Detection of atrial fibrillation after a stroke facilitated by electrocardiographic technology

Researchers have developed a new, simpler method of detecting irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) after a stroke. At present, clinics rely on standard cardiac telemetry to detect AF frequently seen after a stroke.

Michigan Medicine's team of researchers has now developed the electrocardiomator that could badyze large amounts of cardiovascular telemetry data to detect and detect AF, if any.

The results of the research with the new technology were published in a study entitled "Electrocardiomatrix Facilitates Accurate Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Stroke Patients"In the last issue of the journal Stroke.

According to the co-inventor of electrocardiographic technology, Jimo Borjigin, Associate Professor of Neurology and Molecular and Integrative Physiology at Michigan Medicine, "We have validated the use of our technology in a clinical setting. For us, the electrocardiomatrix was an accurate method if a survivor of stroke had an Afib. The team used data from 260 stroke patients to prove that their technology was effective in determining AFib.

The researchers explained that an episode of stroke is followed by a thorough review of all risk factors that could lead to another similar stroke in the future. The detection of AF or AF is one of the risk factors that doctors must look for. The first author of the study, Devin Brown, MD, a professor of neurology and stroke neurologist at Michigan Medicine, explained that the search for atrial fibrillation is a measure to look for a risk factor for heart disease. another stroke. She said, "Atrial fibrillation is a very important and modifiable risk factor for stroke."

According to Borjigin, they accurately detected FA in 212 patients in their study. These patients had no history or confirmed FA records. She explained that patients who had never had FA in the past are the ones to watch for after an episode of stroke. She added that irregular heartbeat due to FA in such patients could lead to clots that could lead to further clot formation. Taking an anticoagulant or an anticoagulant can prevent such cases, she said.

Patient data were collected in a stroke treatment unit between April 2017 and January 2018. The electrocardiomator generated results from patient telemetry data that was badyzed by a non-physician researcher. The team then compared the medical record documentation of the AF with the telemetry clinicians and the results of the electrocardiograph to verify the accuracy of both methods. A total of 265 stroke patients were included, 88% of whom had ischemic stroke. The results revealed that the electrocardiomatrice could be used successfully to detect FA in 260 cases.

Brown added that it was difficult to detect AF in hospitalized patients after a stroke. She added, "A more accurate identification of atrial fibrillation should help prevent further strokes." The researchers explain that all patients admitted to the hospital after a stroke are subject to a permanent heart monitor. The idea was to detect in these patients an episode or intermittent AF that could have been missed during the initial electrocardiogram, or ECG.

According to Brown, it is difficult to pinpoint AF with instant heartbeat snapshots and it is also difficult for a physician to view all the data generated by the heart monitors during the patient's hospitalization. Neurologists examine ECGs and may either miss important arrhythmias (false negatives) or detect them if they are not present (false positives).

Borjigin explains that their electrocardiomatrice technology solves this problem of excessive data by converting two-dimensional ECG signals into three-dimensional thermal maps allowing a patient to get a complete overview of the situation. She added that this method allowed rapid, accurate and correct detection of cardiac arrhythmias and reduced the risk of diagnosing arrhythmias in the absence – false positives. It also avoids false negatives – not reporting any arrhythmia despite the presence of intermittent arrhythmias, she explained. She said, "We had initially noted five false positives and five false negatives in the study … but an expert actually concluded that the electrocardiomatrix was correct instead of the clinical documentation to which we were comparing. "

The researchers concluded: "The electrocardiographic application to telemetry data acquired per stroke unit is achievable and appears to have greater accuracy compared to traditional monitor badysis performed by non-cardiologists. "

The team hopes their technology will soon allow doctors to detect arrhythmias in other critical care situations. This could help differentiate arrhythmias such as AF and atrial flutter, they add or prevent complications badociated with arrhythmia in patients. Borjigin hopes that this technology will soon be able to be used with the ECG to help patients with arrhythmia. She said: "I think that sooner or later, the electrocardiomatrix will be used in clinical practice for the benefit of patients."