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Published on: December 11, 2019
Home use of a compact, 12‑lead ECG recording system for newborns
Henry J Lin1, Yueh-Tze Lan2, Michael J Silka3
1Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA; Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Insights
Parents can effectively record electrocardiograms (ECGs) for newborn screening using a simple device. This new ECG recorder technology enables parents to obtain diagnostic quality readings for their infants at home.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neonatal Health
- Medical Device Development
Background:
- Developing user-friendly electrocardiogram (ECG) devices is crucial for early detection of heart conditions in newborns.
- A novel, one-piece electrode strip and compact 12-lead ECG recorder were specifically designed for neonatal use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of parents recording 12-lead ECGs on their newborns.
- To assess the quality of ECG recordings performed by parents compared to healthcare professionals.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 2582 newborns (2-4 weeks old) was conducted.
- Parents (1290) were randomized to perform ECG recordings, with 1292 serving as a control group recorded by staff.
- Parental educational backgrounds varied, with 64% having a high school education or less.
Main Results:
- 94% of parents successfully completed the 10-minute ECG recording, though some required assistance (42.6% verbal, 12.7% physical).
- The quality of ECGs recorded by parents was comparable to those recorded by healthcare staff.
- 87% of parents achieved diagnostic quality ECGs with minimal help.
Conclusions:
- A user-friendly, one-piece electrode strip and compact recorder facilitate diagnostic quality ECG recordings by parents for newborns.
- This technology shows promise for home-based newborn screening for cardiac abnormalities, potentially reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
Background:
An easy-to-operate ECG recorder should be useful for newborn screening for heart conditions, by health care workers - or parents. We developed a one-piece electrode strip and a compact, 12‑lead ECG recorder for newborns.
Method:
We enrolled 2582 newborns in a trial to assess abilities of parents to record a 12‑lead ECG on their infants (2-4 weeks-old). Newborns were randomized to recordings by parents (1290) or our staff (1292 controls). Educational backgrounds of parents varied, including 64% with no more than a high school diploma.
Results:
For newborns randomized to parent recorded ECGs, 94% of parents completed a 10-minute recording. However, 42.6% asked for verbal help, and 12.7% needed physical help. ECG quality was the same for recordings by parents versus staff.
Conclusions:
By use of a one-piece electrode strip and a compact recorder, 87% of parents recorded diagnostic quality ECGs on their newborn infants, with minimal assistance.
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