Optimal duration and predictors of diagnostic utility of patient-activated ambulatory ECG monitoring

Arrhythmia Detection is Improved by 14-Day Continuous Electrocardiography Patch Monitoring and CHA2DS2-VASc Score

BACKGROUND

Arrhythmias are not always easy to capture because they are often paroxysmal or asymptomatic.

METHODS

Using the CHA2DS2-VASc score for arrhythmia risk assessment, a 14-day electrocardiography monitor patch was used to evaluate patients with no documented history of arrhythmia.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients (mean age 59.8 ± 12.0 years, 46.2% female) received 14-day electrocardiography telemonitoring, and 14 patients (15%) were diagnosed with arrhythmias during a follow-up of 1004.4 person-days (mean recorded days 10.8 ± 4.1). The patients who were detected to have arrhythmias were older and had a higher prevalence of heart failure and chronic kidney disease. The result showed that arrhythmias were more likely to develop during a 14-day monitoring period in the patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 3 or ≥ 4. Atrioventricular block was more likely to be detected in the patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 3 or ≥ 4 during 7-day or 14-day monitoring periods. Ventricular tachycardia was also more likely to be detected in the patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 4 or ≥ 5 during a 14-day monitoring period. When evaluating the risk of arrhythmia, a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 3 or ≥ 4 was associated with a higher risk of any arrhythmias during a 14-day monitoring period, while a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 4 was associated with a higher risk of any arrhythmias during a 7-day monitoring period.

CONCLUSIONS

The results may suggest that a 14-day monitoring period is more favorable to detect arrhythmias. Atrioventricular block and ventricular tachycardia were more likely to develop in the patients with a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Home Monitoring of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Utility of the ForeseeHome Device for Detection of Neovascularization

PURPOSE

To evaluate the real-world utility of the ForeseeHome monitoring device (Notal Vision, Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel) for the detection of conversion from intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD) to neovascular AMD (nAMD) and to compare with results published by the Home Monitoring of the Eye (HOME) study.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of electronic health records.

PARTICIPANTS

Eyes prescribed use of the ForeseeHome device across 4 retinal practices in the United States.

METHODS

Usage information was collected from the online ForeseeHome portal for all eyes prescribed the device. For a predetermined subset of eyes, additional clinical information was collected through chart review and analyzed for clinical utility.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Frequency and length of use, number of eyes that used the device, number of eyes that established a baseline measurement, number of eyes that converted to nAMD, and number of alerts.

RESULTS

Seven hundred seventy-five eyes of 448 patients were prescribed use of the ForeseeHome device. Six hundred forty-nine eyes (83.7%) used the device at least once; among this population, 478 (73.7%) established a baseline measurement. Patients who established a baseline measurement were significantly younger than those who did not (P < 0.001). Among eyes that established a baseline measurement, 126 (26.4%) had an overall inadequate frequency of use (≥2 tests per week), and 250 (52.3%) did not use the device as frequently as instructed by the manufacturer (≥3 tests per week); 24.7% of eyes discontinued use within 1 year. Of the 136 eyes that established a baseline measurement among 211 eyes prescribed the device at 1 clinical site, 52 alerts were recorded; 3 (6.8%) correctly identified conversion to nAMD and 47 (93.2%) represented false-positive alerts.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the prospective HOME study, the utility of the ForeseeHome device in the current analysis of clinical practice application was limited. A meaningful proportion of eyes never used the device or could not establish a baseline measurement. Overall frequency of use was low, and continuous use of the device decreased over time. A need exists for improvement in home monitoring technology for eyes with iAMD at risk of conversion to nAMD.