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Study Suggests AliveCor KardiaBand for Apple Watch Can Be Used With AI Algorithm to Detect High Potassium
AliveCor, the company that makes an FDA-approved EKG band for the Apple Watch called KardiaBand, teamed up with the Mayo Clinic for a new study that suggests an AliveCor EKG device paired with artificial intelligence technology can non-invasively detect high levels of potassium in the blood.
A second study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic also confirms the KardiaBand's ability to accurately detect atrial fibrillation.
AliveCor's KardiaBand
For the potassium study, AliveCor used more than 2 million EKGs from the Mayo Clinic from 1994 to 2017 paired with four million serum potassium values and data from an AliveCor smartphone EKG device to create an algorithm that can successfully detect hyperkalemia, aka high potassium, with a sensitivity range between 91 and 94 percent.
High potassium in the blood is a sign of several concerning health conditions, like congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, and it can also be detected due to the medications used to treat these conditions. According to AliveCor, hyperkalemia is associated with "significant mortality and arrhythmic risk," but because it's typically asymptomatic, it often goes undetected.
Currently, the only way to test for high potassium levels is through a blood test, which AliveCor is aiming to change with the new non-invasive monitoring functionality.
AliveCor says that the AI technology used in the study could be commercialized through the KardiaBand for Apple Watch to allow patients to better monitor their health. Vic Gundotra, AliveCor CEO, said that the company is "on the path to change the way hyperkalemia can be detected" using products like the Apple Watch.
For the Cleveland Clinic study, cardiologists aimed to determine whether KardiaBand for Apple Watch could differentiate between atrial fibrillation and a normal heart rhythm. The researchers discovered that the KardiaBand was able to successfully detect Afib at an accuracy level comparable to physicians interpreting the same EKGs. The Kardia algorithm was able to correctly interpret atrial fibrillation with 93 percent sensitivity and 94 percent specificity. Sensitivity increased to 99 percent with a physician review of the KardiaBand recordings.
KardiaBand, which has been available since late last year, is available for purchase from AliveCor or from Amazon.com for $199. Using the KardiaBand also requires a subscription to the AliveCor premium service, priced at $99 per year.
AliveCor premium paired with the KardiaBand offers SmartRhythm notifications, unlimited EKG readings, detection of atrial fibrillation or normal sinus rhythm, and unlimited cloud history and reporting of all EKGs.
A second study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic also confirms the KardiaBand's ability to accurately detect atrial fibrillation.
For the potassium study, AliveCor used more than 2 million EKGs from the Mayo Clinic from 1994 to 2017 paired with four million serum potassium values and data from an AliveCor smartphone EKG device to create an algorithm that can successfully detect hyperkalemia, aka high potassium, with a sensitivity range between 91 and 94 percent.
High potassium in the blood is a sign of several concerning health conditions, like congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, and it can also be detected due to the medications used to treat these conditions. According to AliveCor, hyperkalemia is associated with "significant mortality and arrhythmic risk," but because it's typically asymptomatic, it often goes undetected.
Currently, the only way to test for high potassium levels is through a blood test, which AliveCor is aiming to change with the new non-invasive monitoring functionality.
AliveCor says that the AI technology used in the study could be commercialized through the KardiaBand for Apple Watch to allow patients to better monitor their health. Vic Gundotra, AliveCor CEO, said that the company is "on the path to change the way hyperkalemia can be detected" using products like the Apple Watch.
For the Cleveland Clinic study, cardiologists aimed to determine whether KardiaBand for Apple Watch could differentiate between atrial fibrillation and a normal heart rhythm. The researchers discovered that the KardiaBand was able to successfully detect Afib at an accuracy level comparable to physicians interpreting the same EKGs. The Kardia algorithm was able to correctly interpret atrial fibrillation with 93 percent sensitivity and 94 percent specificity. Sensitivity increased to 99 percent with a physician review of the KardiaBand recordings.
KardiaBand, which has been available since late last year, is available for purchase from AliveCor or from Amazon.com for $199. Using the KardiaBand also requires a subscription to the AliveCor premium service, priced at $99 per year.
AliveCor premium paired with the KardiaBand offers SmartRhythm notifications, unlimited EKG readings, detection of atrial fibrillation or normal sinus rhythm, and unlimited cloud history and reporting of all EKGs.
Tag: AliveCor
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Top Rated Comments
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19 months ago
Hey Siri, i think I'm having a heart attack... help!
...
"I found a number of restaurants that serve kelp..."
...
"I found a number of restaurants that serve kelp..."
19 months ago
You have to subscribe to use the hardware?? Screw that!
