This is really cool. I have an ICM (Medtronic LINQ) for something I don't believe an iWatch could detect so this isn't an option for me, but I do know they are sometimes used for AF as well, and mine cost over $60,000 to implant (billed to insurance, though my part was still much more than an iWatch costs). I have to think doing the same with an iWatch massively increases the pool of people who are capable of affording continuous monitoring.
I'm in exactly the target market here in the UK. I've had PAF in the past, I suspect it happens at night when I'm asleep, but multiple cardio traces have failed to catch it.
Short of buying my own Holter trace machine ($500, and an inconvenient mess of wires) or having an implant (possible on the NHS, and being considered, but the waiting list is long) there's no way I can be sure if PAF is enough of a problem to justify the lifestyle changes that would be caused by going on anti-coags.
Cheap continual monitoring would be a game changer.
Yeah I've used a Holter a few times they are definitely a pain to sleep in! For certain arrhythmias you need a 6-12 lead EKG though (iWatch wouldn't work in those situations as far as I understand).
