Long-Term Arrhythmia Detection Using Portable ECG Patches in Stroke Patients: A Case Series.

UNLABELLED: Cardiac arrhythmias are common following ischemic stroke and can lead to severe complications, such as recurrent strokes. Early identification is important, and continuous electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring provides a possible solution. This prospective observational case series assessed the efficacy of a portable ECG patch in detecting arrhythmias in post-stroke patients and their role in informing treatment decisions. This study was carried out between May and November 2023 in the neurology ward of a local hospital in Meerut, India. A total of 10 adult patients were included in this case series after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were continuously observed up to 80 hours with two alternate portable ECG patches after a baseline smartphone-based ECG (Spandan 12-lead ECG). The portable ECG patches detected several arrhythmias, such as transient and potentially lethal conditions like atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, which the initial baseline smartphone-based ECG failed to record. A cardiologist validated all the episodes of arrhythmia. The use of real-time data transmission facilitated timely clinical intervention, which aided in improved patient management and outcomes. This case series emphasizes the benefits of continuous portable ECG patch monitoring compared to single-time-point smartphone-based ECG in identifying intermittent arrhythmias in stroke patients. The results favour the incorporation of portable ECG patches into standard post-stroke management for early diagnosis, risk reduction, and enhanced therapeutic decision-making.

LEARNING POINTS: Continuous electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring detects arrhythmias missed by baseline ECG, including transient and potentially life-threatening events like atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.Portable ECG patches are an effective tool for long-term cardiac monitoring in stroke patients, supporting early diagnosis and informed treatment decisions.