title: Heartbeat Cycle Length Detection by a Ballistocardiographic Sensor in Atrial Fibrillation and Sinus Rhythm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart rate monitoring is especially interesting in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is routinely performed by ECG. A ballistocardiography (BCG) foil is an unobtrusive sensor for mechanical vibrations. We tested the correlation of heartbeat cycle length detection by a novel algorithm for a BCG foil to an ECG in AF and sinus rhythm (SR).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 22 patients we obtained BCG and synchronized ECG recordings before and after cardioversion and examined the correlation between heartbeat characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed a total of 4317 heartbeats during AF and 2445 during SR with a correlation between ECG and BCG during AF of r = 0.70 (95% CI 0.68-0.71, P < 0.0001) and r = 0.75 (95% CI 0.73-0.77, P < 0.0001) during SR. By adding a quality index, artifacts could be reduced and the correlation increased for AF to 0.76 (95% CI 0.74-0.77, P < 0.0001, n = 3468) and for SR to 0.85 (95% CI 0.83-0.86, P < 0.0001, n = 2176).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heartbeat cycle length measurement by our novel algorithm for BCG foil is feasible during SR and AF, offering new possibilities of unobtrusive heart rate monitoring. This trial is registered with IRB registration number EK205/11. This trial is registered with clinical trials registration number NCT01779674.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias Daniel
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.affiliation: Philips Chair for Medical Information Technology, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brüser
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winnersbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napp
authors.affiliation: Philips Chair for Medical Information Technology, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schauerte
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mischke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001450:Ballistocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male