Sense ECG App doesn't catch PVC's

[HollieAyne]

So I have been dealing with PVC's {Premature ventricular contractions} for over a year. My heart beats 2-3 times normally and then pauses and will have one hard beat. Or it often flutters. When I try the ECG scan it doesn't catch anything. I know afif and pvc's aren't the same but I'm shocked that the Sense doesn't pick up the pvc's at all. It's absolutely not normal sinus rhythm. This is why I bought the Sense...to help track these. I'm wondering if the ecg just doesn't work at all or pvc's simply aren't detectable. I found this on google and feel that the Sense should be able to catch these: "PVCs may be diagnosed during an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a routine heart test, or through a portable ECG such as a Holter monitor, a portable device worn for a period of time to capture abnormal heart rhythms."

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[sockatume]

The Fitbit (and all smartwatches) have two big limitations compared to a real ECG: they're one-lead ECGs, rather than multi-lead, and the resulting data is being interpreted by a small low-power computer, instead of by a trained medical professional. It's conceivable that these smart watch ECGs will be able to detect other cardiac events in the future, but to be honest it's a bit of a technological miracle they can detect anything more complicated than the heart beat.

[Rich_Laue]

Correct, and why it is not reccomended to rely on the watch, unless the user already has a problem that the watch can detect. 

That said, there have already been times where a Fitbit or apple has been monumental is saving lives. 

In one case a hospital was able to use the patients Fitbit to save having to do a 20 minute test. 

[N8teGee]

Also to add, it simply isn't looking for this condition and was never advertised to do so. The hardware is powered by software (namely an algorithm) which is written to look for Afib and nothing else. It's not to say the hardware isn't capable of detecting this condition (I don't know much about it), but it would need software to support it. 

[FloppyDrive]

Even the 6 lead KardiaMobile 6L ECG device will not automatically detect PVC. You would need a doctor to interpret the output.

[Klmry]

Do you mean that the app is saying sinus rhythm when you don’t think it should or are the PVCs not visible on the downloaded ECG?

[BillFromTheBloc]

Did you ever figure out the cause Hollie? Cause of your pvc I mean. I'm dealing with this now too. Came out of nowhere

[MaryMoody1976]

Hey. I can’t give you advice in regards to the Fitbit detecting your PVC’s, but I can tell you that I’ve been living with them for about 25 years now. In the beginning, they scared me. There’s a strong family history of heart disease, along with a myriad of other heart related issues, so I was so freaked out, I didn’t sleep for almost 6 days which only made it worse. I also suffer from tachycardia. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder and medically sedated, after which I prescribed meds. It didn’t make them go away, but it did ease the occurrences. Like you, the ECG didn’t pick them up because they don’t happen on a friggin schedule. They just happen when they happen, so it was difficult to capture them. It took wearing a halter monitor for a month to catch them. I had every test known to look at my heart, including a 3D computer built model built for doctors to examine it. They couldn’t find anything at the time. When they happen, if they bother you, just breathe or do something that helps take your mind off of them. I’ve learned to live with them. In fact, many people experience PVC’s. It’s actually a very common occurrence. However, you should still have a cardiologist run some tests just to make sure. Sometimes, they are a sign of something going on, and the PVC’s are actually a good thing because they get people to the doctor where they can be diagnosed and then treated before something more serious occurs. Believe me, that’s the peace of mind that I needed in order to live my life as normally as possible. You may need to wear a halter monitor for a month, or longer in some cases. Your heart isn’t skipping a beat. It only feels like it. What’s actually happening, that fluttering you feel, is an extra heartbeat. Just make sure you see a cardiologist to rule out anything major or serious. In all likelihood, it’s nothing to worry about. 

[BillFromTheBloc]

Thanks for this reply Mary!

I did end up going to a cardiologist as my palpitations went from being my normal state (feeling it < 1 / day) to feeling it all day long. At ER they did say my beat was irregular. They put me in a halter monitor. Doc said only 2% of beats were PVC, so don't worry about it. By time the halter came off I wasn't feeling them at all anymore. Halter monitor, unfortunately, wasn't able to tell her if the PVCs were tapering off over time (that's my own personal observation).

But, after 4 days, they were gone almost as quick as they came. Maybe some myocarditis? Maybe I got covid and didn't know it (I'm vaccinated)? Very strange episode. 

[SunsetRunner]

@HollieAyne , you have plenty of great replies above. Having occasional PVC, tachycardias and Afibs myself, I just add the following:

• The ECG app produces two different things: 1) a one lead wrist ECG graph, with all its limitations when compared to a 12 lead clinical ECG, but even so usually enough to detect some major heart events, like Afibs, PVC and others; 2) a very simple automatic interpretation aimed only at Afib auto detection.
• Afib auto detection sometimes misses some not so clear Afibs. It plays on the safe side and gives an Inconclusive result. But this Inconclusive result may mean several other things, like just a noisy bad quality ECG, which may happen e.g. if you don't keep your hands still and relaxed enough.
• PVC and other heart events may be present at the ECG graph (my PVC always are) but, if they are not too many, the ECG should still be considered having a normal sinus rhythm. And the auto interpretation has always done that with me and my cardiologist agreed. But my cardiologist or someone trained to interpret the ECG, clearly detected those events on the ECG.
• Sense ECG has the huge advantage of allowing you to catch on an ECG some those rare heart events that don't happen all the time and may be easily missed by a Holter or an ECG taken at a clinic/hospital. And then showing it to your cardiologist, who is the right person to interpret the whole ECG, with all its events.
• Sense ECG can be a good starting point for your cardiologist to decide doing more accurate and advanced clinical tests.