Diagnostic accuracy of a smartphone electrocardiograph in dogs: Comparison with standard 6-lead electrocardiography.
The diagnostic accuracy of a smartphone electrocardiograph (ECG) in evaluating heart rhythm and ECG measurements was evaluated in 166 dogs. A standard 6-lead ECG was acquired for 1 min in each dog. A smartphone ECG tracing was simultaneously recorded using a single-lead bipolar ECG recorder. All ECGs were reviewed by one blinded operator, who judged if tracings were acceptable for interpretation and assigned an electrocardiographic diagnosis. Agreement between smartphone and standard ECG in the interpretation of tracings was evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of arrhythmia were calculated for the smartphone ECG. Smartphone ECG tracings were interpretable in 162/166 (97.6%) tracings. A perfect agreement between the smartphone and standard ECG was found in detecting bradycardia, tachycardia, ectopic beats and atrioventricular blocks. A very good agreement was found in detecting sinus rhythm versus non-sinus rhythm (100% sensitivity and 97.9% specificity). The smartphone ECG provided tracings that were adequate for analysis in most dogs, with an accurate assessment of heart rate, rhythm and common arrhythmias. The smartphone ECG represents an additional tool in the diagnosis of arrhythmias in dogs, but is not a substitute for a 6-lead ECG. Arrhythmias identified by the smartphone ECG should be followed up with a standard ECG before making clinical decisions.
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, via Livornese lato monte, 56122 San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: tommaso.vezzosi@vet.unipi.it.
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Vezzosi
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, via Livornese lato monte, 56122 San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy.
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Buralli
Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Strada Provinciale 9, 28060 Granozzo con Monticello, Novara, Italy.
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Marchesotti
Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Strada Provinciale 9, 28060 Granozzo con Monticello, Novara, Italy.
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Porporato
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, via Livornese lato monte, 56122 San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy.
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Tognetti
Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Strada Provinciale 9, 28060 Granozzo con Monticello, Novara, Italy; Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Universita' 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
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Zini
Istituto Veterinario di Novara, Strada Provinciale 9, 28060 Granozzo con Monticello, Novara, Italy.
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Domenech
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000068997:Smartphone
Canine; Electrocardiography; Smartphone; Validation