Smartphone app detects heart problems and cuts diagnosis cost

♦ Smartphone apps are five times more effective at diagnosing serious heart conditions compared with standard tests, a University of Edinburgh study has found.

Devices which can record an electrocardiogram (ECG), which displays a patient’s heartbeat, at home were said to be quicker at detecting palpitations. Researchers called for the technology to be rolled out to hospitals across the country.

The study involved around 240 people who turned up at 15 A&E departments in the UK with irregular heartbeats or who felt lightheaded.

Just over half of the patients were given the Alivecor Kardia-mobile app, available on Apple and android devices, to take home. They were told to activate it should they experience a palpitation, with the ECG result sent to a doctor.

Meanwhile, 116 patients were given standard tests and, if undiagnosed, told to return to A&E or visit their GP if they experienced more symptoms.

After 90 days, the device helped doctors diagnose 56 per cent of patients, in an average time of 9.5 days. However, only 10 per cent of patients given standard care were diagnosed, in an average time of 43 days.

It also cut the cost of diagnosis from £1,395 to £474, researchers said.

Dr Matt Kearney, national clinical director for cardiovascular disease prevention at NHS England, said: “NHS England has already made thousands of these devices available to GP practices across the country.” The research was published in Eclinical Medicine.