title: Use of event recorders and loop recorders in clinical practice: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association Survey.
abstract: Several kinds of electrocardiogram monitoring systems are now available in the clinical practice. The aim of this European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey was to assess the use of different monitoring techniques in the evaluation of patients with unexplained syncope, palpitations, and in those with established diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Forty-five centres in Europe answered the questionnaire and the majority (78%) were university hospitals. The answers showed a discrepancy between the recommended use of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in patients with unexplained syncope and the use of this device in clinical practice. In most of the cases only a minority of patients (<20%) seemed to actually receive an ILR as a part of the diagnostic process in accordance to the current guidelines. Holter monitoring systems and external loop recorders seemed to be the preferred monitoring techniques both in patients with recurrent palpitations and in those with established diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden elenasciaraffia@mail.com.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sciaraffia
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institut LIRYC, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut Lévêque, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux II 33604, Bordeaux, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Meleze
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hocini
authors.affiliation: Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aalborg DK-9100 University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Torben Bierregaard
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Centre of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Potpara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomström-Lundqvist
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014600:Utilization Review
keywords: EHRA survey; EP wire; Electrocardiogram monitoring system; Loop recorder; Syncope