Clinical Application of a New Handheld ECG Device

Overview

To investigate possible heart disease, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is needed. For this, a person usually must go to the hospital, sometimes urgently. There, an ECG is performed using a device with 10 wires attached to the skin with adhesive pads or suction cups. Taken together, a time-consuming procedure. With a simple and pocket-size ECG device, it is being investigated whether this procedure can be made faster and easier, thereby improving the availability and accessibility of a heart tracing. With a simple and pocket-size ECG device, it is being investigated whether this procedure can be made faster and easier, thereby improving the availability and accessibility of a heart tracing. By holding this new device against the chest, a heart recording is made and stored via a smartphone so that it can be remotely reviewed by a doctor. The goal of this study is to establish that the new method of ECG registration is at least as good as the conventional way. The number of successfully completed (suitable for interpretation) ECGs will be compared to the total number of ECG registrations; also, the number of adverse events will be scored as well as user satisfaction. There are no risks associated with participating in this study. The burden is minimal: an extra ECG within 1 minute without using any adhesives or wires.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) affect around 620Mn people, 1 in 13 of the world's population. The number of people affected is increasing due to changing lifestyles and a growing and aging population. CVDs are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. They place a significant burden on healthcare systems, government budgets, and the lives of patients and caregivers. In 2019, CVDs accounted for 17.9Mn deaths worldwide - 32% of all deaths. Specifically, heart attacks and strokes were responsible for 85% of these deaths, with a third occurring prematurely in individuals under 70 years4. The total annual costs of CVDs, including healthcare costs, productivity losses, and informal care, are estimated to be around €210Bn in Europe and €380Bn in the US. Over the past decades, significant progress in CVD diagnostics has resulted in a wide range of diagnostic tools. However, the gold-standard 12-lead ECG remains indispensable for accurately detecting complex and life-threatening cardiac conditions like myocardial infarction (MI). While simpler devices provide convenience, they lack the precision needed for diagnosing such critical pathologies. HeartEye is a Dutch pioneering medical technology company that has developed and aims to receive regulatory approvals of a handheld ECG device to provide accessible, accurate, and user-friendly electrocardiogram (ECG) diagnostics through innovative technology, and portable, medical-grade devices that empower individuals and healthcare professionals (HCPs) with timely and precise cardiac health insights. To test the employment, feasibility, clinical performance, and safety of HeartEye's ECG device, 594 patients admitted to the hospital will be enrolled for (near) simultaneous registration of a standard ECG and a HeartEye ECG for comparison of diagnosis by an independent expert panel of cardiologists to assess the degree of agreement. A HeartEye ECG can be performed within 60 seconds by simply holding the device against the chest without the use of adhesives, thereby causing minimal burden or risks for patients, if any.