Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34241681›Full record

ArticleHerzschrittmachertherapie & Elektrophysiologie2021

Feasibility of digital atrial fibrillation screening in an elderly population : The Ulm heart rhythm weeks.

Ralf Birkemeyer, Laura Maisch, Tillman Dahme, Jochen Spieß, Katharina Althaus, Steffen Schneider, Ursula Ravens, Doreen Haase, Ulrich Schotten

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Herzschrittmachertherapie & Elektrophysiologie, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 49% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Ralf BirkemeyerHerzklinik Ulm, Magirusstr. 49, 89077, Ulm/Donau, Germany. birkemeyer@me.com.
Laura MaischUniversity of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Tillman DahmeDepartment of Cardiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Jochen SpießKardiologische Gemeinschaftspraxis Dres. Hofmeister, Spieß, Wohlfrom, Ulm, Germany.
Katharina AlthausDepartment of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Steffen SchneiderInstitut für Herzinfarktforschung, Ludgwigshafen, Germany.
Ursula RavensUniversity of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Doreen HaaseKompetenznetz Vorhofflimmern e. V., Münster, Germany.
Ulrich SchottenKompetenznetz Vorhofflimmern e. V., Münster, Germany.
Universität Ulm · DEAtrial Fibrillation NETwork · DEMaastricht University · NLStiftung Institut für Herzinfarktforschung · DEUniversity Hospital Ulm · DEUniversity of Freiburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsAtrial fibrillation (AF) screening in risk populations has the potential to prevent strokes. The authors tested the feasibility of a digital program with initial photoplethysmographic (PPG) self-screening and cardiologist-attended electrocardiographic (ECG) confirmation of screen-positive cases.

methodsInhabitants of the city of Ulm aged ≥ 65 years were invited to participate. After digital consent, participants were given access to a smartphone application for 14 days of self-screening (two recordings per day recommended). Screen-positive participants without known AF were invited to present to a cardiologist for AF confirmation with a 14-day ECG event recorder. PPG recordings were first analyzed by algorithm using a combination of linear and non-linear methods. The quality of pathological (classified by algorithm) PPG and all ECG recordings were checked by a telecare service. Primary outcomes included adherence to the screening protocol defined as the proportion of participants performing at least 14 PPG recordings (or until documentation of absolute arrhythmia) and the proportion of pathological PPG and all ECG recordings rejected by the telecare center.

resultsA total of 215 participants registered. Of these, 204 (95%) performed at least one recording and 169 (79%) reached the performance target of two sufficient measurements per day; 75 PPG recordings were automatically classified as pathological by algorithm; 14 (19%) were rejected by the telecare service due to poor quality. Of the 12 participants with a suspected first diagnosis of AF, five visited a cardiologist as part of the study. Of 1090 ECG recordings obtained, 390 (36%) were qualified as non-diagnostic. AF was confirmed in three cases.

conclusionsA digital AF screening program with initial self-screening and referral of screen-positive cases to a cardiologist-attended ECG-confirmation service is feasible with meaningful results in an elderly risk population. However, the availability of the target population of persons > 65 years of age for such a digital screening program appears to be limited despite extensive public relations activities.

Indexed as

Atrial FibrillationAgedElectrocardiographyFeasibility StudiesHumansMass ScreeningPhotoplethysmographyAtrial fibrillationElderly risk populationsMHealthScreeningStroke prevention

Identifiers

PMID34241681
OpenAlexW3178978698

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.