LocalTapiola Launches AFib Case-Finding Program with CardioSignal to Help Prevent Strokes

June 5th, 2025

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is becoming increasingly common in Finland as the population ages. Even asymptomatic AFib can lead to serious health complications if left undetected.

LocalTapiola has launched a pilot program offering insurance customers the opportunity to screen for AFib free of charge using CardioSignal’s smartphone application, which performs the test in just one minute at home.

AFib is a heart rhythm disorder in which the atria quiver irregularly, leading to an erratic heartbeat and impaired blood circulation. This can result in blood clots and increase the risk of stroke and heart failure. Nearly one-third of stroke patients also have AFib.

“According to studies we can roughly estimate that up to 20% of strokes could have been prevented if AFib had been detected and treated in time. The importance of case-finding is growing, as the number of AFib cases is expected to more than double in the coming decades,” says Dr. Juuso Blomster, cardiologist and CEO of CardioSignal.

CardioSignal has developed a smartphone app that detects AFib by having the user place the phone on their chest for one minute. The app measures subtle cardiac motion and provides an immediate result. More than 200,000 people in 15 countries have used the application to date.

Starting in June, LocalTapiola will offer 5,000 customers aged 50 to 75 the chance to try the app free of charge for six months. Invitations will be sent via SMS to insured customers across Finland.

“Mild symptoms of AFib – such as fatigue or reduced exercise tolerance – are easy to dismiss as stress or aging. Many hesitate to consult a doctor. With this app, anyone can screen themselves at home. One minute could save a life,” says Sanna Myller, Business Director at LocalTapiola.

AFib Accounts for Nearly a Tenth of Finland’s Healthcare Costs

In addition to age, risk factors for AFib include high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Earlier detection of AFib would not only reduce illness and mortality, but also healthcare costs. In 2018, social and healthcare costs related to AFib patients in Finland were around €2 billion – nearly 10% of the total healthcare budget.

“Medical guidelines are increasingly recommending proactive AFib detection. For example, the European Society of Cardiology updated its 2023 guidelines to recommend systematic AFib screening for people with diabetes for the first time,” Blomster explains.

There’s growing need for preventive healthcare – but these services only work if people actually use them.

“Solutions must fit into people’s daily lives. When AFib case-finding doesn’t require a clinic visit or extra devices, but can be done easily with a smartphone, it lowers the threshold to act,” Myller concludes.

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Contact:

Juuso Blomster, CEO, juuso.blomster@cardiosignal.com