New smart technology in a wearable wristband may detect cardiac arrest

Research Highlights: A small study of adults in the Netherlands found that a smart technology-based wristband may accurately detect cardiac arrest during routine medical procedures. The research focused on data from 49 adults with abnormal heart rhythms who had a medical procedure in which a life-threatening heart rhythm was briefly induced. This is the first study to validate an algorithm-based wrist device using patient data, which, a study researcher said, is an important step toward developing a reliable detection system for real-world use. Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Tuesday, May 19, 2026 DALLAS, May 19, 2026 — A smart-technology wearable wristband device may be able to automatically detect cardiac arrest , which could lead to faster medical assistance and increased survival odds when cardiac arrest occurs outside of a hospital, according to new research published today in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology , a peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Heart Association. The DETECT‑1b study analyzed data for 49 adults in the Netherlands with abnormal heart rhythms who had a medical procedure in which a life-threatening heart rhythm was briefly induced during a routine procedure to correct the irregular rhythm. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced during treatment. Ventricular fibrillation, considered the most serious abnormal heart rhythm, is extremely dangerous and can lead to sudden cardiac death. The algorithm‑based wearable wristband detected cardiac arrest 92% of the time. “Our findings are important because many out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are unwitnessed. A smart technology wristband capable of automatically detecting cardiac arrest and triggering an alert could function as a digital witness,” said study senior author Judith Bonnes, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. “With the device automatically notifying emergency services or nearby trained responders, help could arrive sooner, which may significantly improve survival chances.” The study examined whether a medically certified smart technology wristband that continuously monitors vital signs can detect when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. The device studied uses a light-based technique (photoplethysmography algorithm) to measure changes in blood flow in the wrist. Study results A total of 59 shockable cardiac arrest events were recorded. Shockable rhythms can be corrected by a shock from an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Cardiac arrest was accurately detected in 92% of cases: specifically, 100% of ventricular fibrillation and 90% of pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Nine events were classified as false positives during 125 hours of recording. In the per-patient analysis, considering only the first event per person, the accuracy for detecting the irregular rhythms was 92%. This wrist-based photoplethysmography algorithm differs from previous approaches to detecting cardiac arrest because it allows continuous and unobtrusive monitoring in daily life, said lead study author Roos Edgar, M.Sc., a technical physician at Radboud University Medical Center. Many commercially available smart watches use similar sensors; however, most are not designed to detect cardiac arrest. “This is the first study to externally validate such an algorithm using patient data, which is an important step toward developing a reliable detection system for real-world use,” she said. In a future application, the algorithm from this study could be used to alert nearby lay rescuers, emergency services, or both, when someone having a cardiac arrest is detected. “The goal is to connect the wristband to emergency dispatch centers and volunteer responder networks in the Netherlands so that nearby rescuers and ambulance services can be alerted immediately when cardiac arrest is detected,” Bonnes said. Even though this is a small study, the results are exciting, said Cameron Dezfulian, M.D., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Science Symposium Program Committee, who was not involved in the study. “What is more impressive than the ability of this technology to detect cardiac arrest is the fairly low frequency of false positives it detected,” said Dezfulian, senior faculty in pediatrics and critical care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “This study parallels findings from a study in Canada and one in the U.S. that shows this technology has great potential. “Pulseless electrical activity remains the most common presenting rhythm in all cardiac arrest. However, it accounts for a small number of the validation data for such wearable sensors,” Dezfulian said. “Further research will be important.” The research was conducted in a controlled clinical setting, which is a limitation. The system’s effectiveness and reliability in real-world conditions still need to be evaluated in future studies, Bonnes said. Study details, background and design: DETECT-1b was conducted at multiple institutions collaborating to collect data on participants, (allowing for enhanced generalizability and statistical power) in 49 adults wearing the smart technology wristband while undergoing ventricular tachycardia ablation or subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation. Participants had a median age of 66 years, and 41 (84%) participants were men. Seven people underwent a procedure for an implantable defibrillator and 43 had ablation , a procedure to destroy a small area of heart tissue that is causing rapid and irregular heartbeats. Researchers assessed more than 125 hours of the algorithm’s data for cardiac arrest alerts. The research is part of the broader DETECT project, a collaboration of several hospitals and a company in the Netherlands conducting studies to develop a smart wristband for the automated detection of cardiac arrest and alerting emergency services. Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here . Additional Resources: Multimedia is available on the right column of release link After May 19, 2026, view the manuscript online. American Heart Association health information: What is Cardiac Arrest? American Heart Association news release: Equitable access to digital technologies may help improve cardiovascular health (April 2025) American Heart Association news release: Study finds people who need wearable health devices the most use them the least (Oct. 2022) American Heart Association news release: Novel algorithm on wearable devices can detect irregular heartbeat, may prompt early care (Nov. 2021) Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews Follow news from the AHA’s Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology journal @CirculationEP About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. 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