Signify Health is expanding its in-home diagnostics offering to include a test for heart arrhythmias. The CVS Health subsidiary said Tuesday that the prevalence of irregular heartbeats is set to grow alongside an aging population. Atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia, can be asymptomatic, and there are likely between 1.26 million and 1.52 million undiagnosed cases. Through the program, Signify members who are at risk for an arrhythmia are identified, and then its clinical teams will test for contraindications. Members will asked to wear a continuous ECG patch, which tracks continuous cardiac activity, and, after 14 days, the team will review the results for signs of irregular heartbeat. “Early detection of heart arrhythmias is critical to enabling treatment that can decrease the likelihood of a complication, like heart failure or stroke," said Heidi Schwarzwald, M.D., chief medical officer for Signify Health home and community services, in the press release. "Traditional methods of arrhythmia testing are costly, time-consuming with multiple doctor visits, and are less than optimal for members, which is why Signify Health has launched a proactive approach to help facilitate a timely intervention and reduce the risk of other cardiovascular events." The company said that using a continuous ECG patch to test and monitor arrhythmia offers a better patient experience than traditional tools like the Holter monitor, citing a study that found 94% of people found the patch comfortable to wear compared to 52% on the Holter device. In addition, the intervention can avoid unnecessary costs and visits with multiple providers, Signify said.
Signify was acquired by CVS Health in March 2023 and is now part of its Healthspire segment.