Smartphone ECG aids real time diagnosis of palpitations in the competitive college athlete.

IMPORTANCE

Rapidly detecting dangerous arrhythmias in a symptomatic athlete continues to be an elusive goal. The use of handheld smartphone electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors could represent a helpful tool connecting the athletic trainer to the cardiologist.

OBSERVATIONS: Six college athletes presented to their athletic trainers complaining of palpitations during exercise. A single lead ECG was performed using the AliveCor Heart Monitor and sent wirelessly to the Team Cardiologist who confirmed an absence of dangerous arrhythmia.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: AliveCor monitoring has the potential to enhance evaluation of symptomatic athletes by allowing trainers and team physicians to make diagnosis in real-time and facilitate faster return to play.