Could wearables help AFib patients take fewer blood-thinning medications and reduce their risk of stroke? The team behind a new seven-year analysis hopes to find out. 

Interview with Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, executive medical director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest Health, on the need to speed access to electrophysiologists when a patient presents with atrial fibrillation.

The FDA granted the first pediatric indication for an implantable cardiac monitor. The Linq II can be used in pediatric patients over the age of 2 for up to 4.5 years of long-term, continuous monitoring. 

Though removal of the affected CIED is typically the smartest treatment option—and one supported by specialty groups all over the world—a majority of patients keep living with the device, often resulting in hospitalization or even death.

The recall is related to short circuit protection (SCP) alerts that were causing the devices to send reduced-energy electric shocks. There have been 27 customer complaints about the issue so far.

While current guidelines endorse screening for people aged 65 and above, a massive simulation published in JAMA Health Forum suggests that cost-effectiveness may extend to even younger age groups.

The newly cleared device works like a traditional scale, but it captures more data than just the user's weight. 

The study's authors noted that the ECG acquisition technology in these wearable devices appears to be quite effective. The automated algorithms, however, could still be improved.