The Use of Mobile ECG Monitoring Devices in Embolic Stroke Associated With Atrial Fibrillation

The Use of Mobile ECG Monitoring Devices in Embolic Stroke Associated With Atrial Fibrillation

Nikita Maniar, Charles Donohoe, Ellen Lau Troudt
Copyright: © 2019 |Pages: 13
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-6289-4.ch004
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Abstract

Stroke prevention is a primary aim in clinical neurology. Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia affecting 35 million people worldwide, carries a 5x risk of devastating stroke largely preventable with anticoagulation. The AliveCor Kardia™ mobile application for iPhones and Kardia Band™, a wristband for the Apple Watch, are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These clinically validated mobile electrocardiograms (ECGs) utilize an artificial intelligence algorithm to provide instant analysis for detecting AF. The preliminary experience using this novel technology at a safety net, teaching hospital was very positive. AliveCor's™ was easy to use by neurologists, residents, medical students and nursing personnel and, in combination with pulse palpation, consistently detected AF that was confirmed by a cardiologist with standard ECG. With this new technology, the identification of AF that previously went unrecognized and often asymptomatic has prompted significant changes in patient therapy (additional cardiology evaluation and administration of anticonvulsants). AliveCor™ improved the ability to identify AF in elderly patients with and without a prior history of stroke. Although detection of paroxysmal, persistent and chronic AF was achieved, stratification of the risk versus benefit of anticoagulation therapy in individual patients became more difficult. The anticipated epidemic of AF will be easier to detect with technological advances like AliveCor™, which provides accurate analysis compared to current anticoagulation risk population-based assessment tools. One assessment tool, the CHA2DS2-VASc, depicts a predictive value for stroke in patients with AF with a P value equal to 0.58, making it merely significant. More precise physiologic biomarkers of thrombus formation using blood or cardiac imaging are needed to segregate subgroups of this expanding population of patients found to be in AF.
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Introduction

The AliveCor Kardia™ is a portable ECG (iECG) for the iPhone, Android and iPad that incorporates electrodes for wireless cardiac telemetry monitoring. It was approved by the FDA in 2013 (AliveCor® KardiaMobile EKG Monitor, 2018). It provides a 30 second single (lead 1) rhythm strip when held in the right and left hands. A real-time display of the electrocardiogram is created by conversion of an electrical signal into ultrasound which is captured by the smartphone microphone. Approved automated algorithms provide immediate rhythm analysis of suspected atrial fibrillation (Figures 1 and 2).

Figure 1.

AliveCor KardiaMobile for cellphone

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Source: From Alivecor by AliveCor, Inc, 2018 (https://store.alivecor.com). Copyright 2018 by AliveCor. Reprinted with permission
Figure 2.

AliveCor KardiaBand: replaces Apple Watch wristband

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Source: From Alivecor by AliveCor, Inc, 2018 (https://store.alivecor.com). Copyright 2018 by AliveCor. Reprinted with permission
Figure 3.

Available handheld EKG monitors

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Source: Images courtesy of Dr. James W. Grier
Figure 4.

Design of EKG sensor in KardiaBand: Conversion of an ultrasound to an electrical signal EKG

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Figure 5.

AliveCor KardiaMobile Lead I rhythm strip obtained by placing the fingers of the left and right hands on the electrodes

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Source: From Dr. Richard Bogle (https://www.richardbogle.com/). Copyright 2018 by Richard Bogle MD. Reprinted with permission.
Figure 6.

AliveCor KardiaMobile Lead II obtained with the left electrode on the left knee and the right electrode held with the right hand. Note the larger more distinct P waves in Lead II.

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Source: From Dr. Richard Bogle (https://www.richardbogle.com/). Copyright 2018 by Richard Bogle MD. Reprinted with permission.
Figure 7.

AliveCor can provide Lead I or Lead II recording depending on the position of the electrodes

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