For me, smartwatches are now among the most exciting gadgets. Not because they look beautiful, the steps count exactly or control smart home devices.
Various manufacturers and researchers ensure a promising development, especially in the health sector, which in the future will receive personal quality of life or potentially improve. keywordor.
The company Withings has set up in the health sector and offers various devices, including smartwatches such as Scanwatch 2. In the paid premium subscription, a new feature has been added, which is currently one of the most exciting functions for me.
With the cardio check-up I send my health data to a cardiologist who evaluates you within 24 hours.
Note for transparency: Withings provided me with the Scanwatch 2 including premium subscription for this test free of charge. There was no obligation for a test report. The manufacturer was not informed before the article was published and did not get any access to the content.
Quick navigation:
- How exactly does Cardio check-up work and what role does the EKG play?
- These are the results
- Promising function for the future
- There are already positive developments
- Smartwatches: The balance is crucial
How exactly does Cardio check-up work and what role does the EKG play?
The Withings Scanwatch 2 is a smartwatch that mainly focuses on recording health data. You can find extensive details about the watch in the following two articles:
Among other things, the smartwatch offers the option of performing an EKG on the wrist. To do this, two fingers are placed on the clock and the device measures the electrical activity of the heart. A manual ECG measurement makes sense, especially when the scanacht automatically detects signs of atrial fibrillation in the background (during the day or during sleep).
If the suspicion of an abnormal heart rate by an EKG is temporarily confirmed, the measurement via Cardio check-up can be sent to a cardiologist in Germany in just a few steps, which works with Withings and evaluates the data.
Interesting facts about the article
What is atrial fibrillation?
Attach fibrillation (AFIB) is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmias, in which the heart beats irregularly and often too quickly. An important aspect of atrial fibrillation is the increased risk of stroke due to the possible formation of blood clots in the so -called atria. Therefore, early detection and treatment is of great importance (University Hospital Zurich).
How exactly is an EKG for a smartwatch?
The EKG function and the detection of atrial fibrillation are clinically validated at Withings. The accuracy and reliability of the corresponding device or the method have been checked and confirmed in controlled clinical studies.
- In theStudythe results were compared (according to Withings) with a recognized reference method, the 12-channel ECG.
- The results show a sensitivity of 0.98 and a specificity of 0.93. 98 out of 100 atrial fibrous cases are correctly recognized. The lower limit here is 90, i.e. in the worst case, at least 90 percent of the cases are correctly recognized.
- With a specificity of 0.93, 93 out of 100 healthy people receive a correct negative result. Conversely, 7 percent are incorrectly classified as sick. According to the study, the lower limit is 0.84. In the worst case, this means that 84 percent of the results are correct.
- A fifth of the data records collected was classified by the algorithm as "not conclusive". The causes of this are poor signal quality or arrhythmias of a different kind.
Due to this tested reliability, Scanwatch 2 received both CE certification in Europe and theFDA-Charging in the United States. Unfortunately, there is no publicly accessible study with exact number of participants.
However, the number of participants is decisive for FDA approval. Other factors such as the quality of the study, the results and data analysis are also important.
In addition to Withings, there are other smartwatches that have integrated an EKG function including atrial fibrous detection. The best example is the Apple Watch, which was also clinically validated.
In oneStudyWith 424,371 people, the Apple smartwatch showed a very high accuracy in recognizing atrial fibrillation.
What is a 1-channel ECG?
A 1-channel ECG in smartwatches is a simplified form of electrocardiogram measurement. The top and underside of the device serve as electrodes. While the underside has contact with the arm, the top must be touched with one or two fingers of the other arm to activate the derivation (viaCardiac foundation). The measurement usually takes about 30 seconds.
It is less comprehensive than a 12-channel ECG used in medical practices (gold standard). In addition, with a 1-channel ECG, circulatory disorders of the heart such as heart attack orCoronary heart diseaseare not recognized.
In addition to suspected atrial fibrillation, indications of bradycardia (slow heartbeat), tachycardia (fast heartbeat) and other cardiac arrhythmias are also possible.
How long does the evaluation take?According to Withings, a cardiologist from Germany can be analyzed within 24 hours. A total of four checks are possible per year.
Important NOTE: As the manufacturer reports himself, a doctor should be consulted with specific symptoms or suspicions. Even if the data of a smartwatch is relatively accurate, do not replace the "right" visit to the doctor or modern instruments. If such functions or smartwatches only consider it another way to potentially recognize such diseases at an early stage.
In addition, the smartwatch cannot recognize a heart attack.
