Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with significant clinical complications such as stroke and heart failure. Although this arrhythmia can manifest with palpitations or discomfort related to a rapid and irregular pulse, it is not uncommon for it to be completely asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, with the initial manifestation being one of its complications. Furthermore, this arrhythmia can appear and disappear repeatedly and silently, making its diagnosis a significant challenge.

The technological advances of recent years applied to early diagnosis and monitoring, not only in patients with known and treated pathologies but also in large, apparently healthy population groups, are revolutionizing our diagnostic and preventative capabilities. New electronic devices (smartphones, smartwatches, etc.) can perform other functions such as calculating our distance walked, hours of sleep, calories burned, and even monitoring our heart rate. In this regard, various devices have demonstrated their ability to detect arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and even document these episodes with an electrocardiogram. These advances allow us not only to know the true prevalence of this arrhythmia but also to prevent its devastating complications. The great advantages that these devices offer over other traditional diagnostic methods are that they are completely integrated into our lives, easy to use, convenient, and reliable. But despite these great advantages, there are also limitations, especially regarding the interpretation of the information they provide, which must be properly validated by a specialist. These devices can report arrhythmic events that, without proper medical confirmation, can cause alarm, worry, and anxiety for users. Not all devices that report information about heart rhythm are properly validated, nor are all reports or alerts always accurate. Therefore, a cardiological evaluation is necessary to correctly interpret these episodes, confirm their relevance, and act accordingly for their treatment or management. Undoubtedly, these devices are a great advancement and a valuable tool in the early diagnosis of arrhythmias and the prevention of cardiovascular events. However, we must not forget that this information must be validated and interpreted by cardiologists who inform patients about the actual usefulness of this information in each case, confirm the relevance of the data, thus preventing unnecessary worry, and, in the case of relevant findings, guide patients toward the best treatment.

Dr. Juan Benezet-Mazuecos

Arrhythmia Unit Manager