The trend: Two new studies show Apple Watches can improve detection and screening of a common irregular heart condition, atrial fibrillation (AFib).

• Patients diagnosed with AFib who wore Apple Watches were notified more often of AFIb recurrences, but were less likely to have unplanned hospitalizations, per a UK study published recently.
• A second study of high-risk stroke patients detected AFib in 9.6% of patients who wore Apple Watches at least 12 hours per day compared with 2.3% of patients who did not wear the watches, per a study in The Netherlands published recently.
• Apple added AFib detection in 2018. Google’s Fitbit and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch followed in 2020.

Why it matters: Apple and other smart wearable makers are adding more health monitoring features, but healthcare professionals have been skeptical about their clinical value.

• Apple added high blood pressure tracking to Apple Watch in September, after it renewed the watch’s oxygen monitoring feature in August 2025.
• Samsung added sleep, stress, and activity features in July 2025.
• Google added AI coaching to its Fitbit in October based on users’ sleep, oxygen, and heart rate data.
• However, the American College of Cardiology issued guidance in May 2025 around Apple Watch heart health monitoring, noting the device can be useful but should supplement, not replace, medical care and diagnostics.

Key stat: Health and wellness features are the key drivers of consumer adoption of wearables, according to EMARKETER’s US Wearables Forecast 2025 report.