These are the results
For the test, I carried out several EKGs with the smartwatch. A "normal sinus rhythm" was displayed on all EKGs, so I simply selected the last measurement.
After almost an hour I received the notificationthat a cardiologist took a closer look at my data and that the evaluation is available in the app.
- The doctor's examination also showed a normal sinus rhythm. In addition, there is a short note from the doctor in the app.
- Further below I find out what the evaluation means exactly and how the data is to be understood. In my case: "My heart pumps the blood efficiently through the body". This means that the heart works in a natural rhythm and there are no striking cardiac arrhythmias.
- If I continue to scroll, I get the cardiologist's analysis with information on rhythm, average heart rate, heart rate variability and key intervals.
- Optionally, I can export the measurement as a PDF file to hand it over to the doctor.
This is what the final check-up looks like in the app.
Overall, the process was very understandable, with many explanations and transparency regarding the transmission of my data to be transmitted. Before sending the information about the check-up, I agree that the data can be viewed for the respective service provider.
- Finally, I store my email address and optionally a telephone number under which the doctor can reach me in case of doubt.
- Name, weight, size and ECG data are processed. In Germany and France, the data is processed by DPV Analytics in Hamburg.
- There is also evaluation by a cardiologist.
Optionally, you can allow to send the data to other clinical partners. However, this is not mandatory.
A promising function for the future
Everyone has to decide for themselves whether the paid subscription of proud 10 euros per month (or around 100 euros per year) is worthwhile for this function alone. Of course, the manufacturer offers some other advantages.
What does Withings+include?
The subscription is included ...
- Cardio check-up: Evaluation of heart health by certified cardiologists within 24 hours. Possible detection of atrial fibrillation andfurther arrhythmias.
- Health improvement score: an evaluation that summarizes all collected health metrics.
- More detailed insight into health metrics
- Access to a library with recipes, articles and workouts
- 6-week courses on topics such as activity, nutrition, sleep and stress management
- Daily plans with recipes and training suggestions
- In 2025, a "AI companion" is to be integrated into the app to support.
For whom is it potentially worthwhile with?
The premium subscription offers many content related to nutrition, fitness and your own health. If you fancy well -explained texts on these topics and want to use delicious recipes (apart from the well -known apps such as Chefkoch) (tested yourself), the monthly price can be worth it.
The health pass and the health and other indicators such as the fitness level can motivate them to sport and a better lifestyle. Activities flow into the results, unfortunately the Scanwatch 2 is only partially suitable for sport, since the phone must always be used for detailed data processing (for example when jogging).
In my opinion, the greatest strength of Withings+ is in conjunction with the other products of the okösystem, which is also the greatest weakness. As with all other Okösystems, you are bound to a manufacturer.
Tip: The connection from the Withings app to Apple Health or Health Connect from Google is also possible.
In my eyes, the Cardio Check-Up has a great advantage that I wish for the future in many other areas:
To get a first check from a "real" doctor relatively quickly.
Anyone who is not privately insured and has ever tried to get an appointment with a specialist knows how long you have to wait for the first appointment. I'm talking about many months.
In addition, such a function, which indicates abnormalities, could motivate people to make an appointment for a comprehensive examination. This applies in particular to diseases such as atrial fibrillation, in which early detection is extremely important (viaCardiac foundation).
From my own surrounding area, I know (unfortunately) too well how people like to press before preventive examinations and regret this afterwards.
Do not misunderstand: Such a feature should not be advertised as a panacea and I will not tire of emphasizing that it cannot replace the visit to the doctor (in practice). But if we potentially increase the chance of recognizing serious illnesses early with small aids on the wrist, nobody will certainly have anything against it.
We are probably still at the beginning. But with already shows how a first check can be done quickly, understandable and uncomplicated. Such attempts could pay off one day, especially for people with restricted mobility.
There are already positive developments
Withings did not completely reinvent the bike, that is part of the truth. At my dermatologist around the corner there is already an online function with which the doctor can carry out a first check by remote diagnosis:
- I take several photos of the abnormalities on my skin and upload them over an online portal. I also describe the symptoms. The doctor (whom I can even choose) looks at the pictures and tells me his first assessment within 48 hours.
- The initial assessment contains a specialist diagnosis and a concrete recommendation.
- The catch: The health insurance company has to play along and pay the remote diagnosis. Otherwise, around 40 euros will be due.
In this case too applies: This does not make the visit in practice superfluous, but can calm conscience if unclear. In addition, according to Google ratings, people got an appointment faster with this function because the urgency was given.
