Nine Fitbit fitness trackers and smartwatches will now warn of atrial fibrillation after new update

Fitbit has begun rolling out a new feature for many of its recent fitness trackers and smartwatches. According to 9to5Google, the update adds the ability to be notified if you enter atrial fibrillation. In other words, recent Fitbit wearables can now warn you if your heart begins beating irregularly.

Currently, Fitbit is rolling out the feature to nine devices, which are as follows:

• Fitbit Charge 3
• Fitbit Charge 4
• Fitbit Charge 5
• Fitbit Inspire 2
• Fitbit Luxe
• Fitbit Sense
• Fitbit Versa 2
• Fitbit Versa 3
• Fitbit Versa Lite

9to5Google adds that Fitbit was able to enable the feature on these devices following US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. As such, Fitbit has restricted the rollout to devices sold in the US, presumably until it receives corresponding approval from other bodies.

The website adds that Fitbit has built its Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications around its photoplethysmography (PPG) algorithm. Supposedly, the company's algorithm is 98% effective at detecting abnormalities, although it has not provided any evidence to verify this claim. 9to5Google notes that Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications could take a few weeks to reach all eligible Fitbit devices, for reference.

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