Chih-Min Liu1, Shih-Lin Chang2, Yung-Hsin Yeh3, Fa-Po Chung1, Yu-Feng Hu1, Chung-Chuan Chou3, Kuo-Chun Hung3, Po-Cheng Chang3, Jo-Nan Liao1, Yi-Hsin Chan3, Li-Wei Lo1, Lung-Sheng Wu3, Yenn-Jiang Lin1, Ming-Shien Wen3, Shih-Ann Chen4. 1. Heart Rhythm Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Heart Rhythm Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: slchang4@vghtpe.gov.tw. 3. Cardiovascular Division, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 4. Heart Rhythm Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the performance of a single‑lead, 14-day continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) patch for the detection of arrhythmias compared to conventional 24-h monitoring. METHODS: This prospective clinical trial enrolled patients suspected of arrhythmias but not diagnosed by 12‑lead ECGs. Each patient underwent a 24-h Holter and 14-day ECG patch simultaneously. Seven types of arrhythmias were classified: supraventricular tachycardia (SVT, repetitive atrial beats >4 beats), irregular SVT without P wave (>4 beats), AF/AFL (irregular SVT without P wave ≥30 s), pause ≥3 s, atrioventricular block (AVB; Mobitz type II, third-degree, two to one or high degree AVB), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and polymorphic VT. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients were recruited (mean wear time:12.3 ± 3.2 days). The overall arrhythmia detection rate was higher with 14-day ECG patches (59.5%) compared to 24-h Holter (19.0%, P < 0.001). Up to 87.2% of arrhythmias recorded with 14-day ECG patches were not associated with symptoms. The 14-day ECG patch was associated with higher detection rates compared to the 24-h Holter in patients with SVT (52.5% versus 15.8%, P < 0.001), irregular SVT without P wave (12.7% versus 4.4%, P = 0.002), AF/AFL (9.5% versus 3.8%, P = 0.042), and critical arrhythmias (pause ≥3 s, AVB, VT, polymorphic VT) (16.5% versus 2.5%, P < 0.001). The 14-day ECG patch detected more than 2 types of arrhythmias in 5.1% of patients. No serious adverse events in patients wearing the 14-day ECG patch were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The 14-day ECG patch outperformed 24-h Holter to detect overall, asymptomatic, critical and multiple arrhythmias. It is safe and has the potential to identify individuals with hidden arrhythmias, especially those with critical arrhythmias.
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the performance of a single‑lead, 14-day continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) patch for the detection of arrhythmias compared to conventional 24-h monitoring. METHODS: This prospective clinical trial enrolled patients suspected of arrhythmias but not diagnosed by 12‑lead ECGs. Each patient underwent a 24-h Holter and 14-day ECG patch simultaneously. Seven types of arrhythmias were classified: supraventricular tachycardia (SVT, repetitive atrial beats >4 beats), irregular SVT without P wave (>4 beats), AF/AFL (irregular SVT without P wave ≥30 s), pause ≥3 s, atrioventricular block (AVB; Mobitz type II, third-degree, two to one or high degree AVB), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and polymorphic VT. RESULTS: A total of 158 patients were recruited (mean wear time:12.3 ± 3.2 days). The overall arrhythmia detection rate was higher with 14-day ECG patches (59.5%) compared to 24-h Holter (19.0%, P < 0.001). Up to 87.2% of arrhythmias recorded with 14-day ECG patches were not associated with symptoms. The 14-day ECG patch was associated with higher detection rates compared to the 24-h Holter in patients with SVT (52.5% versus 15.8%, P < 0.001), irregular SVT without P wave (12.7% versus 4.4%, P = 0.002), AF/AFL (9.5% versus 3.8%, P = 0.042), and critical arrhythmias (pause ≥3 s, AVB, VT, polymorphic VT) (16.5% versus 2.5%, P < 0.001). The 14-day ECG patch detected more than 2 types of arrhythmias in 5.1% of patients. No serious adverse events in patients wearing the 14-day ECG patch were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The 14-day ECG patch outperformed 24-h Holter to detect overall, asymptomatic, critical and multiple arrhythmias. It is safe and has the potential to identify individuals with hidden arrhythmias, especially those with critical arrhythmias.