Comparative assessment of shockable ECG rhythm detection algorithms in automated external defibrillators

The sensitivity and specificity to ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), classified as requiring immediate DC shock, of four automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and three advisory defibrillators were assessed using the Department of Health Arrhythmia library. This library collected mostly from patients in hospital, includes a wide variety of ECG rhythms including many with additional noise and interference artefact. The library comprised 278 16-s rhythms, 59 of which were VF, 36 were VT requiring cardioversion and 183 were deemed non-shockable. Non-shockable rhythms included asystole, pacing, slow VT, idioventricular rhythms, sinus and atrial based rhythms, some of which contained ventricular ectopic activity of differing grades. For the AEDs, a positive result (indicating detection of a shockable rhythm) was recorded if charging started or was able to be started at any time during the 16 s of rhythm output and energy subsequently available for discharge. For the advisory defibrillators, a positive result was recorded if a 'shock advised' alert was issued at any time during output of the rhythm. The AEDs exhibited sensitivities to VF in the range 81-94%, and to VF plus shockable VT 64-73%, or 72-83% depending whether VT > 150 beats/min or > 180 beats/min is considered to be shockable. The specificities recorded were in the range 90-94% and 86-92%, respectively. All but one of the advisory defibrillators performed similarly. Excluding the artefact rhythms, specificities in the range 79-91% were obtained. All figures stated are at the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval.