Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyRandomised controlled trial
Improving atrial fibrillation or flutter detection and management by smartphone-based photoplethysmography rhythm monitoring following cardiac surgery: a pragmatic randomized trial
- Randomised controlled trial
- pragmatic
Authors' conclusion
In unselected patients discharged home following cardiac surgery, PPG-based smartphone monitoring revealed significantly more AF/AFL which led to significantly more optimization of AF management.
Study context
- Population
- Patients discharged home after cardiac surgery
- Participants
- 450 patients
- Comparison
- PPG-based monitoring vs Usual care
- PPG-based monitoringn = 238
- Usual caren = 212reference
- Primary endpoint
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) management interventions by independent physicians (initiation of oral anticoagulation (OAC), direct cardioversion, up-titration or initiation of antiarrhythmic drugs)
Primary result
AF management interventions
Odds ratio
5.1
95% CI 1.8–14.4
P = 0.002
Events by treatment group
PPG-based monitoring vs Usual care
OR 5.1 (95% CI 1.8–14.4); P = 0.002
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
| Outcome | PPG-based monitoring | Usual care | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AF/AFL detected with PPG or ECG | 18.5% | 1.9% | 11.8 (4.2–33.3) | P < 0.001 | |
| New AF/AFL detections | 9.2% | 0.5% | 21.3 (2.9–166.7) | P = 0.003 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Improving atrial fibrillation or flutter detection and management by smartphone-based photoplethysmography rhythm monitoring following cardiac surgery: a pragmatic randomized trial. Europace. Published 17 January 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf015
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it