03 Oct 2019
Fitbit adds heart health monitor to its smartwatch – allows users to detect signs of irregularities
BY Tom Walker
Wearable tech giant Fitbit is partnering with FibriCheck, a health screening and monitoring app, to allow users to monitor their heart rhythm for irregularities.
The subscription service will initially be rolled out across selected markets in Europe and will offer owners of Fitbit smartwatches to detect signs for a number of conditions – including atrial fibrillation (Afib).
Afib is an irregular heart rhythm that is often difficult to detect or diagnose because of irregular occurrences. It is a leading cause of stroke and the number of people suffering from the condition is predicted to increase to more than 800,000 by 2035.
The FibriCheck app runs on Fitbit OS and uses Fitbit’s PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors – light-based technology that measures the rate of blood flow – to capture heart rhythm measurements from a user’s wrist.
A FibriCheck reading can be completed in 60 seconds. Instant, color-coded feedback is sent directly to the smartwatch screen; from green indicating that no irregularities have been detected, to red, which advises users to seek medical advice.
A detailed report is also available via the FibriCheck smartphone app, which can be shared with medical professionals.
The FibriCheck smartphone app has been available for users to measure their heart rhythm via the camera on their smartphones since 2016.
FibriCheck will be initially made available for FitBit owners in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“For more than a decade, Fitbit has helped millions of consumers around the world get healthier by providing them with a holistic picture of their health and wellness," said Nicola Maxwell, FitBit's director of health solutions and services for the EMEA region.
"Our partnership with FibriCheck expands on this vision by offering an accessible way for people to detect irregular heart rhythms using their Fitbit smartwatch, helping them to potentially identify and monitor heart conditions like atrial fibrillation.
“FibriCheck is the first CE-marked app to be available on Fitbit smartwatches in the EU and its addition to the platform complements our expanding range of technology-based solutions that can help drive positive health outcomes.”
Lars Grieten, CEO, FibriCheck, added: “FibriCheck is an easy-to-use, first step for people who have concerns about their heart health or who have been advised to monitor their heart rhythm consistently by a medical professional.
“By partnering with Fitbit, we are bringing our technology to millions of consumers’ wrists regardless of mobile device platform, and it provides an accessible option for consumers to better understand their heart health and then easily share those insights with a medical professional who can support their care."
FibriCheck will have a subscription model starting at €3.99 per month and a one-day free trial is available.
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