I have recently been re-reading the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (European Heart Journal (2016) 37, 2893–2962 doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehw210.
Of particular interest was the section on “Diagnosis and timely detection of atrial fibrillation” especially in the light of the popularity of the low cost clinically validated Kardia Mobile ECG from AliveCor.
In their latest review, when putting forward proposals to enhance current guidelines the ESC specify 4 different recommendation classes. A Class I recommendation is defined as
“Evidence and/or general agreement that a given treatment or procedure is beneficial, useful, effective”.
Within the section for screening for atrial fibrillation they have issued a class I recommendation that
“Opportunistic screening for AF is recommended by pulse taking or ECG rhythm strip in patients >65 years of age”
Clearly that is advice worth taking but in a busy GP Practice, where appointment time is limited to 10 or 15 minutes and resources under pressure, is it always practical to carry out a 12 lead ECG to get a rhythm strip?
Fortunately technology has the answer and there is the Kardia Mobile ECG App for that!
For under £99 the Kardia Mobile and App produces a 30 second rhythm strip that has the same diagnostic accuracy as a 12 lead single channel ECG Lau JK, Lowres N, Neubeck L, Brieger DB, Sy RW, Galloway CD, et al. Int J Cardiol. 2013;165(1):193-4.
It is therefore ideal for use in Primary Care to implement the recommendations of the ESC. The ESC go on to say
“There is good evidence that prolonged ECG monitoring enhances the detection of undiagnosed AF, e.g. monitoring for 72 h after a stroke…and daily short-term ECG recordings increase AF detection in populations over 75 years of age”
Again the Kardia Mobile is ideally suited for regular home monitoring, for instance once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
As it records a 30 second rhythm strip in real time, it is ideal for capturing paroxysmal AF for later analysis by a GP or Cardiologist.
It can be used to replace manual pulse checks providing qualitative ECG evidence in 30 seconds.
There is also an association with high blood pressure and AF. The Kardia Mobile ECG can help here as well.
To save time during a consultation, as well as to opportunistically screen for AF, why not use a Kardia Mobile before taking a blood pressure reading?
In the UK NICE have provided guidance on this with NICE Guideline CG127 Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management on whether to use an automatic or manual blood pressure device.
Clause 1.1.2 states
“Because automated devices may not measure blood pressure accurately if there is pulse irregularity (for example, due to atrial fibrillation), palpate the radial or brachial pulse before measuring blood pressure. If pulse irregularity is present, measure blood pressure manually using direct auscultation over the brachial artery.”
Using a clinically validated Kardia Mobile by AliveCor before taking a blood pressure reading can save time as well as ensuring the most appropriate (automatic or manual) BP device is used. For up to date independent reviews on the Kardia Mobile ECG or to purchase visit our website.
