Wearable fitness trackers could interfere with cardiac devices, study finds

Smartwatches and other wearable fitness trackers could interfere with the functioning of implanted cardiac devices, the study found. Photograph: Oleg Breslavtsev/Getty Images

Wearable fitness and wellness trackers could interfere with some implanted cardiac devices such as pacemakers, according to a study.

Devices such as smartwatches, smart rings and smart scales used to monitor fitness-related activities could interfere with the functioning of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices, the study published in the Heart Rhythm journal found.