Sleep score and ECG not working

[Nat_24]

I had a Charge 4 that’s been tracking my sleep score nightly for eons. On Jan 24, it just stopped tracking it for some reason. I “upgraded” to a Charge 6 a couple of weeks later and no matter what I try, I still am not getting the sleep score (nor the ECG - it tells me I have inconclusive results every time). I’ve deleted the app, reinstalled it. Deleted it from my Bluetooth list and added it back on, paired it again, turned my phone off completely, checked all of the settings, etc. The heart rate setting is working fine (green light appears on the back). I’ve used Fitbits for years and they are so frustrating when they don’t work as they should!  Any suggestions on getting this thing to work properly?  

[SaraLclark]

I don't know but something it up w/ the sleep function for sure.  They told me to do "update" and see that does, but you have already done that.  I'm about to return and get something else.  so disappointing. 

[Rsabey]

I have had the exact same problem. I had a versa 4 for years and years and never had a sleep score issue. The right around the beginning of February it stopped giving a sleep score. Did all the recommended stuff from tech support, they sent me a new versa 4 and still did not give me a sleep score. I bought a new charge 6 last week and not 1 sleep score. I have years of sleep scores and I find it odd it stopped all of a sudden on 2 devices. Very frustrating. Anyone have suggestions? 

[DPinOz]

The inconclusive ECG is a worry. Maybe your watch is trying to tell you something. Try setting up Irregular Rhythm Notification on the You Tab. Also just try taking a manual pulse for 30 seconds with your fingers, see if there are any beats missing. Your pulse should feel regular, is it should beat when you expect it to. 

[DPinOz]

Should also have suggested export the ECG and have someone look at it. Inconclusive ECGs often are low heat rates (below 50bpm), or atypical  patten's. Example of a simple strange ECG pattern is the upside down pattern, due to wearing watch on opposite wrist (there is a setting for that).

[Nat_24]

This is the last Fitbit I'll get.  The same problems appear year after year with no solution.  These devices are too expensive to continually have the same problems and upgrading never fixes them.  

[Nat_24]

My ECG worked for the first time last night and it came back with normal results.  Today I tried it again, and inconclusive.  

[Nat_24]

There's nothing to export because I don't get any readings.

[DPinOz]

Hi again. 

Did you look at the inconclusive ECG?

Your Beats Per Minute BPM are shown at the top of the printout. Less than 50bpm is classified as Bradycardia and "inconclusive"

The period of time between the peaks should be regular and consistent. No quick double beats, and no pauses.

The shape of the wave should be as per a typical PQRST wave. (Google "PQRST") The line in between should be reasonably flat.

Spotting normal is relatively easy. Interpretation of a non-normal ECG is hard. The Charge 5 & 6 both produce good ECGs, provided you sit still and maintain constant pressure. Remember the device is measuring electrical conductivity from the back of the watch touching your left wrist, up your arm across your chest back down your right arm, through finger and thumb returning to the plates on the side of the watch. It is accurate.

To see your pattern look under the "You" tab, Health Assessments section, "ECG", "View history".  Tap the. "Inconclusive" report. Scroll down to the "Export a PDF for your provider". A Notification pop up should then appear click "View". Click "Download PDF". Save the report. You can find the report in your download folder. (If you are not sure where it is... Download Files by Google app from play store. The report pops up in the "Recent" section.) Tap on it to open it.

I have a cardiac arrhythmia. The Fitbit really works well for intermittent arrhythmias because you may not have the issue in the doctors surgery attached to their ECG. Their normal does not invalidate your Fitbit ECG... It just prompts further investigation.

Oh... I never get a sleep score.

[DPinOz]

Oh... And "Inconclusive" means the App can't determine the pattern. The ECG app should still have produced an " Inconclusive" ECG report so someone cleverer than I can interpret it. The watch apps are really good at spotting AF patterns, as this is the most common arrhythmia and is easy to spot on a single lead ECG. Also to report anything other than AF and inconclusive requires lots of medical trials and FDA approval. All watches are about the same for ECG because they can only determine the electrical conductivity in one direction across the heart. 

[DPinOz]

Oh I should have said the app produces "Normal", "Inconclusive", and "Atrial fibrillation (AFib)" reports. Watches are now becoming the most common way to spot heart irregularities. Mainly because a watch's Irregular rhythm monitoring occurs 24 hours per day, and you also have access to a reasonably decent ECG. The sleep app also requires a regular pulse rate to determine the sleep stage. So congrats to you for being the first person I've seen on this forum to use the ECG app to find out why their sleep data was missing. Most never assume it could be themselves and not the watch with the issue.

[FredMom]

Hello. I currently have an older Fitbit model that has Afib detection, which I have just turned on due to suspected frequent episodes overnight. However, I don't have the ECG feature. My question is, if I upgrade to a model that offers the ECG, does the watch automatically take/produce an ECG reading when arrythmia is detected overnight? Or do you have to be awake and initiate ECG reading manually?  Thanks!

[RiekoC]

Hello @FredMom 

This help article explains how Fitbits check for Afib (<-- click link) and explains the difference between Irregular Rhythm Notifications and the ECG app.

If you have more questions about this feature, please let us know.