Afib and Fitbit users

[BeeBee79]

Hi all,

I have a Fitbit Versa 2 and have noticed during my AF journey that it only picks up AF if it’s very severe.

Does any other Fitbit users experience this?

Thanks 😊

[DevonHubby1]

We have charge 5s. Wife is in persistent AF and ECG on fitbit confirms itcevery time.

[GardenLover2]

My Fitbit takes several hours after I am aware I am in AF and my Kardia monitor has confirmed I am, before it reports it. My Fitbit is an Apple Inspire 2.

[Ducky2003 in reply to GardenLover2]

Apple and Fitbit are two different watches.

[GardenLover2 in reply to Ducky2003]

whoops, mine is definitely a Fitbit

[Ducky2003 in reply to GardenLover2]

Mine too. Apple is a bit out of my price range. One of my friends has just paid about £800 for one. I'd expect it to make the dinner and cardiovert me for that 🤣.

[Wales99 in reply to Ducky2003]

😂😂. That really made me laugh! Thank you for cheering up my day. 😊

[Ducky2003 in reply to Wales99]

😁

[Buzby62 in reply to Ducky2003]

Same technologies with same restrictions in both I believe, green light optical sensor for background checks or electrodes for more accurate ECG readings.

[Buzby62]

I believe it’s because the optical sensors in wearables (green light technology) is less accurate than an electrical sensor used for ECG. An internet search of “wearables green light technology” will throw up more information.

My Apple Watch 6 has both optical for background checks and electrical for ECG which is far more accurate but needs to form a circuit using a finger from your other hand.

Apple explain on this link but you will find more by searching as above

support.apple.com/en-us/HT2...

Hope this is helpful

[BeeBee79 in reply to Buzby62]

Very - thank you

[Buzby62 in reply to BeeBee79]

This link to my reply to a post a week or so ago may be of interest to you

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[BeeBee79 in reply to Buzby62]

Just had a quick read but yes it seems it’s only picking up my sleeping AF too

[Ducky2003]

I have a Fitbit Versa 2 and fortunately, have not been in AF (I wouldnt need the watch to tell me) since they added the AF detection functionality. The ones with the ECG function are supposed to be better but they'll all just be a rough guide. Mine has me at peak cardio when peeling spuds and whisking because I use that hand, even though my actual pulse is fine. It's also measured me at a heart rate of over 100 when I wasn't even wearing the watch.😁.

[Letofeyd]

Yes. I always know when I am having an AF episode, but my Fitbit doesn't record the whole episode. My experience is as others have said - it does record the episode, but it often misses a chunk at the start or end. Kardia monitor confirms it.

Fitbit is not intended as a diagnostic tool, so I use the data from it as a record of frequency rather than accurate duration of episodes.