Description

The patient who complains of palpitations can undergo multiple evaluations in the absence of a definitive diagnosis, especially in the case of paroxysmal arrhythmias of short duration. There are methods that allow prolonged cardiac rhythm recordings but which in clinical practice are not always available even in the face of high costs. Smartwatches capable of recording single-lead ECGs are increasingly popular even among patients who come to health services complaining of heart palpitations. The traces recorded can be diagnostic for atrial fibrillation but cases suggesting other types of arrhythmias are also reported, later confirmed by further investigations.

Therefore, the patient with heart palpitations who already owns a Smart Watch capable of recording ECGs can, if adequately involved, contribute in an innovative and economic way to the diagnosis of arrhythmia.

The rationale of this study is to evaluate the performance in the diagnosis of arrhythmia of the ECGs sent via smartwatch by patients in case of heart palpitations.

This is an observational, prospective, non-randomized multicenter study that involves the collection of clinical and electrocardiographic data of patients (over the age of 22) referring to the outpatient clinics of the participating centers for heart palpitations, owners of Smart Watches capable of recording ECGs.

Before enrollment, the Smart Watch will be identified by checking whether it belongs to the list of devices capable of recording single-lead ECG Upon enrollment, enrolled patients are associated with an identification number with progressive numbering (ID). They will then be instructed to record a basal mono-lead ECG (ECG 0) using their smart watch and will be invited to send the recorded file to a separate and specific e-mail address dedicated to the study for each participating centre. The sender's e-mail address will be recorded and associated with the ID of the enrolled patient, becoming the only element capable of providing an association between traces sent in the future and the belonging ID. The main clinical and personal data including the telephone number will also be collected.

Following enrollment, a 24-hour Holter ECG will be performed at the outpatient clinic of the enrolling center.

From the date of enrollment and for the following three months, before after and during the execution of the 24-hour Holter ECG, enrolled patients can send the single-lead ECGs recorded with their own device to the e-mail address prepared and specific for each participating centre. The ECGs sent will be evaluated electively (in the days following the sending of the patient's e-mail) by the enrolling doctors of the interested participating center. On the basis of the clinical significance of the mono-lead ECGs, the doctors themselves will take care of communicating to the patient via e-mail indications relating to the continuation of the follow-up (e.g.: invitation to send further tracings, absence of further measures in case of ECG single-lead non-pathological). In the event of diagnostic and/or therapeutic measures to be implemented following the reading of a trace sent (e.g. specialist visit in the outpatient clinics of the Participating Center), the doctor will contact the patient on the telephone number provided during enrollment for taking in charge.