Survey of current perspectives on consumer-available digital health devices for detecting atrial fibrillation

Eric Y. Ding, MS; Emma Svennberg, MD, PhD; Christina Wurster, MBA; David Duncker, MD; Martin Manninger, MD, PhD; Steven A. Lubitz, MD, MPH; Emily Dickson, BS; Timothy P. Fitzgibbons, MD, PhD; Nazem Akoum, MD, MS, FHRS; Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS; Zachi I. Attia, PhD; Hamid Ghanbari, MD, MPH; Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, FHRS; G. Stuart Mendenhall, MD, FHRS; Nicholas S. Peters, MD, FHRS; Khaldoun G. Tarakji, MD, MPH, FHRS; Mintu Turakhia, MD, MPH, FHRS; Elaine Y. Wan, MD, FHRS; David D. McManus, MD, ScM, FHRS

Cardiovascular Digital Health Journal (Jul 2020)

Survey of current perspectives on consumer-available digital health devices for detecting atrial fibrillation

Eric Y. Ding, MS,
Emma Svennberg, MD, PhD,
Christina Wurster, MBA,
David Duncker, MD,
Martin Manninger, MD, PhD,
Steven A. Lubitz, MD, MPH,
Emily Dickson, BS,
Timothy P. Fitzgibbons, MD, PhD,
Nazem Akoum, MD, MS, FHRS,
Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS,
Zachi I. Attia, PhD,
Hamid Ghanbari, MD, MPH,
Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, FHRS,
G. Stuart Mendenhall, MD, FHRS,
Nicholas S. Peters, MD, FHRS,
Khaldoun G. Tarakji, MD, MPH, FHRS,
Mintu Turakhia, MD, MPH, FHRS,
Elaine Y. Wan, MD, FHRS,
David D. McManus, MD, ScM, FHRS

Affiliations

Eric Y. Ding, MS: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; Address reprint requests and correspondence: Mr Eric Ding, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Albert Sherman Center, AS7-1075K, Worcester, MA 01605.
Emma Svennberg, MD, PhD: Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Karolinska Hospital, Solna, Sweden
Christina Wurster, MBA: Heart Rhythm Society, Washington, District of Columbia
David Duncker, MD: Rhythmology and Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Martin Manninger, MD, PhD: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
Steven A. Lubitz, MD, MPH: Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Emily Dickson, BS: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
Timothy P. Fitzgibbons, MD, PhD: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
Nazem Akoum, MD, MS, FHRS: Atrial Fibrillation Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
Zachi I. Attia, PhD: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Hamid Ghanbari, MD, MPH: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, FHRS: Cardiac Electrophysiology Division, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
G. Stuart Mendenhall, MD, FHRS: Department of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California
Nicholas S. Peters, MD, FHRS: National Heart and Lung Institute & Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London & NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
Khaldoun G. Tarakji, MD, MPH, FHRS: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
Mintu Turakhia, MD, MPH, FHRS: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
Elaine Y. Wan, MD, FHRS: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
David D. McManus, MD, ScM, FHRS: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1, no. 1
pp. 21 – 29

Abstract

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Background: Many digital health technologies capable of atrial fibrillation (AF) detection are directly available to patients. However, adaptation into clinical practice by heart rhythm healthcare practitioners (HCPs) is unclear. Objective: To examine HCP perspectives on use of commercial technologies for AF detection and management. Methods: We created an electronic survey for HCPs assessing practice demographics and perspectives on digital devices for AF detection and management. The survey was distributed electronically to all members of 3 heart rhythm professional societies. Results: We received 1601 responses out of 73,563 e-mails sent, with 43.6% from cardiac electrophysiologists, 12.8% from fellows, and 11.6% from advanced practice practitioners. Most respondents (62.3%) reported having recommended patient use of a digital device for AF detection. Those who did not had concerns about their accuracy (29.6%), clinical utility of results (22.8%), and integration into electronic health records (19.8%). Results from a 30-second single-lead electrocardiogram were sufficient for 42.7% of HCPs to recommend oral anticoagulation for patients at high risk for stroke. Respondents wanted more data comparing the accuracy of digital devices to conventional devices for AF monitoring (64.9%). A quarter (27.3%) of HCPs had no reservations recommending digital devices for AF detection, and most (53.4%) wanted guidelines from their professional societies providing guidance on their optimal use. Conclusion: Many HCPs have already integrated digital devices into their clinical practice. However, HCPs reported facing challenges when using digital technologies for AF detection, and professional society recommendations on their use are needed.

Published in Cardiovascular Digital Health Journal

ISSN: 2666-6936 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system; Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical technology
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/cardiovascular-digital-health-journal

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