Utilizing Smartwatch-based Heart Rate Variability to Estimate Cardiac Risk in Hospitalized Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Consumer smartwatches are increasingly utilized for monitoring heart rate variability. Nevertheless, their effectiveness in treating hospitalized Type 2 Diabetes patients remains unproven. This study aimed to assess the cardiac risk in these patients by analyzing these heartbeat rhythm characteristics. A cohort of 50 hospitalized patients diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, consisting of 30 males and 20 females, was subjected to continuous 24-hour monitoring utilizing S7 smartwatches. Concurrently, these patients were equipped with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices. The risk parameters identified from the S7 smartwatches were utilized to stratify patient risk levels. Subsequently, the study compared these parameters with the outcomes of cardiac examinations and the patients' histories of cardiovascular disease. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis identified mean_nni, sdnn, mean_hr, SD2, and the SD2/SD1 ratio as significant variables for stratifying coronary artery disease patients (P<0.05). The further results demonstrated that individuals exhibiting an abnormal SD1/SD2 ratio (Odds Ratio: 20.0, 95% C.I.: 2.0-196) face a significantly elevated risk of developing cardiac disease. Consequently, this study highlights the significant potential of smartwatches for cardiac risk screening in hospitalized Type 2 Diabetes patients.