Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42893252›Full record

ArticleGastro hep advances2026

At-Home Critical Flicker Frequency Testing in Cirrhosis: A Feasibility Pilot Study Using the Novel Beacon Device.

Philip Vutien, Richard Li, Ravi Karkar, James Fogarty, Sean A Munson, Sabrina Omer, Michael Yacoub, James Kashima, George N Ioannou

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Gastro hep advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Philip VutienDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Richard LiPaul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Ravi KarkarPaul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
James FogartyPaul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Sean A MunsonHuman Centered Design and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Sabrina OmerDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Michael YacoubDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
James KashimaDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
George N IoannouDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Funding

Open Tools for Self-Tracking, Self Experimentation, and Patient-Provider Collaboration in Symptom Self-Management and Clinical CareR01LM012810 · NLM · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI FOGARTY, JAMES A · 2018 to 2021
$1.3M
Evaluating a novel, portable, self-administered device ("Flicker-App") that measures critical flicker frequency as a test for minimal hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosisR21DK117431 · NIDDK · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI FOGARTY, JAMES A, IOANNOU, GEORGE · 2019 to 2020
$411k
NIDDK NIH HHS R21 DK117431NLM NIH HHS R01 LM012810
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aims: Critical flicker frequency (CFF) is a well-validated neurophysiologic screening test for minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in cirrhosis. We evaluated the feasibility and reliability of repeated at-home, self-administered CFF testing using a novel device (Beacon). Methods: We enrolled 21 participants with cirrhosis. Each received a Beacon device and smartphone preloaded with an application to measure CFF using 2 protocols: (1) method of limits-descending (MOL-D) and (2) forced choice. Participants were instructed to complete ≥5 tests per week for 2 weeks, followed by ≥ 1 test per week for an additional 4 weeks. Outcomes included adherence, test duration, and longitudinal CFF trends to assess potential learning effects from repeated testing. Results: Participants were predominantly male (76%) with a mean age of 52.2 years; 43% had alcohol-related liver disease and 38% had prior overt HE. Adherence (completing ≥70% of recommended measurements) was observed in 19 (90.5%) for daily and 16 participants (76.2%) for weekly testing. Median CFF was 42.9 Hz (interquartile range: 38.4-44.4) by MOL-D and 43.7 Hz (interquartile range: 41.7-45.8) by forced choice. Forced choice CFF was significantly lower in those with prior HE (median 40.7 Hz vs 44.9 Hz; Conclusion: Beacon enabled reliable, self-administered CFF testing at home with high adherence and no evidence of learning effects. Further studies incorporating other validated MHE tools are needed to determine whether at-home CFF monitoring can detect MHE early and prevent overt HE episodes and hospitalizations.

Indexed as

BeaconCovert EncephalopathyFlicker-AppFlicker FusionHome Testing

Identifiers

PMID42893252
PMCPMC13676198

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.