Project R-10690

Capability and impact of a (semi-)continuous digital cardiac rhythm monitor for the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in a real-world, at-risk patient population. (Research)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder with a prevalence of 2%. Optimization of AF disease management will be a prime public health target over the next decades, as a greying population and increasing prevalence of risk factors are resulting in a true AF epidemic. AF leads to an increased morbidity and mortality and has an impact on the quality of life of patients. Succinctly, it is an important public health challenge with major social and economic implications. The current gold standard technologies for AF detection are based on electrocardiography (ECG), which already implies the need for advanced technologies. For in-hospital diagnostics, a 12-lead ECG is considered the gold standard. In an ambulatory setting, a 24-hour Holter monitor, an ECG Patch or an implantable cardiac device is available. However, these technologies have a significant cost impact and require logistics to manage the hardware. Therefore, the aim of this PhD project is to validate and implement FibriCheck, an innovative digital technology able to diagnose heart rhythm disorders using only a smartphone. This technology records and analyses a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal to detect arrhythmias. Although it offers important advantages, the introduction of PPG into clinical practice is accompanied with significant challenges. This raises the following questions: Can PPG traces be interpreted by physicians and aid in clinical decision making? What is the clinical relevance of more and faster AF-detection? Can new technologies like FibriCheck be implemented in a cost-saving way? Is a transition from current spot-check measurements with a smartphone towards (semi-)continuous monitoring with a smartwatch achievable?

01 March 2020 - 31 May 2027