Optimal duration of event recording for diagnosis of arrhythmias in patients with palpitations and light-headedness in the general practice.
BACKGROUND
Patient-activated continuous-loop event recorders (CER) are useful as a diagnostic tool in new episodes of palpitations and/or dizziness. So far, no analysis of optimal duration for monitoring in unselected patients has been published.


METHODS
During a period of 30 days, we prospectively evaluated the time until diagnosis using CER in patients with symptoms of palpitations and/or dizziness in general practice.


RESULTS
In total, 127 patients received an event recorder for a maximum duration of 30 days. Events were recorded by 104 patients (82%), of whom 83 (78%) showed an arrhythmia. After 2 weeks, 75% of all diagnoses and 83.3% of all clinically relevant diagnoses could be established.


CONCLUSIONS
The yield of event recording in general practice diminishes with recording time. A minimum recording time of 2 weeks seems necessary.
Hoefman
Emmy
E
Department of General Practice, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.hoefman@amc.nl
van Weert
Henk C P M
HC
Boer
Kimberly R
KR
Reitsma
Johannes
J
Koster
Rudolph W
RW
Bindels
Patrick J E
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors