Basic ECG from a Mobile Device: AliveCor

AliveCor is a mobile ECG device and app that attaches to a smartphone and interprets the heart’s electrical activity equivalent to a basic 1-lead ECG. While it does not replace the standard 12-lead ECG, it does allow patients to monitor their basic heart rhythms as they go about their daily lives. AliveCor is FDA-approved to detect Atrial Fibrillation and a study published in JAMA has shown it to be able to detect wide complex tachycardia. When used to its full potential, the device and app can track an individual’s heart rhythms as they correspond to daily life. The individual records their ECG tracing then can enter details about their activity, diet, medications, etc. All of this information is stored for later reference and comparison or it can be sent to the patient’s cardiologist by email for immediate review. This device enables cardiologists to gather more comprehensive data about the activity of their patients’ hearts instead of having to rely on office visit ECG monitoring that may not be an accurate reflection of the patients’ varying conditions. As we truly live in a mobile world with increasing use and dependence on smartphones, it is exciting to see healthcare providers begin embracing the use of  smartphones in their practice to improve the health of their patients.

References:

http://www.alivecor.com/research

Waks, J. W., Fein, A. S., & Das, S. (2015). Wide complex tachycardia recorded with a smartphone cardiac rhythm monitor. JAMA Internal Medicine.

doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7586.

Retrieved from http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2091739#