Last month NICE published first draft guidance from its Early Value Assessment pilot project recommending smartphone-linked ECG devices.
NICE has identified there is an unmet clinical need for a more easily accessible and available ways to measure heart rhythm disturbance such as QT interval in the psychiatric service setting.
Before beginning treatment and at regular intervals during their treatment patients taking antipsychotic medicines may need to be tested for heart problems. Issues such as rhythm disturbance can influence the medicines prescribed to them, the dosing and whether they should stop taking them.
Currently a 12 lead ECG is used to measure QT intervals which psychiatric patients can find distressing as they need to remove clothing and have gel filled electrodes attached to their chests.
The KardiaMobile 6L ECG is a small portable device which can be used in any setting, including home visits and only requires the patient to rest their thumbs or finger on the top of the device and the bottom onto the skin of their left leg. This may be less distressing for the patient.
The KardiaMobile 6L data is recorded electronically and can be sent to any smart phone or tablet.