Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Patient Directed Recording of a Bipolar Three-Lead Electrocardiogram using a Smartwatch with ECG Function
Published on: December 11, 2019
Comparison between smartphone electrocardiography and standard three-lead base apex electrocardiography in healthy
Brittany Welch-Huston1, Sian Durward-Akhurst2, Elaine Norton1
1Veterinary Population Medicine, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Smartphone electrocardiograms (ECGs) using AliveCor devices show good agreement with traditional Televet systems for measuring heart rate and detecting non-pathological arrhythmias in horses. This offers a practical alternative for equine veterinary diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Equine Electrophysiology
Background:
- Cardiac arrhythmias are common in horses, necessitating accurate electrocardiogram (ECG) diagnosis.
- Traditional three-lead base apex ECG systems (Televet) are not always practical for routine equine visits.
- Smartphone-based ECGs, like AliveCor, are gaining popularity in veterinary medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the diagnostic comparability of the AliveCor single-lead bipolar smartphone-based ECG with the Televet system in healthy horses.
- To assess interobserver agreement for both ECG devices.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous ECG recordings were obtained from 15 healthy horses using both AliveCor and Televet devices.
- Multiple observers evaluated the ECG measurements.
Main Results:
- Excellent agreement was found between AliveCor and Televet for heart rate and RR interval measurements.
- Moderate to good agreement was observed for detecting non-pathological arrhythmias.
- Agreement for detailed waveform measurements (P-wave, QRS duration, QT, PR, T-peak to T-end intervals) varied from poor to good.
Conclusions:
- The AliveCor smartphone ECG is a comparable alternative to the Televet system for equine heart rate and RR interval assessment.
- AliveCor demonstrates acceptable agreement with Televet for identifying non-pathogenic arrhythmias in horses, supporting its use in equine practice.
Background:
Cardiac arrhythmias are commonly auscultated during routine physical examinations in horses and determining the underlying electrical abnormality using an ECG is important. The most commonly used device is a three-lead base apex system (Televet), however few practitioners carry this for routine visits. With recognition of the utility of smartphone-based ECGs in humans, dogs and ruminants, the AliveCor single-lead bipolar smartphone-based ECG has gained popularity. The objective of this study was to determine if AliveCor and Televet ECG measurements were comparable in healthy horses using multiple observers.
Methods:
ECGs were performed on 15 healthy horses simultaneously using the AliveCor and Televet.
Results:
There was very good to perfect interdevice and interobserver agreement for heart rate and RR interval measurement, and moderate-to-good interdevice and interobserver agreement for detection of non-pathological arrhythmias. Interdevice agreement for measurement of P-wave and QRS duration, QT, PR and T-peak to T-end interval was poor to fair. Interestingly, interobserver agreement for P-wave and QRS duration, QT, PR, and T-peak to T-end interval measurements was fair to good.
Conclusion:
Overall, the AliveCor is comparable to the Televet for heart rate and RR measurement, and for the detection of non-pathogenic arrhythmias with acceptable agreement between observers.
More Related Videos
18:11A Research Method For Detecting Transient Myocardial Ischemia In Patients With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome Using Continuous ST-segment Analysis
Published on: December 28, 2012
06:07Analyzing Long-Term Electrocardiography Recordings to Detect Arrhythmias in Mice
Published on: May 23, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:28Electrocardiogram Fundamentals
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin...
01:29Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and...
01:25Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...
01:19Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm
01:24ECG Interpretation of Rhythms
Components of the Electrocardiogram
The primary components of a normal ECG waveform in Normal sinus rhythm(NSR) include the P wave, PR interval, QRS complex, ST segment, T wave, and occasionally a U wave.
ECG waveforms are divided by vertical and horizontal lines at standard intervals.
The horizontal axis measures time and rate, and the vertical axis measures amplitude or voltage....
01:30Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias