Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality. Early diagnosis and management are crucial to mitigating these risks. Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands, enhanced by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, offer a promising solution for early AF detection due to their accessibility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. Although the ability of these algorithms to identify AF has been authorized, critical questions remain about their integration into clinical practice, ethical implications, and long-term benefits. This review uniquely explores the intersection of wearable technology and AF management, providing a detailed analysis of current evidence, emerging trends, and the challenges associated with these innovations.

This article aims to study the etiological and clinical profile of acute heart failure in Angola and to identify the predictors associated with in-hospital mortality. Methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary public hospital in Angola. Information on demographic and biological data was collected. The following variables were included: demographic, etiological, and clinical characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, precipitating factors of cardiac decompensation, comorbidities, and complications. In the univariate analysis we evaluated absolute and relative frequency, in the bivariate analysis independent Mann-Whitney Test, T Student test, and Chi-Square, tests were used as appropriate. Results: The sample comprises 257 individuals, of which 114 (44.36%) are male. The mean age is 49.90 ± 15.95 years. Hospital mortality is 23%. Predictors of poor prognosis were male sex (56.67% vs 40.61%, p = 0.037), lower systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure ((mean = 115 mmHg vs 138 mmHg, p < 0.001; mean = 73 mmHg vs. 85 mmHg, p < 0.001 and mean = 87.55 mmHg vs 102.74 mmHg; p < 0.001, respectively), higher respiratory rate (mean = 26.48 vs 24.00, p = 0.013), New York Health Association (NYHA) Class IV (60.00% vs 35.03%, p < 0.001) and lower LVEF (mean = 34.90% vs 39.7%, p = 0.013) Infection as a precipitating cause of cardiac decompensation, a previous history of pulmonary TB and DCM were also associated with higher in-hospital mortality (61.66% vs 26.39%, p < 0.001; 33.33% vs 12.69 p < 0.001, and 45.00% vs 29.95%, p = 0.031; respectively). Conclusions: The results indicate that in Angola, heart failure affects young and middle-aged patients and is associated with high in-hospital mortality. 本文旨在研究安哥拉急性心力衰竭的病因和临床特征，并确定与院内死亡率相关的预测因素。方法：在安哥拉的一家三级公立医院开展了一项描述性、观察性、横断面研究。收集了有关人口统计和生物数据的信息。包括以下变量：人口统计学、病因学和临床特征、心血管危险因素、心脏代偿失调的诱发因素、合并症和并发症。 在单变量分析中，我们评估了绝对和相对频率，在双变量分析中，我们酌情使用了独立的 Mann-Whitney 检验、T Student 检验和卡方检验。 结果：样本共257人，其中男性114人（44.36%）。平均年龄为 49.90±15.95岁。住院死亡率为23%。 预后不良的预测因素是男性（56.67% vs 40.61%，p = 0.037）、较低的收缩压、舒张压和平均血压（（平均值= 115 mmHg vs 138 mmHg，p<0.001；平均值= 73 mmHg vs 85 mmHg , p<0.001 和平均值= 87.55 mmHg vs 102.74 mmHg；分别为 p<0.001)，更高的呼吸频率（平均值= 26.48 vs 24.00，p=0.013），NYHA IV级（60.00% vs 35.03%，p<.001） 和较低的LVEF（平均值= 34.90% vs 39.7%，p=.013） 感染是心脏代偿失调的诱发因素，既往肺结核病史和 DCM 也与较高的院内死亡率相关（分别为61.66% vs 26.39%，p <.001；33.33% vs 12.69 p<.001，以及 45.00% vs 29.95%，p=.031；）。结论：结果表明，在安哥拉，心力衰竭影响年轻和中年患者，并与住院高死亡率相关。

Background: Studies on the electrocardiogram findings in African pregnant women are limited. There is no information available in the literature on the electrocardiographic parameters of pregnant Angolan women.Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe electrocardiographic findings in women with normal pregnancies in Bengo Province, Angola.Methods: This is a community‐based study with a cross‐sectional design conducted between September 2013 and March 2014 in Bengo. The study involved 114 black pregnant women, compared with a paired control group comprising of 120 black non‐pregnant women, aged 15 to 42 years. A 12‐lead electrocardiogram and a rhythm strip were recorded for all participants.Results: In this study, the mean age was 26.2 ± 7.3 years. Comparing pregnant women vs. non‐pregnant, we found the following mean values: Heart rate (83 bpm vs. 74 bpm,p < .001), PR interval (146 ms vs. 151 ms,p = .034), QT interval (360 ms vs. 378 ms,p < .001), QTIc Fridericia (398 ms vs. 403,p = .017), QTIc Framingham (399 ms vs. 404 ms,p = .013) and T‐wave axis (34⁰vs. 41⁰,p = .001).The main electrocardiographic changes found were: Sinus tachycardia (4.4% vs. 2.5%), T‐wave inversion (14.9% vs. 1.7%), Minor ST segment depression (4.5% vs. 0%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (11.4% vs. 11.7%,p = .726).Conclusions: Pregnant Angolan women compared with controls, had several significantly higher values for heart rate, and significantly lower values of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, PR interval, QT interval, QTc interval by Fridericia and Framingham and T‐wave axis. Sinus tachycardia, T‐wave inversion, and left ventricular hypertrophy, were the main electrocardiographic changes found.

How to face challenges and promote improvements? In 2017, a survey revealed that 18% of the 33 participating African countries had no registered cardiologists., Across Africa, there are approximately 2000 registered cardiologists for a population of 1.2 billion inhabitants. There is a scarcity of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology services, with around 22 cardiothoracic centers in Africa, and 30% of African countries lack artificial cardiac stimulation therapies and cardiac electrophysiology.– The lack of qualified human resources is a critical obstacle. [...] How to face challenges and promote improvements? In 2017, a survey revealed that 18% of the 33 participating African countries had no registered cardiologists., Across Africa, there are approximately 2000 registered cardiologists for a population of 1.2 billion inhabitants. There is a scarcity of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology services, with around 22 cardiothoracic centers in Africa, and 30% of African countries lack artificial cardiac stimulation therapies and cardiac electrophysiology.– The lack of qualified human resources is a critical obstacle.

Background: Tobacco use accelerates atherosclerosis and is one of the predictors of death from ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden death. A new non-invasive parameter, the Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (iCEB) between depolarization and repolarization of the action potential, was considered a new biomarker for the identification of patients at increased arrhythmic risk. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the iCEB in apparently healthy Angolans with habitual cigarette smoking compared to non-smokers. Subjects and methods: Data were obtained from the CardioBengo study, a cross-sectional community-based study in which a random sample of individuals aged between 15 and 84 years was selected. In total, 214 apparently healthy subjects, 102 smokers, and 112 non-smokers in the same age group were included in the final analysis. Results: The average age of the participants was 42.17±13.04 years old and 26.6% of the sample was female. Smoking subjects had higher iCEB and corrected Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (iCEBc) values compared with non-smoking controls (4.39 vs. 4.25; p=0.024, respectively), and (4.74 vs. 4.57; p=0.030, respectively). Conclusions: In summary, iCEB and iCEBc were significantly higher in habitual smokers than in nonsmokers, which represents an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmogenesis in healthy habitual smokers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed in Africa to evaluate iCEB in smokers, making this type of study very important in low- and middle-income countries in the context of epidemiological transition.