Smart detection of atrial fibrillation†.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, and its paroxysmal nature makes its detection challenging. In this trial, we evaluated a novel App for its accuracy to differentiate between patients in AF and patients in sinus rhythm (SR) using the plethysmographic sensor of an iPhone 4S and the integrated LED only.

Methods And Results: For signal acquisition, we used an iPhone 4S, positioned with the camera lens and LED light on the index fingertip.

Validation of a New Heart Rate Measurement Algorithm for Fingertip Recording of Video Signals with Smartphones.

Introduction: This study investigates the accuracy of a heart rate (HR) measurement algorithm applied to a pulse wave. This was based on video signals recorded with a smartphone. The results of electrocardiographic HR and standard linear heart rate variability (HRV) analysis were used for reference.

Multidimensional ECG-based analysis of cardiac autonomic regulation predicts early AF recurrence after electrical cardioversion.

Background: Heart rate turbulence, deceleration capacity (DC), and symbolic dynamics (SD) are promising novel domains of autonomic indices representing the multidimensional qualities of autonomic heart rate dynamics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the impact of these novel indices in predicting early AF recurrence within the first month after electrical cardioversion (CV).

Methods: In 45 patients with AF, standard Holter recordings were commenced immediately after CV.

Endothelial dysfunction during acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction (EF) is a central phenomenon in a variety of conditions associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity. Here, we investigated EF during acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome before and 24h after medication. We aimed to analyze microcirculation, applying the post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) test and spectral analysis of skin vasomotion as markers of EF.

Multiscale entropy and detrended fluctuation analysis of QT interval and heart rate variability during normal pregnancy.

Pregnancy leads to physiological changes in various parameters of the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal changes in the structure and complexity of heart rate variability (HRV) and QT interval variability during the second half of normal gestation. We analysed 30-min high-resolution ECGs recorded monthly in 32 pregnant women, starting from the 20th week of gestation.

Dynamic microvascular blood flow analysis during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia test in patients with schizophrenia.

Patients suffering from schizophrenia have an increased mortality risk due to cardiovascular events. Recently the analysis of peripheral circulation has revealed interesting results in the study of vascular pathological conditions assuming that the state of microcirculation of the skin is at least partly representative for the constitution of other vascular beds including those of the cardiac muscle and arteries. The objective of this study was to investigate the microcirculation in patients with acute schizophrenia (PAT, n = 15, mean age 33.

Peripheral endothelial dysfunction in patients suffering from acute schizophrenia: a potential marker for cardiovascular morbidity?

Patients suffering from schizophrenia have an increased standardized ratio for cardiovascular mortality compared to the general population. Endothelial function was identified as a prominent parameter for cardiac risk stratification in patients with heart disease. Here, we aimed to analyze the reactivity of the microcirculation applying the post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) test and spectral analysis of skin vasomotion as markers of endothelial function.

Electrocardiologic and related methods of non-invasive detection and risk stratification in myocardial ischemia: state of the art and perspectives.

Background: Electrocardiographic methods still provide the bulk of cardiovascular diagnostics. Cardiac ischemia is associated with typical alterations in cardiac biosignals that have to be measured, analyzed by mathematical algorithms and allegorized for further clinical diagnostics. The fast growing fields of biomedical engineering and applied sciences are intensely focused on generating new approaches to cardiac biosignal analysis for diagnosis and risk stratification in myocardial ischemia.

Cardiogoniometric parameters for detection of coronary artery disease at rest as a function of stenosis localization and distribution.

Cardiogoniometry (CGM), a spatiotemporal electrocardiologic 5-lead method with automated analysis, may be useful in primary healthcare for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) at rest. Our aim was to systematically develop a stenosis-specific parameter set for global CAD detection. In 793 consecutively admitted patients with presumed non-acute CAD, CGM data were collected prior to elective coronary angiography and analyzed retrospectively.

Longitudinal changes in QT interval variability and rate adaptation in pregnancies with normal and abnormal uterine perfusion.

The maternal heart significantly adapts to the circulatory needs of pregnancy, but the effect of pregnancy on ventricular repolarization is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to quantify longitudinal changes in ventricular repolarization during pregnancy. Monthly electrocardiographs (ECGs) were recorded in 32 pregnant women with normal uterine perfusion and 32 pregnant women with abnormal perfusion, starting from the 20th week of gestation until 3 days postpartum.