Smartphone Electrocardiograms Deemed Equivalent to Standard

Smartphone monitoring found to be as accurate as standard ECG in diverse populations

THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Smartphone electrocardiogram (ECG) accurately detects baseline intervals, atrial rate, and rhythm, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.

Zachary C. Haberman, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and colleagues compared the accuracy of standard 12-lead ECG to the wireless, single-lead smartphone ECG in healthy young adults, elite athletes, and cardiology clinic patients. Automated algorithms interpreted the de-identified ECGs, which were then adjudicated by two board-certified electrophysiologists.

The researchers found that accuracy was equivalent between smartphone and standard ECGs for detecting atrial rate and rhythm, atrioventricular block, and QRS delay. Specificities were all above 94 percent for both ECG methods, while sensitivities ranged from 72 percent (QRS delay) to 94 percent (atrial fibrillation).

"Efficient ECG analysis using automated discrimination and an enhanced smartphone application with notification capabilities are features that can be easily incorporated into the acquisition process," the authors write.

Abstract
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