Necklace-embedded electrocardiogram for the detection and diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the major cause of stroke since approximately 25% of all strokes are of cardioembolic-origin. The detection and diagnosis of AF are often challenging due to the asymptomatic and intermittent nature of AF.

Hypothesis: A wearable electrocardiogram (ECG)-device could increase the likelihood of AF detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of a novel, consumer-grade, single-lead ECG recording device (Necklace-ECG) for screening, identifying and diagnosing of AF both by a cardiologist and automated AF-detection algorithms.

Methods: A thirty-second ECG was recorded with the Necklace-ECG device from two positions; between the palms (palm) and between the palm and the chest (chest). Simultaneously registered 3-lead ECGs (Holter) served as a golden standard for the final rhythm diagnosis. Two cardiologists interpreted independently in a blinded fashion the Necklace-ECG recordings from 145 patients (66 AF and 79 sinus rhythm, SR). In addition, the Necklace-ECG recordings were analyzed with an automatic AF detection algorithm.

Results: Two cardiologists diagnosed the correct rhythm of the interpretable Necklace-ECG with a mean sensitivity of 97.2% and 99.1% (palm and chest, respectively) and specificity of 100% and 98.5%. The automatic arrhythmia algorithm detected the correct rhythm with a sensitivity of 94.7% and 98.3% (palm and chest) and specificity of 100% of the interpretable measurements.

Conclusions: The novel Necklace-ECG device is able to detect AF with high sensitivity and specificity as evaluated both by cardiologists and an automated AF-detection algorithm. Thus, the wearable Necklace-ECG is a new, promising method for AF screening.

Clinical Trial Registration: Study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT03753139).