Most Americans use devices to monitor their heart—just 1 in 4 share the data with doctors
A majority of Americans use a device to monitor their heart health, according to a new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. However, just 25% of those users take that extra step and share their data with a cardiologist or primary care provider.
The survey included answers from more than 1,000 U.S. adults. The most popular devices uses to monitor heart health included smartwatches (32%), portable blood pressure machines (31%), fitness apps (19%) and wearable fitness/movement trackers (13%).
“These self-monitoring devices are really helpful to patients and their healthcare providers because they can potentially catch things early,” Laxmi Mehta, MD, director of preventative cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Sarah Ross Soter Endowed Chair for Women’s Cardiovascular Health Research, said in a prepared statement. “For example, if patients are monitoring their blood pressure at home and notice it’s been going up over time, they may want to discuss it with their doctor sooner rather than waiting for their annual visit. Or they may capture some irregular heart rhythms on their devices, like atrial fibrillation, much sooner than would be diagnosed at the doctor’s office.”
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center followed Mehta as she spoke to one of her patients about tracking her own health with a smartwatch.
The patient, 78, praised the widespread use of smartwatches, highlighting how active they allow a person to be about their own well-being.
“Having a smartwatch is very empowering because I’m not being passive with my healthcare,” she said. “I have some heart issues that need monitored, and it’s important for me to talk to my cardiologist or primary care doctor about any health issues that show up on my watch.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.