The Particulars: Detecting paroxysmal arrhythmia can be challenging for clinicians. Prolonged and real-time rhythm monitoring using mobile phones is a technology that has recently emerged. The diagnostic usefulness of this technology in paroxysmal arrhythmia is unknown.
Data Breakdown: For a study, 100 patients with paroxysmal arrhythmia were randomized to a mobile phone rhythm monitoring intervention. Of these patients, 84 had undergone 24-hour Holter monitoring with no detection of arrhythmic episodes. Mobile phone monitoring detected 19 abnormal rhythms (except premature beat) in 19 patients. Among 40 patients with suspicion of atrial fibrillation (AF), mobile phone monitoring detected 12 individuals who had paroxysmal AF.
Take Home Pearl: Prolonged rhythm monitoring via mobile phone appears to be better at detecting arrhythmic episodes than a conventional Holter monitoring system.
