In 2019, Chris Monk, from Berkshire, discovered he had atrial fibrillation during a routine run when his sports watch showed that his heart rate was not slowing down. This led to his hospital admission where the condition was confirmed. Chris’s wife, Nicola, who works in the NHS, acknowledged the value of the smartwatch in diagnosing her husband’s condition and emphasized its importance in healthcare.
Nicola joined a group to assist scientists in studying how similar gadgets can contribute to people’s health. Chris Monk, aged 38 and from Maidenhead, emphasized the importance of having a heart rate monitor during his run as it allowed him to provide precise data to the cardiologist. His experience has motivated him to advocate for the integration of technology into healthcare outcomes for more individuals.
The British Heart Foundation’s Data Science Centre is conducting important research on how sports watches can be utilized to monitor health. Dr. Jackie MacArthur, a senior scientific program manager at the BHF’s Data Science Centre, highlighted the potential benefits of securely linking device data with a person’s NHS records with their consent. This integration could lead to new discoveries in cardiovascular research, enhancing disease prediction, diagnosis and treatment.
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