AliveCor Smartphone Heart Monitor Put to the Test in Australian Pharmacies

AliveCor Inc. has announced publication of the results of its Search-AF trial, which used the AliveCor Heart Monitor to screen 1000 pharmacy customers over the age of 65 for atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of abnormal heart rhythm, at 10 community pharmacies in suburban Sydney, Australia.

The smartphone-based heart monitor, which was approved by FDA in 2012 and allowed to be sold over the counter earlier this year, was used to capture 30-60-second electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings and then wirelessly transmit them to the study's participating cardiologists for interpretation. The researchers reported that previously unknown AF was identified in 1.5 percent of the people screened; all were said to be at high risk of stroke.

The study, titled "Feasibility and Cost Effectiveness of Stroke Prevention through Community Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Using iPhone ECG in Pharmacies," was published online in the April issue of the Thrombosis and Haemostasis journal.

For the study, pharmacists performed pulse palpation and the iPhone ECG (iECG) recordings, with a cardiologist over-reading the iECG results.  When a previously unsuspected case of AF was detected by the AliveCor Heart Monitor, review by a general practitioner and a 12-lead ECG was facilitated.

Most of the people with newly discovered AF had no symptoms. The study's authors said, "This study highlights one application of mobile ECG technology that can help facilitate cost-effective preventative medical care."

"Community screening using the AliveCor Heart Monitor in pharmacies has shown to be both feasible and cost effective in helping physicians identify people with AF, the most common abnormal heart rhythm, which is responsible for a third of all strokes," said the study's lead cardiologist, Ben Freedman, MD. "In many cases AF is not known before a stroke, so screening for AF and treating with effective medications could make an impact on reducing the community burden of stroke."

AliveCor makes three versions of its Heart Monitor. It is available mounted in a case for the iPhone 5 and 5S or for the Samsung Galaxy S4, and also with a universal attachment plate to fit other smartphones. The company's free AliveECG app is available in iOS and Android flavors. The app can email or print ECGs, or can save them as PDFs.

Stephen Levy is a contributor to Qmed and MPMN.