Abstract

Mobile health devices such as wearables can provide a wealth of physiological information, opening opportunities in both healthcare and research. In this talk, I will provide an introduction to wearable devices, including the underlying technology, their functionality, and potential applications. I will then illustrate potential opportunities with examples from our research into screening for atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia which increases the risk of stroke by five-fold, yet is often not recognised. To do so, I will present early findings from two ongoing research programmes: a study of the acceptability and performance of wearables for atrial fibrillation screening in older adults; and the SAFER Trial which is using handheld ECG recorders in the general population. Finally, I will discuss next steps to realise the full potential of wearables and mobile health devices in healthcare and research, ranging from their use in virtual wards, to large-scale, low-cost clinical studies.