Accuracy of the Apple Watch iECG in Children With and Without Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

The development of smart technologies paves the way for new diagnostic modalities. The Apple Watch provides an FDA approved iECG function for users from 22 years of age. Yet, there are currently no data on the accuracy of the Apple Watch iECG in children. While arrhythmias are a frequent phenomenon in children, especially those with congenital heart disease, the increasing spread of smart watches provides the possibility to use a smart watch as mobile event recorder in case of suspected arrhythmia. This may help to provide valuable information to the treating physician, without having the patient to come to the hospital. Necessary treatment adjustments might be provided without timely delay. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the agreement of measured values of rate, interval, and amplitude with those obtained by a diagnostic quality ECG recording to an Apple Watch iECG in children with and without congenital heart disease. In this prospective, single-arm study, consecutive patients aged 0–16 years presenting to the Heart Center Leipzig, Department for pediatric cardiology were included. After obtaining informed consent from participants’ parents, a 12-lead ECG and an iECG using an Apple Watch were performed. Cardiac rhythm was classified, amplitudes and timing intervals were measured and analyzed in iECG and 12-lead ECG for comparability. These measurements were performed blinded to the patients’ history by two experienced pediatric cardiologists. Patient demographic data, medical and cardiac history were assessed. 215 children between 0 and 16 years were enrolled. Comparison of amplitudes and timing intervals between ECG and iECG showed excellent correlation (K > 0.7, p < 0.01) in all parameters except for the p-waves. Automatic rhythm classification was inferior to manual interpretation of ECG / iECG, while iECG interpretation was reliable in 94.86% of cases. The study demonstrates equal quality of the Apple Watch derived iECG compared to a lead I in 12-lead ECG in children of all age groups and independent from cardiac anatomy.