Smart Bed Data Helps Diagnose Patient Heart Condition
A 70-year-old man used mattress sensors to detect a slow heart rate, leading to a life-saving pacemaker procedure.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Heart Disease
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A 70-year-old man in New York City discovered he had a heart condition after a smart mattress flagged an unusually low heart rate. The data prompted a medical visit where clinicians confirmed complete heart block and treated him with a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker.
Why it matters
This case highlights how home monitoring technology can serve as a diagnostic aid when persistent symptoms like shortness of breath are present. It demonstrates the utility of tracking biometric data to identify cardiac irregularities that warrant professional evaluation.
A clinical case report documented a 70-year-old man who experienced complete heart block, identified when his smart mattress detected an overnight heart rate of 42 beats per minute compared to his usual 78 beats per minute. Clinical accuracy and broader diagnostic reliability for this sensing method are still being investigated.
The players
Weill Cornell Medicine
An academic medical center in New York City where the patient's treating cardiologist is based.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
A major healthcare provider in New York City where the cardiac procedure was performed.
The details
The smart mattress utilizes ballistocardiography, which employs sensors to detect subtle body vibrations generated by the mechanical pumping action of the heart. Upon receiving the low heart rate alert, the patient corroborated the finding using a smartwatch and a home blood pressure monitor before seeking care. Following a definitive diagnosis of complete heart block, he received a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker to restore proper heart rhythm and resolve his shortness of breath.
Timeline
July 2023: The FDA approved the first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system.
December 2025: A case report describing the patient's experience was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Health Landscape
The use of leadless pacemakers represents a shift toward less invasive cardiac rhythm management compared to traditional wired devices. This case highlights how integrating consumer monitoring tools with advanced clinical devices can improve the detection and treatment of symptomatic heart block.
If you notice persistent symptoms like shortness of breath, consider discussing your daily health-tracking data with your primary care physician or a cardiologist. While smart devices can provide useful information, they are intended to support, not replace, formal clinical evaluation and testing.
The takeaway
Smart home devices can provide actionable data that may help identify underlying cardiac issues when paired with new symptoms. If your wearable device consistently tracks unusual heart rate patterns, bring this data to your next appointment to facilitate a conversation with your physician.
Further reading
For more on managing cardiac health, visit our Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medical Daily.
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Do you trust health warnings provided by consumer smart devices like mattresses or watches?
