Project R-16090

From Detection to Clinical Decision-Making: Intermittent Photoplethysmography for Real-World Arrhythmia monitoring (Research)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder and its prevalence rises with increasing life expectancy and risk factors. AF causes a significant healthcare burden, with many cases remaining undetected and missing early intervention opportunities that could improve outcomes. Recent evidence highlights AF burden as a key predictor of disease progression and adverse cardiovascular events. However, continuous monitoring methods used in clinical studies are often impractical in routine practice, underscoring the need for a cost-effective approach to assess and monitor AF burden. Digital health technologies, particularly smartphone-based photoplethysmography (PPG), offer a scalable, accessible, and cost-effective alternative for arrhythmia screening and monitoring. Despite promising diagnostic accuracy, current guidelines still require ECG confirmation due to concerns about study quality and patient selection bias. Our central hypothesis is that an innovative, intermittent, patient-driven approach will reliably detect clinically significant arrhythmia events in real-worlds settings, enable AF burden assessment, and improve clinical decision-making. The generated evidence is expected to inform clinical guidelines and foster a paradigm shift toward patient-centered, remote cardiovascular care.

01 October 2024 - 30 September 2028