Perceptions of using smartwatches for the early detection of cardiac arrhythmias

Background: As there is a growing trend toward a healthy lifestyle, wearable fitness trackers, such as smartwatches, are gaining interest in mentoring and detecting health issues earlier, particularly cardiac arrhythmia. Subsequently, there have been concerns about the accuracy of smartwatches and the results they generate. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the public perception of using smartwatches for the early detection of cardiac arrhythmia, along with the current use of smartwatches among adults in five major regions of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to October 2023. The study involved participants who were Saudi or non-Saudi, aged 22 or older, and who were willing to participate and share their perceptions of using smartwatches for the early detection of cardiac arrhythmia. The data were collected and recorded via a questionnaire that measures the current usage and public perceptions of wearable technology. The questionnaire was completed through face-to-face interviews with participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Our study revealed that the use of wearable fitness trackers is remarkably high. Nearly half of the participants (46.4%) reported actively using wearable technologies for health monitoring, with smartwatches being the most popular choice (42.0%). The factors affecting the use of these devices seem to be centered on age, education level, and income. Among 46.4% of users, 14.8% experienced the benefits of detecting irregular heartbeats. However, 49.5% of smartwatch users do not use an electrocardiogram (ECG) for monitoring. Conclusion: There is growing interest in the use of wearable fitness trackers, especially smartwatches, for monitoring health issues such as cardiac arrhythmia. The positive perception of using this technology for the early detection of cardiac arrhythmia was significantly related to age and previous usage of these devices.