Wearable Devices May Worsen Anxiety in Atrial Fibrillation Patients
New Study Raises Concerns About the Use of Wearables for Health Monitoring
Key Findings
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that wearable devices, such as smart watches and fitness trackers, may worsen anxiety and increase health concerns in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
The study, led by Lindsay Rosman, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, involved 83 patients with AFib who were randomly assigned to use either a wearable device to monitor their heart rate and rhythm or a control group that did not use a wearable device.
The results showed that the patients who used wearables were more worried about their heart condition and had higher levels of anxiety compared to the control group. They were also more likely to make unnecessary doctor visits and experience false alarms.
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