Implementation of a Savvy Mobile ECG Sensor for Heart Rhythm Disorder Screening at the Primary Healthcare Level: An Observational Prospective Study

Overview

Journal Micromachines (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Date 2021 Jan 20

PMID 33466536

Citations 4

Authors

Stasa Vodicka

Antonija Poplas Susic

Erika Zelko

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The Jozef Stefan Institute developed a personal portable electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor Savvy that works with a smartphone, and this was used in our study. This study aimed to analyze the usefulness of telecardiology at the primary healthcare level using an ECG personal sensor.

Methods: We included 400 patients with a history of suspected rhythm disturbance who visited their family physician at the Healthcare Center Ljubljana and Healthcare Center Murska Sobota from October 2016 to January 2018.

Results: The study found that there was no statistically significant difference between the test and control groups in the number of present rhythm disorders and actions taken to treat patients with either observation or administration of a new drug. However, in the test group, there were significantly fewer patients being referred to a cardiologist than in the control group ( < 0.001).

Discussion: The use of an ECG sensor helps family physicians to distinguish between patients who need to be referred to a cardiologist and those who can be treated by them. This method is useful for both physicians and patients because it shortens the time taken to start treatment, can be used during pandemics such as COVID-19, and reduces unnecessary cost.

Citing Articles

Drug Delivery Systems for Personal Healthcare by Smart Wearable Patch System.

Khadka B, Lee B, Kim K Biomolecules. 2023; 13(6).

PMID: 37371509 PMC: 10295889. DOI: 10.3390/biom13060929.

Differences in Treating Patients with Palpitations at the Primary Healthcare Level Using Telemedical Device Savvy before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Vodicka S, Zelko E Micromachines (Basel). 2022; 13(8).

PMID: 35893174 PMC: 9330048. DOI: 10.3390/mi13081176.

Power Autonomy Estimation of Low-Power Sensor for Long-Term ECG Monitoring.

Bregar K, Kristofelc T, Depolli M, Avbelj V, Rashkovska A Sensors (Basel). 2022; 22(14).

PMID: 35890750 PMC: 9320243. DOI: 10.3390/s22145070.

Research Progress of ECG Monitoring Equipment and Algorithms Based on Polymer Materials.

Zhang L, Liu J Micromachines (Basel). 2021; 12(11).

PMID: 34832693 PMC: 8624836. DOI: 10.3390/mi12111282.

References

De Smedt D, Kotseva K, De Bacquer D, Wood D, De Backer G, Dallongeville J . Cost-effectiveness of optimizing prevention in patients with coronary heart disease: the EUROASPIRE III health economics project. Eur Heart J. 2012; 33(22):2865-72. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs210. View

Hill N, Ayoubkhani D, McEwan P, Sugrue D, Farooqui U, Lister S . Predicting atrial fibrillation in primary care using machine learning. PLoS One. 2019; 14(11):e0224582. PMC: 6824570. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224582. View

Yasa E, Ricci F, Holm H, Persson T, Melander O, Sutton R . Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction Is the Most Common Cause of Syncope in Paced Patients. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019; 6:154. PMC: 6823818. DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00154. View

Whitten P, Mair F, Haycox A, May C, Williams T, Hellmich S . Systematic review of cost effectiveness studies of telemedicine interventions. BMJ. 2002; 324(7351):1434-7. PMC: 115857. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.324.7351.1434. View

Steinhubl S, Waalen J, Edwards A, Ariniello L, Mehta R, Ebner G . Effect of a Home-Based Wearable Continuous ECG Monitoring Patch on Detection of Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation: The mSToPS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2018; 320(2):146-155. PMC: 6583518. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.8102. View

Orchard J, Freedman S, Lowres N, Peiris D, Neubeck L . iPhone ECG screening by practice nurses and receptionists for atrial fibrillation in general practice: the GP-SEARCH qualitative pilot study. Aust Fam Physician. 2014; 43(5):315-9. View

Brunetti N, Dellegrottaglie G, Lopriore C, Di Giuseppe G, De Gennaro L, Lanzone S . Prehospital telemedicine electrocardiogram triage for a regional public emergency medical service: is it worth it? A preliminary cost analysis. Clin Cardiol. 2014; 37(3):140-5. PMC: 6649415. DOI: 10.1002/clc.22234. View

Piwonska A, Piwonski J, Szczesniewska D, Drygas W . Population prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities: results of the Polish WAW‑KARD study. Kardiol Pol. 2019; 77(9):859-867. DOI: 10.33963/KP.14911. View

de Graaf G, Kuratomi Cruz D, Haartsen J, Hooijschuur F, French P . Heart Rate Extraction in a Headphone Using Infrared Thermometry. IEEE Trans Biomed Circuits Syst. 2019; 13(5):1052-1062. DOI: 10.1109/TBCAS.2019.2930312. View

10.

French P . In-Vivo Microsystems: A Review. Sensors (Basel). 2020; 20(17). PMC: 7506850. DOI: 10.3390/s20174953. View

11.

Hu M, Lamers F, de Geus E, Penninx B . Influences of lifestyle factors on cardiac autonomic nervous system activity over time. Prev Med. 2016; 94:12-19. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.11.003. View

12.

Pepin J, Bruno R, Yang R, Vercamer V, Jouhaud P, Escourrou P . Wearable Activity Trackers for Monitoring Adherence to Home Confinement During the COVID-19 Pandemic Worldwide: Data Aggregation and Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2020; 22(6):e19787. PMC: 7307323. DOI: 10.2196/19787. View

13.

Scalvini S, Zanelli E, Conti C, Volterrani M, Pollina R, Giordano A . Assessment of prehospital chest pain using telecardiology. J Telemed Telecare. 2002; 8(4):231-6. DOI: 10.1258/135763302320272211. View

14.

Rashkovska A, Depolli M, Tomasic I, Avbelj V, Trobec R . Medical-Grade ECG Sensor for Long-Term Monitoring. Sensors (Basel). 2020; 20(6). PMC: 7146736. DOI: 10.3390/s20061695. View

15.

Roehrig C, Miller G, Lake C, Bryant J . National health spending by medical condition, 1996-2005. Health Aff (Millwood). 2009; 28(2):w358-67. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.w358. View

16.

Lieberman J . How telemedicine is aiding prompt ECG diagnosis in primary care. Br J Community Nurs. 2008; 13(3):123-6. DOI: 10.12968/bjcn.2008.13.3.28676. View

17.

Bodenheimer T, Fernandez A . High and rising health care costs. Part 4: can costs be controlled while preserving quality?. Ann Intern Med. 2005; 143(1):26-31. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-143-1-200507050-00007. View

18.

Wong B, Green M, Stiell I . Rate Control Management of Atrial Fibrillation With Rapid Ventricular Response in the Emergency Department. Can J Cardiol. 2020; 36(4):509-517. DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2019.08.040. View

19.

Weenk M, Bredie S, Koeneman M, Hesselink G, Goor H, van de Belt T . Continuous Monitoring of Vital Signs in the General Ward Using Wearable Devices: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2020; 22(6):e15471. PMC: 7315364. DOI: 10.2196/15471. View

20.

Tamayol A, Akbari M, Zilberman Y, Comotto M, Lesha E, Serex L . Flexible pH-Sensing Hydrogel Fibers for Epidermal Applications. Adv Healthc Mater. 2016; 5(6):711-9. PMC: 4805432. DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500553. View