As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person living in the US dies every 33 seconds because of a heart-related disorder, thus making it one of the leading causes of death in America. These heart diseases include conditions such as heart attack and coronary heart disease. However, the early detection of these conditions through ECG monitoring, followed by the provision of proper treatment, can significantly reduce this high incidence. For this purpose, multiple tests like ECG monitoring have been given focused attention by both physicians and scientists.
Latest ECG machines are wearable and remote which further increases their utilization. Let us learn what ECG is, which remote ECG monitoring devices have been introduced in the market, and how do they work.
What is ECG?
ECG, also known as EKG, is an abbreviation for electrocardiogram. It is a non-invasive test that is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. The method has high utility when there is a need to find out certain heart conditions. Electrocardiography is the method used to generate an electrocardiogram of the heart.
What are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
The American Heart Association (AHA) has enlisted the following risk factors that can become the cause of different heart diseases:
● Smoking
● Physical inactivity
● Obesity
● Poor nutrition
● High cholesterol levels
● Disturbed sleep
● Hypertension i.e. high blood pressure
Symptoms Associated with Heart Diseases
In case of heart disease present in a patient, she or he is likely to experience the following symptoms:
● Chest pain
● Frequent sweating
● Shortness of breath
● Dizziness
● Nausea
● Swelling of ankles
● Extreme fatigue
● Pain in the jaw
● Irregular heartbeats
Invention of Wearable ECG Monitoring Devices
The development of wearable electrocardiogram or ECG machines has revolutionized ECG monitoring and the overall monitoring of the heart. These devices have been successfully connected with the following day-to-day systems:
● Mobile phones
● Smartwatches
● Body area network
● Commercial Bluetooth sensor
● Smart textiles
How Does a Remote ECG Monitoring Device Work?
In remote ECG systems, a microprocessor is installed along with electrodes. Just like the lab-based ECG machine, wearable systems work by attaching electrodes to the skin which are responsible for identifying and recording the pattern of electrical activity of the heart.
Properties of a Wearable ECG Machine
A wearable ECG machine, enhancing ECG monitoring, has the following features which make it a preferred choice over the laboratory-based ECG system:
● Compact in size
● Light in weight
● Portable
● Gel-free usage
● Waterproof body
● High durability
● High precision
Advantages of a Continuous ECG Monitoring Device
The remote ECG machines employed for taking the electrical activity of the heart have the following advantages over the conventional ECG machines:
● Continuous ECG monitoring followed by data storage for future use
● Increased patient comfort as wearing the device is easy
● Less or no skin irritation which is often associated with conventional ECG systems
● Dry electrodes provide as much precision as given by a lab-based ECG machine
● Remote ECG machines also assist the ambulatory ECG monitoring
Wearable ECG Machines: Examples
Some of the innovative ECG devices are still in the developmental and testing phase. However, others have become available in the market. Some of these devices have been detailed as follows:
● ECG Holter Monitor System
An ECG Holter monitor is one of the portable systems that is capable of recording a person’s heart rate over a period of 24 to 48 hours or longer. Holter monitoring works by placing electrodes on the chest which are then connected to a portable ECG machine using wires.
As soon as the system starts working, electrodes detect the electrical activity of the heart which is then recorded and saved. In addition to the measurement of ECG, a Holter monitor can also be used for the following purposes:
● For the evaluation of chest pain which is not being detected by the exercise testing
● For the identification of irregular heartbeats
● For checking the effectiveness of a pacemaker
● For evaluating the efficacy of treatment provided for complex arrhythmias
Apart from these, holter monitor is also a great choice for ambulatory ECG analysis.
● Wrist Wearables-PPG Sensor Incorporated Smart Watches
Smartwatches have been affixed with PPG sensors as well as with a single-lead ECG. These can be worn by the patient on a daily basis. Studies have shown that these systems have 96.9% sensitivity as well as 99.3% specificity for detecting the electrical activity of the heart.
· ECG Patches-ZioPatch by iRhythm Technologies
An ECG patch monitor is a wearable device that can detect cardiac activity for periods even longer than a Holter monitor. Due to being easy to use and extremely lightweight, these ECG patches are often the patient’s first choice as they do not interfere with day-to-day activities.
In this regard, ZioPatch has been introduced in the US by iRhythm Technologies. It is cordless and adhesive in nature. A patient can self-apply this patch to the chest. ZioPatch can detect and record cardiac activity continuously for a period of 14 days.
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Conclusion
For patients who are dealing with heart disease, it is essential to take an ECG test on a regular basis to determine the fluctuations in the heart rhythm. Considering the efficiency of the ECG test in this regard as well as its wide acceptance due to being an easy-to-conduct test that is non-invasive and precise, newer ECG devices are being introduced that are remote and wearable.
One such system is the holter monitor which is being used by multiple patients. A holter monitor keeps on working for 24 to 48 continuously and records all the data which is then saved for analysis by the physician. Like holter monitoring system, many other wearable ECG machines are in their testing phase which are expected to be launched soon into the US market.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
- https://professional.heart.org/-/media/PHD-Files-2/Science-News/2/2023-Heart-and-Stroke-Stat-Update/2023-Statistics-At-A-Glance-final_1_17_23.pdf
- 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2016.06.015
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.853614/full
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
