Cleveland Clinic and AliveCor published the online publication of study results from Cleveland Clinic’s iTransmit Study, “Evaluating the Efficacy and Feasibility of a Novel Wireless Recording System Using Smartphone in Monitoring Patients After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Procedure”. The study found that the AliveCor Heart Monitor had 100% sensitivity (also called true positive rate) and 97% specificity (true negative rate) for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter, combined, compared to a traditional transtelephonic monitor (TTM).
The objective of the study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the AliveCor Heart Monitor in monitoring patients after AF ablation by comparing it to traditional TTMs. The study included patients who had an iPhone and who were undergoing AF ablation with or without concurrent ablation for atrial flutter. Each eligible patient was provided an AliveCor Heart Monitor and a TTM and were asked to record ECGs using both monitors simultaneously whenever they had symptoms and on a regular fixed weekly schedule.
When asked which monitor the patient’s would prefer to use if they had an option, the vast majority (92%) chose the AliveCor Heart Monitor.AliveCor Heart Monitor recordings were wirelessly transferred to a secured email account and TTM recordings were transmitted using landlines. Independent electrophysiologists provided blinded interpretations of each AliveCor Heart Monitor recording, while TTM recordings were interpreted by the primary electrophysiologist. Recordings that occurred simultaneously were compared at the end of the follow-up period, and it was found that the AliveCor Heart Monitor could detect sinus rhythm 97% of the time, and AF and atrial flutter 100% of the time with 3% false positives. When asked which monitor the patient’s would prefer to use if they had an option, the vast majority (92%) chose the AliveCor Heart Monitor.
AF is the most common arrhythmia, and many patients undergo ablations in order to treat their AF. ECG monitoring after an ablation procedure plays an important role in assessing the success of the procedure and guiding a patient’s course of treatment. As recurrence of AF is not uncommon during the first three months after an ablation, monitoring is extremely important as it can identify high-risk patients who might need a second procedure or anti-arrhythmic drug therapy.