Are Wearable ECG Devices Ready for Hospital at Home Application?
Jorge Medina, Ricardo dos Santos Silva, Juan A. Holgado-Terriza
Abstract
The increasing focus on improving care for high-cost patients has highlighted the potential of Hospital at Home (HaH) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs to optimize patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. This paper examines the role of wearable devices with electrocardiogram (ECG) capabilities for continuous cardiac monitoring, a crucial aspect for the timely detection and management of various cardiac conditions. The functionality of current wearable technology is scrutinized to determine its effectiveness in meeting clinical needs, employing a proposed ABCD guide (accuracy, benefit, compatibility, and data governance) for evaluation. While smartwatches show promise in detecting arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, their broader diagnostic capabilities, including the potential for monitoring corrected QT (QTc) intervals during pharmacological interventions and approximating multi-lead ECG information for improved myocardial infarction detection, are also explored. Recent advancements in machine learning and deep learning for cardiac health monitoring are highlighted, alongside persistent challenges, particularly concerning signal quality and the need for further validation for widespread adoption in older adults and Hospital at Home settings. Ongoing improvements are necessary to overcome current limitations and fully realize the potential of wearable ECG technology in providing optimal care for high-risk patients.