New study by Johnson & Johnson, in partnership with Apple, wants to find out if Watch can reduce stroke risk

In partnership with Apple, a Johnson & Johnson (more precisely Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson group of pharmaceutical companies) opened registrations for the Heartline Study.

The idea is to find out if an iPhone app and the Apple Watch health features can reduce the risk of stroke (Stroke, also known as stroke) when early detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib).


Heartline Study app icon

AFib, a relatively common form of irregular heart rhythm, is a major cause of stroke in the United States.

See the declaration of Michael Gibson, co-chairman of the Heartline Executive Committee, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and CEO of the Baim Institute:

Heartline is a study that has the potential to fundamentally change our understanding of how digital health tools such as the ECG app and the Apple Watch irregular rhythm notification feature can lead to earlier detection of AFib, helping patients to understand and engage directly with heart health, stimulating potentially vital conversations with your doctors and improving health outcomes.

Although AFib is a major cause of stroke, people generally do not have symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. More than 33 million people worldwide and up to 6 million Americans live with AFib. The problem is that up to 30% of them have no idea of ​​this until a serious cardiovascular accident, such as a stroke, happens. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AFib results in 158,000 deaths and 454,000 hospitalizations each year.

Paul Burton, vice president of medical affairs and internal medicine at Janssen Scientific Affairs, one of J&J’s pharmaceutical companies, stated:

As we seek to tackle some of the biggest challenges in the health field, we need to bring the best minds and capabilities to our side. Through this important collaboration with Apple, we are pioneering new models that, we hope, can break some of the most common barriers to participation in clinical studies. Our job is to develop and provide solutions to those affected by AFib in the areas of detection, treatment and care, through new approaches, so that we can potentially improve their lives today and in the future.

The differential of the study is that it allows people to participate remotely, directly from the iPhone and, in some cases, from the Apple Watch, instead of traveling to a specific location in order to carry out clinical tests. in loco. This approach to conducting a clinical trial, if successful, can save a lot of time and cost.

The study is focused on people aged 65 and over who reside in the USA, have an iPhone 6s or higher, Medicare (health insurance system managed by the US government) and give access to this health data; interested parties can register on this page.