Use of a Patient-Activated Event Recording System in Patients with Tachycardic Palpitations: How Long to Follow Up?
Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol
; 20(6): 566-9, 2015 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26246467
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Palpitations are a common symptom causing patients to consult a cardiologist, yet diagnosing a potential cardiac origin can be difficult. In patients with a nondiagnostic Holter-ECG, external loop-recorders are an additional tool to diagnose the clinical arrhythmia in these patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the additional value of an external, patient-activated loop recorder and to determine the optimal time of follow up needed to achieve a symptom-rhythm correlation with the device. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
A total of 1404 patients presented to our outpatient clinic between November 2011 and November 2014 for first time evaluation of symptomatic arrhythmias. Of a total of 91 patients were included (age 43.6±18.1; 69.2% female) in the study. All patients presented with tachycardic palpitations and a 48-hour Holter-ECG that did not detect relevant arrhythmias. All patients were given a "leadless" patient-activated event-recording system and regular follow-up visits were scheduled after 3, 6, and 12 months. Within a maximum follow-up time of 1 year, 72 patients (79.1%) recorded at least one ECG with the device. Of the recorded ECGs, 51% were recorded within the first week after the device was handed out. This figure rises to 80% and 93% after 1 and 2 months. The last recording was after 174 days.CONCLUSION:
For patients with tachycardic palpitations, the external "leadess" event recorders are effective in achieving a symptom-rhythm correlation. A follow up of 2 months will suffice to establish a diagnosis in a large majority of this patient group.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Taquicardia
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Eletrocardiografia Ambulatorial
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article