I just came off an A-fib incident. I spent 5 days in the hospital and the total hospital bill was $41,000. Thankfully, with Medicare, my portion was only $1200. Let's see...that would pay for 12 years of monitoring and possibly avoid a hospital stay, which is not a pleasant experience. You are poked and prodded every 4 - 6 hours, are served terrible food and are subject to care that can be interpreted in many different ways, not always good. A-fib has a high stroke risk.
A-fib, in many cases can be controlled, depending on the severity, with proper medication. I was fortunate enough to have a good cardiologist and was able to convert back to normal sinus rhythm with my meds. With advance knowledge, I would have been able to increase my meds earlier and would have avoided the whole 'health care' situation.
Those that have or can suffer from A-fib alone in the US, number over 2 Million. To many of us, this would be a small cost and to me, is a good return on investment.
19 months ago
You have to subscribe to use the hardware?? Screw that!
Compared to one's health with issues like this, the yearly fee is pale in comparison.
19 months ago
This is promising news. Seeing articles like this makes me glad that I purchased the Apple Watch, even if it can't currently do all that we would like right now.
19 months ago
+1 for making me google the differences between an ECG and EKG.
They are the same thing.This is very, very clever. The watch doesn't actually measure serum potassium (K+). The company suggests there is a correlation between high serum potassium and atrial fibrillation. The company's software "simply" monitors for changes in an EKG which correlate (91 to 94% of the time) with high serum potassium. This is very, very clever.
It gets confusing but the serum potassium alogoritm is completely different from the atrial fibrillatin alogoritm. Both are based on the morphology (shape) of the ECG but they look at different aspects of the ECG.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5652040/
19 months ago
How can a band register a reading within your body? Does the band have sensors like the back of the watch? What happens when you sweat or the band gets wet, does it give off a false reading?
This is very, very clever. The watch doesn't actually measure serum potassium (K+). The company suggests there is a correlation between high serum potassium and atrial fibrillation. The company's software "simply" monitors for changes in an EKG which correlate (91 to 94% of the time) with high serum potassium. This is very, very clever.
19 months ago
We're at the precipice of many great and wonderful things from the :apple: Watch.
19 months ago
Yes. I know that now after doing the Google search. [emoji849]
Saving others from the same search
19 months ago
I can't understand why all those without medical issues are so quick to criticize the need for for a subscription. This thread should only be of interest to those with the need for the monitoring, all others should stick to expressing their opinions about all other things Apple.
I bought a KardioBand based on my older brother's A-Fib condition, thinking that it might run in the family. He uses the mobile device by AliveCor and heart rate apps. They have been very helpful in monitoring his irregular heart beats.
I had several problems with the band version. First, it was difficult for me to get reading on a consistent basis. The band use sensors on the front and back of the device that snaps into their band. It uses an audible signal to communicate with the watch. I don't know if it was due to the arthritis in my hands or just poor contact. Second, the app controls the watch and takes readings every 10 seconds or so which wears the battery down so that watch doesn't last a full day. Third, I didn't like the clasp on the band, harder to put on than Apple's with my hands. I talked to my cardiologist and showed him my Cardiogram results and he didn't think the EKG was necessary. I am going in for a stress test in a couple of months just in case. I am sure AliveCor will keep refining their great products.
AliveCor was very understanding and refunding my money without question. Product is well made and very novel. They have put a lot of effort into their devices and app. Any one with a heart condition knows this is serious stuff, and I applaud them for their efforts. I think this the future for Apple and third party companies to develop more and more life saving products. I suggest leaving the snarky comments to the HomePod or iPhone vs Samsung.
I bought a KardioBand based on my older brother's A-Fib condition, thinking that it might run in the family. He uses the mobile device by AliveCor and heart rate apps. They have been very helpful in monitoring his irregular heart beats.
I had several problems with the band version. First, it was difficult for me to get reading on a consistent basis. The band use sensors on the front and back of the device that snaps into their band. It uses an audible signal to communicate with the watch. I don't know if it was due to the arthritis in my hands or just poor contact. Second, the app controls the watch and takes readings every 10 seconds or so which wears the battery down so that watch doesn't last a full day. Third, I didn't like the clasp on the band, harder to put on than Apple's with my hands. I talked to my cardiologist and showed him my Cardiogram results and he didn't think the EKG was necessary. I am going in for a stress test in a couple of months just in case. I am sure AliveCor will keep refining their great products.
AliveCor was very understanding and refunding my money without question. Product is well made and very novel. They have put a lot of effort into their devices and app. Any one with a heart condition knows this is serious stuff, and I applaud them for their efforts. I think this the future for Apple and third party companies to develop more and more life saving products. I suggest leaving the snarky comments to the HomePod or iPhone vs Samsung.
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