Mobile health solutions for atrial fibrillation detection and management: a systematic review

Hermans, Astrid N. L.; Gawalko, Monika; Dohmen, Lisa; van der Velden, Rachel M. J.; Betz, Konstanze; Duncker, David; Verhaert, Dominique V. M.; Heidbuchel, Hein; Svennberg, Emma; Neubeck, Lis; Eckstein, Jens; Lane, Deirdre A.; Lip, Gregory Y. H.; Crijns, Harry J. G. M.; Sanders, Prashanthan; Hendriks, Jeroen M.; Pluymaekers, Nikki A. H. A.; Linz, Dominik

Abstract

Aim
We aimed to systematically review the available literature on mobile Health (mHealth) solutions, including handheld and wearable devices, implantable loop recorders (ILRs), as well as mobile platforms and support systems in atrial fibrillation (AF) detection and management.

Methods
This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The electronic databases PubMed (NCBI), Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane were searched for articles published until 10 February 2021, inclusive. Given that the included studies varied widely in their design, interventions, comparators, and outcomes, no synthesis was undertaken, and we undertook a narrative review.

Results
We found 208 studies, which were deemed potentially relevant. Of these studies included, 82, 46, and 49 studies aimed at validating handheld devices, wearables, and ILRs for AF detection and/or management, respectively, while 34 studies assessed mobile platforms/support systems. The diagnostic accuracy of mHealth solutions differs with respect to the type (handheld devices vs wearables vs ILRs) and technology used (electrocardiography vs photoplethysmography), as well as application setting (intermittent vs continuous, spot vs longitudinal assessment), and study population.

Conclusion
While the use of mHealth solutions in the detection and management of AF is becoming increasingly popular, its clinical implications merit further investigation and several barriers to widespread mHealth adaption in healthcare systems need to be overcome.

Citation

Hermans, A. N. L., Gawalko, M., Dohmen, L., van der Velden, R. M. J., Betz, K., Duncker, D., Verhaert, D. V. M., Heidbuchel, H., Svennberg, E., Neubeck, L., Eckstein, J., Lane, D. A., Lip, G. Y. H., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Sanders, P., Hendriks, J. M., Pluymaekers, N. A. H. A., & Linz, D. (2022). Mobile health solutions for atrial fibrillation detection and management: a systematic review. Clinical Research in Cardiology, 111, 479-491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-021-01941-9

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Sep 7, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 14, 2021
• Journal: Clinical Research in Cardiology
• Print ISSN: 1861-0684
• Electronic ISSN: 1861-0692
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 111
• Pages: 479-491
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-021-01941-9
• Keywords: Atrial fibrillation, mHealth, Systematic review
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2812750