A Fitbit smartwatch helped detect a patient’s coronary giant cell arteritis, after it revealed her heart rate was persistently elevated, Swiss doctors report. 

The physically active 57-year-old became concerned after her baseline resting heart rate (RHR) increased from 55 to 75 bpm, according to the healthcare application on her Fitbit.

She also had unexplained fatigue, myalgia without stiffness in the neck and shoulder girdle, intermittent night sweats, weight loss of 4kg and had noticed exertional dyspnoea over the past three months. 

The patient was initially treated by her GP, with an ECG, echocardiogram and stress test ruling out a cardiac cause.