Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Patient-Led Smartwatch ECG Follow-Up Strategy After Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Ablation: Clinical Trial Design and Implementation

JACC AdvPublished prospective, randomized controlled trial

Study context

Population
Adults undergoing first-time AF ablation
Participants
168 enrolled participants
Planned comparison
Apple Watch-based protocol or standard follow-up
Methodological detailsprespecified audit of the smartwatch-derived rhythm classification
  • Prespecified audit of the smartwatch-derived rhythm classification

No results yet. This paper sets out the design of a trial; its results are to come.

Baseline

OutcomeOR (95% CI)P value
AF on symptom-annotatedvs unannotated ECGsSymptom-annotated ECGs more likely to show AF16.1 (13.0–19.9)P < 0.001
OutcomeActive-arm
ECGs recorded and transmitted for review (Active arm) · 12 months
ECGs recorded170 (IQR 93-380)
Transmitted for review1.9% (0.0-8.3)

Baseline characteristics of enrolled participants

Mean age
60.5 ± 9.9 years
Female
52 (31.0%)
Persistent AF
84 (50.0%)

Watch-derived rhythm label accuracy

AF label positive predictive value
0.96
Sinus rhythm label positive predictive value
0.95
ECGs unclassified
one-third
  • Primary clinical outcomes are reported in a companion Brief Report.

Original publication

Patient-Led Smartwatch ECG Follow-Up Strategy After AF Ablation: Clinical Trial Design and Implementation. JACC Adv. Published 28 January 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102534

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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