QALY | What Does Inconclusive Mean on a Samsung ECG?

Key Takeaways

An Inconclusive reading on a Samsung watch ECG isn't always cause for concern.
There are both medical and non-medical reasons for an Inconclusive result from Samsung’s ECG app.
Human experts on QALY can help decipher your Inconclusive ECG result.

An Inconclusive reading on a Samsung watch ECG isn't always cause for concern.
There are both medical and non-medical reasons for an Inconclusive result from Samsung’s ECG app.
Human experts on QALY can help decipher your Inconclusive ECG result.

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One of the last things you want to see when doing any kind of health test is a readout that says "Inconclusive." It's a very open-ended medical result that tells you nothing. While an Inconclusive result can be frightening or worrisome, it's fairly typical for smartwatch ECGs, including Samsung.

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While the ECG feature on a Samsung watch is a great way to measure your heart rate and heart rhythm, it's fairly limited in diagnosing heart problems. If you've recently received one or several Inconclusive results on your Samsung smartwatch ECG, here’s what it could mean and what you may want to do next.

How Accurate is Your Samsung ECG?

While the Samsung ECG is a relatively simple concept, it's been cleared and approved by the FDA and CE, indicating that top health professionals trust it in the country. However, it's important to realize that Samsung and other smartwatches aren't a substitute for medical checkups. They can detect atrial fibrillation, but not the following:

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30+ arrhythmias
Other underlying heart conditions like Chronic Heart Failure
If you're having a stroke or heart attack
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Possible Reasons for an Inconclusive Result on Your Samsung ECG

If you're getting an Inconclusive reading on your Samsung watch, there are a few possible reasons:

Your heart rate is higher than 120 or lower than 50 beats per minute.
Stress, fear, anxiety, physical activity, infections, sickness, or pain.
Atrial fibrillation with a heart rate higher than 120.
You have a pacemaker.
You have a heart arrhythmia, aka an irregular heartbeat.

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You might also receive a Poor Recording result with your Samsung ECG. These readings are similar to Inconclusive results, and here are some reasons they happen.

The watch isn't tight enough around your wrist.
Watch on the wrong wrist.
Dirt on your wrist.
Skin temperature is too low.
Too much arm motion.
Forearms aren't perfectly still and rested on a table.
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Arrhythmias That Aren't Detectable With a Samsung ECG

As you can see, there are quite a few reasons why your Samsung watch is giving you an Inconclusive reading. An Inconclusive result because of an undetected arrhythmia is the most problematic possibility. Here are some irregular heartbeats that aren't detectable with a Samsung ECG.

Premature Atrial Contraction (PAC) - Single, multiple, bigeminy, trigeminy, or couplet.
Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC) - Single, multiple, bigeminy, trigeminy, or couplet.
SVT
V-Tach
Wenckebach
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm
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What Does an Inconclusive Result Mean for You?

The most important thing to do when you get an Inconclusive reading on your Samsung ECG is to think about what you were doing leading up to the test. If you recently exercised, felt stressed, or can think of a reasonable explanation for your Inconclusive result, there's no need to panic.

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If you constantly get Inconclusive results and have no idea why, you may have an arrhythmia or are Afib. In that case, contact a health professional immediately.
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How Can QALY Help?

First, try learning how to interpret your ECG results yourself. Also, feel free to send your Samsung ECGs to the QALY app, and our cardiographic technicians will review them for you within minutes. No more Inconclusive ECGs!