Omron pivots from hypertension focus to detection of Atrial Fibrillation
Japanese company Omron Healthcare, which specialises in solutions for hypertension management is now foraying into detection of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), which is a major risk factor for strokes.
“Hypertension is a future risk factor for stroke, but it’s not acute, it is a chronic disease,” Omron Healthcare India MD Tetsuya Yamada said in an interview. “Clinical studies suggest more than 220 million people in India suffer from hypertension,” he noted, adding that hypertension elevates AFib risk by threefold, which in turn significantly raises the risk of stroke by fivefold.
Mr. Yamada said this revelation propelled the company’s transition from hypertension management to AFib detection, recognising the urgent need to address AFib’s impact on stroke risk.
To address this, Omron was foraying into home ECG monitoring in collaboration with AlivCor, a U.S. based company which develops medical devices.
These devices can detect AFib, normal heart rhythm, tachycardia, and bradycardia — they mean the heart rate is either faster or slower than the regular heart rate, respectively.
Besides this, the company is collaborating with Tricog, a Bengalurubased entity in remote cardiac diagnosis providing AI based ECG interpretation services, to expand access to ECG readings at home, which could help doctors and nurses make informed and quicker decisions.
Despite technological advancements, many Indian are unaware of AFib, and the shortage of cardiologists impedes timely diagnosis and treatment, the company said.
Omron is planning further innovation in ECG technology and expansion into underserved regions to make cardiovascular health monitoring accessible to all.
With a threepronged approach on geographical expansion, product diversification, and technological innovation, the company aims to make its monitoring solutions affordable and accessible to all.