Early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a priority to reduce embolic events by initiating oral anticoagulation therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of a wrist device designed for automatic AF detection.
RITHMI is a prospective, comparative, observational study that included 167 patients referred to a cardiology outpatient clinic for a general consultation or for electrical cardioversion. The study evaluated the ability of a wrist monitor that uses a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal and an electrocardiographic lead to automatically detect AF compared with diagnosis established by 2 cardiologists using the 12-lead electrocardiogram.
The AF detection algorithm based on the PPG signal had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 96% (diagnostic accuracy: 93%). The automatic algorithm based on the electrocardiographic signal had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 96% (diagnostic accuracy: 95%). The 2 algorithms concurred in the diagnosis in 96% of the cases. Overall, the monitor had a sensitivity and specificity of 95% (diagnostic accuracy: 95% and Kappa index: 0.98).
This study shows that automatic AF detection through the use of a heart rhythm monitor incorporating sensors and algorithms that analyze the PPG signal and the electrocardiographic signal corresponding to lead I is feasible and has high diagnostic accuracy.
Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
About The Expert
Joaquín Osca Asensi
María Teresa Izquierdo de Francisco
Óscar Cano Pérez
María José Sancho Tello de Carranza
José Alberola Rubio
Carlos Planells Palop
José Vicente Lozano Vidal
Luis Martínez Dolz
References
PubMed