Mobile health adherence for the detection of recurrent recent-onset atrial fibrillation

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Rachel M. J. van der Velden
  • Nikki A. H. A. Pluymaekers
  • Elton A. M. P. Dudink
  • Justin G. L. M. Luermans
  • Joan G. Meeder
  • Wilfred F. Heesen
  • Timo Lenderink
  • Jos W. M. G. Widdershoven
  • Jeroen J. J. Bucx
  • Michiel Rienstra
  • Otto Kamp
  • Jurren M. van Opstal
  • Charles J. H. J. Kirchhof
  • Vincent F. van Dijk
  • Henk P. Swart
  • Marco Alings
  • Isabelle C. Van Gelder
  • Harry J. G. M. Crijns
  • Dr Linz, Dominik Karl

Objective The Rate Control versus Electrical Cardioversion Trial 7-Acute Cardioversion versus Wait and See trial compared early to delayed cardioversion for patients with recent-onset symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aims to evaluate the adherence to a 4-week mobile health (mHealth) prescription to detect AF recurrences after an emergency department visit.

Methods After the emergency department visit, the 437 included patients, irrespective of randomisation arm (early or delayed cardioversion), were asked to record heart rate and rhythm for 1 min three times daily and in case of symptoms by an electrocardiography-based handheld device for 4 weeks (if available). Adherence was appraised as number of performed measurements per number of recordings asked from the patient and was evaluated for longitudinal adherence consistency. All patients who used the handheld device were included in this subanalysis.

Results 335 patients (58% males; median age 67 (IQR 11) years) were included. The median overall adherence of all patients was 83.3% (IQR 29.9%). The median number of monitoring days was 27 out of 27 (IQR 5), whereas the median number of full monitoring days was 16 out of 27 (IQR 14). Higher age and a previous paroxysm of AF were identified as multivariable adjusted factors associated with adherence.

Conclusions In this randomised trial, a 4-week mHealth prescription to monitor for AF recurrences after an emergency department visit for recent-onset AF was feasible with 85.7% of patients consistently using the device with at least one measurement per day. Older patients were more adherent.

Original languageEnglish
JournalHeart
Volume109
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)26–33
ISSN1355-6037
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

    Research areas

  • RHYTHM, CARDIOVERSION

ID: 319255274