title: Managing mass events and competitions with difficult-to-access locations using mobile electrocardiac monitoring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using mobile wireless technology to monitor ECG in participants of mass events and sports taking place in difficult-to-access location could both prevent and easier detect arrhythmias as well as provide real-time monitoring for any type of injury. We assessed the effectiveness of mobile wireless monitoring technology and IT in detecting possible emergencies during a skyscraper race.
  
  
  METHODS
  We attached specially designed wireless surveillance biopatches on 120 individuals participating to monitor their continuous ECG and location during a skyscraper run-up race at Taipei 101 building, Taiwan. The outcomes of interest were detection of abnormal heartbeats and QRS waves indicative of possible cardiac problems and the exact location of participants during the occurrence of emergencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The devices accurately sent over 50 warnings to our monitoring platform when both, danger limits were reached by competitors (<60 or >195 beats per minute) or competitors stopped moving, proving very effective in quickly detecting abnormities and alerting staff of possible emergencies at exact locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This efficient and inexpensive monitoring method can also prevent arrhythmias in unscreened competitors, the danger of collision among staff and competitors, and preserves oxygen by eliminating additional on-foot monitoring staff. Additionally, it could have multipurpose usage, especially during disasters and accidents occurring in difficult-to-access locations, in military exercises and personal monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital and Wanfang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Che-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of International Trade, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Clinciu
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Faculty of Health Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Shan
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain Science, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Terry B J
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Phung Anh
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Kung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Patrick O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Owili
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: jaak88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan Jack
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013624:Taiwan; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arrhythmias; Biopatch; Electrocardiogram; Health status; Wireless monitoring technology