Fitbit is confirming a few additional information about Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, including where and how they operate, after receiving authorization earlier this month and beginning the deployment yesterday.
Fitbit devices use the PPG (photoplethysmography) algorithm, which the company claims is 98% successful at identifying irregular heart rhythms, to power its irregular heart rhythm notifications. Helping patients with atrial fibrillation, the most prevalent type of abnormal heart rhythm, is one of the main objectives of this function.
Fitbit confirmed to 9to5Google that Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications will initially only be made accessible in one region. The feature is currently only available in the United States. Given that the US FDA gave the feature authorization, this seems sense. It’s unknown if further regions are anticipated in the future.
In addition, Fitbit revealed a few more specifics regarding the operation of the irregular heart rhythm notifications. The Today or Discover sections of the Fitbit app will display notifications. These alerts are typically sent in the morning after the wearer has slept, and Fitbit advises accessing the app everyday to check for them. The business hinted in its response that all modifications are being made on the app when we inquired about whether a software upgrade for the tracker or smartwatch is necessary.
Fitbit clarifies:
Irregular Rhythm Notifications can be configured by U.S. users through the Fitbit mobile app, either from the Today page or under the Discover tab. Once the function is configured, users of eligible Fitbit devices will have their heart rhythm data collected while they are standing still or sleeping, and users will be alerted if there are any indications of an irregular heart rhythm that may be AFib. To sync their data on heart rhythm, users should open the Fitbit app every day. The PPG detection algorithm will examine the data once the Fitbit gadget has gathered sufficient data to look for indications of AFib.
Additionally, Fitbit gave us a few screenshots of how the app’s irregular heartbeat notifications appear. Notifications with a message stating that the app has an important heart-health update to provide may show up on the Today tab at the very top of the screen, as was seen above at the beginning of this piece. The message, which in this case specifies AFib warning indicators, can be seen below.
Fitbit owners are beginning to receive these notifications now and over the next few weeks, although, as previously noted, only in the United States. The function is compatible with Charge and Inspire trackers as well as more recent Versa and Sense smartwatches. You may access the complete list here.
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