Digital Health Revolutionizing Heart Medicine

​Recent years have witnessed notable shifts in healthcare delivery, with cardiovascular care significantly impacted by the increased use of digital health technologies. Digital health tools are now commonly employed in arrhythmia management, including diagnostics, long-term monitoring, patient education, shared decision-making, medication adherence, and research.

Despite these advances, integrating digital health technologies into cardiovascular care presents several challenges. Some of these challenges are patient usability, privacy, system interoperability, physician liability, analysis, and incorporation of a large amount of real-time information from wearables. Clear objectives and significant changes to existing workflows and responsibilities are necessary to successfully implement digital health tech in heart medicine.

Technological advances and improved manufacturing processes have facilitated the development of wearable and implantable monitors in cardiac care. These devices address an extensive scope of cardiovascular use cases, including heart rate and arrhythmia monitoring, heart failure and hemodynamic monitoring, physical activity, and general health and well-being.

Moreover, smartphone technologies have enabled varying levels of invasiveness in cardiac monitoring devices. Some are noninvasive and worn externally, while others are minimally invasive, requiring subcutaneous or intravascular implantation. Devices like wireless ECG watches, patch monitors, and cardiac defibrillators offer diverse options for monitoring heart health.

Heart rate and rhythm monitors are among the most widely used tools, providing multiple options for both patients and clinicians. A clear understanding of the features and limitations of the technology can enable the selection of appropriate tools based on patient symptoms and clinical needs. For instance, implantable loop recorders are useful for detecting subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) to prevent cardioembolic stroke and other subclinical high-risk arrhythmias that may cause devastating complications.

Sanjiv Narayan

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