software. In the end, 15 articles were selected. The results indicate that most wearable devices presented good sensitivity and specificity in the detection of AF, although this varied according to the type of device and the methodology used in the studies. Continuous monitoring showed greater efficacy compared to intermittent monitoring, with some devices reaching up to 95% sensitivity. However, a false positive rate was a concern in some studies. AF detection by wearables offers a promising approach for remote monitoring and prevention of complications, especially in at-risk patients. However, the variability in study methods and devices used indicates the need for standardization of technologies and further investigations on long-term accuracy. Despite the limitations, wearable technology has the potential to improve early diagnosis of AF, complementing traditional monitoring.