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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Patient Directed Recording of a Bipolar Three-Lead Electrocardiogram using a Smartwatch with ECG Function
Published on: December 11, 2019
Arrhythmia in an athlete diagnosed by smartphone electrocardiogram: a case report
Daniel Phillips1, Peter O'Callaghan1, Abbas Zaidi1
1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK.
Background:
This is the first case report demonstrating the use of a smartphone device, enabling the diagnosis of an arrhythmia in the sports cardiology literature.
Case Summary:
A 17-year-old semi-professional rugby player presented with recurrent episodes of palpitations terminated by vagal manoeuvres. The rugby player's resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, and exercise stress test were normal. Due to his suggestive history and an ECG trace from a smartphone device, demonstrating a narrow complex tachycardia, an electrophysiological study was arranged. The study demonstrated a slow-fast atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia which was successfully ablated.
Discussion:
The ambulatory use of a smartphone ECG device assisted in the timely diagnosis and management of an undiagnosed paroxysmal arrhythmia in a rugby player. This resulted in an expedited return to play.
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