Dallas, August 29, 2022

— Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that affects an estimated 2.5 to 5 million people in the United States, leading to stroke, heart failure and premature death, according to the American Heart Association. may lead to The current standard of care for AFib is continuous direct oral anticoagulation, with associated risks.

Through the recently awarded Rhythm Evaluation for AntiCoagulaTion (REACT-AF) trial, the American Heart Association is collaborating with Northwestern Medicine to determine whether new strategies using the Apple Watch are more effective in treating AFib. I’m here. The REACT-AF trial is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Apple supports research through donations of Apple Watch devices and provides guidance on developing research applications. Rod S. Passman, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Arrhythmia Research, Jules J. Reingold, Professor of Electrophysiology, and Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Preventive Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, will serve as principal investigators for this study. . Other researchers come from Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and the University of California, San Francisco.

The REACT-AF trial will compare the current standard of care for people with a history of AFib with a precision-targeted approach of short-term, time-limited anticoagulation therapy. Treatment is guided by innovative, scientifically-validated heart health features on Apple Watch and companion apps on iPhone. The purpose of this trial is to determine whether this new strategy is as effective as the current standard of care in preventing stroke, blood clots and death while reducing the risk of major bleeding associated with the current standard of care. is to

said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “In collaboration with Northwestern University, we are leveraging cutting-edge science and wearable technology to successfully identify atrial fibrillation in a variety of clinical and community settings and to develop the current standard of care for people managing this condition. We aim to improve the

According to Dr. Passman, principal investigator and director of the Arrhythmia Research Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, “REACT-AF is a major step forward, representing a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of this common rhythm disorder. in the field of digital health and personalized medicine.”

Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, said: “Heart health has always been a central focus for the Apple Watch, and we are excited to explore new opportunities for the Apple Watch’s powerful sensors to help patients better manage their AFib treatment through the REACT-AF study. I have.”