Validation of a smartphone-based electrocardiography in the screening of QT intervals in children

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A 12-lead electrocardiography is a critical component for the screening of long QT syndrome; however, besides, an electrocardiograph, trained personnel are also necessary which limits the screening capability of conventional electrocardiographs. The development of smartphone electrocardiography technologies provides a potential alternative platformfor electrocardiography screening for selective purposes such as arrhythmias and QT interval abnormalities. The aim of thispilot study was to assess the reliability of a smartphone-based electrocardiography device in the measurement of QT andcorrected QT intervals in children.METHODS: In all participants, 10-s smartphone electrocardiography tracing from AliveCor device and a standard 12-leadelectrocardiograph were obtained simultaneously. Two pediatric electrophysiologists performed the measurements of QT andcorrected QT intervals in a blinded manner with Bazett’s formula. The results were compared statistically.RESULTS: A total of 285 children (mean age 9.8±4.9 years) who presented to our clinic were included in the study. Themean QT intervals obtained from 12-lead electrocardiographs and AliveCor devices were 343±40 ms and 340±41 ms, respectively. The mean corrected QT intervals obtained from 12-lead electrocardiographs and AliveCor devices were 419±28 ms and415±33 ms, respectively. There was high correlation between the QT intervals of 12-lead electrocardiographs and AliveCorrecordings (Pearson’s correlation coefficient: 0.83 [p