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Experience in screening for atrial fibrillation and monitoring arrhythmia using a single-lead ECG stick

Erfahrungen mit dem Screening auf Vorhofflimmern und der Überwachung von Herzrhythmusstörungen unter Einsatz eines 1-Kanal-EKG-Sticks

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Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is highly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Since many AF episodes remain subclinical, screening for AF is considered a desirable approach for timely diagnosis, prevention of sequelae and effective treatment. Recently, devices for AF detection—stand-alone or integrated in mobile health technology—have become available and show promising preliminary results in the detection and monitoring of arrhythmia. This review describes the technical aspects of a single-lead ECG stick and summarizes the current literature, experience in large-scale screening for AF in pharmacies and potential fields of application.

Zusammenfassung

Vorhofflimmern ist die häufigste Herzrhythmusstörung und in hohem Maße mit erhöhter Morbidität und Mortalität verbunden. Da viele Vorhofflimmerepisoden subklinisch verlaufen, ist die aktive Suche nach Vorhofflimmern eine wichtige Grundlage für die rechtzeitige Diagnose, Prävention von Folgeerkrankungen und wirksame Behandlung. Seit Kurzem sind Geräte zur Erkennung von Vorhofflimmern – als eigenständige Lösung oder integriert in mobile (Gesundheits‑)Geräte – verfügbar und zeigen erste vielversprechende Ergebnisse bei der Erkennung und Überwachung von Herzrhythmusstörungen. Diese Übersicht beschreibt die technischen Aspekte eines 1‑Kanal-EKG-Sticks und fasst die aktuelle Literatur, Erfahrungen in einem groß angelegten Screening auf Vorhofflimmern in Apotheken und mögliche Anwendungsgebiete zusammen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine I—Cardiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52078, Aachen, Germany

    Matthias Daniel Zink MD, Andreas Napp & Michael Gramlich

  2. Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Matthias Daniel Zink MD

Authors
  1. Matthias Daniel Zink MD
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  2. Andreas Napp
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  3. Michael Gramlich
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Correspondence to Matthias Daniel Zink MD.

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M.D. Zink, A. Napp and M. Gramlich declare that they have no competing interests.

For this article no studies with human participants or animals were performed by any of the authors. All studies performed were in accordance with the ethical standards indicated in each case.

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Zink, M.D., Napp, A. & Gramlich, M. Experience in screening for atrial fibrillation and monitoring arrhythmia using a single-lead ECG stick. Herzschr Elektrophys 31, 246–253 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00399-020-00711-w

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