FitBit have released their long-awaited atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection feature, after it received FDA approval earlier this month. The feature builds upon the health and fitness focus of the smartwatch company and adds a significant purchasing point for a company that has been on the decline in recent years.
AFib is a heart issue that is defined by a irregular heartbeat, which makes an individual much more likely to have issues such as strokes and heart attacks. In 2018, there were 72,000 hospitalizations related to AFib in Australia alone.
While the new feature won’t specifically diagnose AFib, it will monitor heart rate and rhythmic pattern, and notify the user that they should see a doctor about the issue. Early stages of AFib are notoriously hard to detect due to a lack of symptoms, so having a device constantly monitoring for it is extremely valuable.
Credit: FitBit
The rollout of the new feature has begun in parts of the US, but will eventually make it’s way to Australia and around the world. Notifications will appear in the “Today” and “Discover” tabs in the FitBit app, which the company recommends users check daily.
Devices eligible for the update are limited as they require the somewhat new ECG monitors found in later models. Compatible devices include:
- Fitbit Charge 3
- Fitbit Charge 4
- Fitbit Charge 5
- Fitbit Inspire 2
- Fitbit Luxe
- Fitbit Sense
- Fitbit Versa 2
- Fitbit Versa 3
- Fitbit Versa Lite
