Tachycardia detection using smartphone applications in pediatric patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Pediatric Electrophysiology

Background:

• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a common arrhythmia in children.
• Accurate heart rate monitoring is crucial for diagnosing and managing SVT.
• Smartphone applications offer a potential low-cost method for heart rate measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of smartphone applications in measuring heart rates during SVT in pediatric patients.
• To compare smartphone app heart rate measurements with standard electrocardiogram (ECG) readings.

Main Methods:

• 26 pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing electrophysiology studies were enrolled.
• Heart rates were measured using two smartphone apps and a simultaneous ECG during baseline and SVT.
• Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess accuracy.

Main Results:

• Apps showed good accuracy at baseline (within ±4 bpm of ECG).
• During SVT, accuracy varied significantly; one app achieved r=0.99 at rates <200 bpm but failed frequently.
• Neither app consistently provided accurate heart rates above 200 bpm during SVT.

Conclusions:

• Current smartphone apps are unreliable for measuring pediatric SVT heart rates >200 bpm.
• These apps should not be used for assessing heart rates during SVT in pediatric patients.
• Further research and validation are required for potential use in detecting slower SVT or normal heart rates.