Review of the Wellue 24 hour heart monitor with AI analysis.

[OzRob]

I have bought one of these and am very impressed with what it detects and reports. See getwellue.com/products/hear...

Has an optional chest strap included so you can clip the monitor direct to the strap rather than use the adhesive pads.

Detects up to 17 kinds of ECG events.

When I wake up in the morning I plug it into my laptop, download the data, then submit it to a server where it comes back in 5 minutes with an ECG with a side summary of events so you locate pages of events easily.

Also receive a full report of events along with ECG snippets to send/take to your cardiologist.

I was using a Withing's Afib watch which takes a 30 second recording when you notice Afib, as I have Vagal Afib at night I was sleeping so lightly ready to take a measurement, this took a toll on my sleep patterns. Now I use the monitor knowing that it will collect everything through the night.

I will share more information if people are interested in what this unit records.

Robert

[CDreamer]

I can see that if you have nocturnal AF this would be an excellent device to use. I’ll follow your posts with interest.

[OzRob in reply to CDreamer]

See post below, ECG screenshot.

[JaneFinn]

Very interesting, Robert, thanks for letting us know- I’d like to hear more

[OzRob in reply to JaneFinn]

Here is a screenshot of my ECG last night. I had Afib twice last night, the page is from 3 minutes past midnight, one of about 400 pages.

I used the Valsalva maneuver to stop the episode, so the Afib lasted 5 minutes and was gone at 8 minutes past midnight.

I have an appointment with my cardiologist in about 10 days time so I will be asking lots of questions.

ECG with Sidebar of events

[JaneFinn in reply to OzRob]

Thank you! That looks like it could be really helpful.

And (a bit off topic I know, sorry) can I ask about the valsalva manoeuvre you do to switch off your AF? Wondering if it would work for me. I can’t take flecainide or any anti arrhythmic drugs, but my AF is usually very fast so it needs to be converted to NSR asap, or slowed down at least! Thanks x

[OzRob in reply to JaneFinn]

Hi Jane,

I find the Valsalva maneuver only works if I apply it as soon as my Afib Starts. Most effective for me when I wake with Afib is to sit on the side of the bed, bend over to put some pressure on the internal organs then hold my breath and try to breath out, a bit like clearing your ears when flying. I put pressure on everything from my sphincter to my lungs. The Afib usually tops within in 15 seconds.

Another one to try is to stimulate you Vagus nerve via the ear, this works for me also, but again early on as the Afib starts. See this video that shows how to do it youtu.be/rpHy6hzNDI4(Not working as expected?)

[JaneFinn in reply to OzRob]

Thank you so much for all this info and for finding me the video, Rob - it’s all really helpful. I’ll try it next time as soon as I go into AF

[Hidden]

where did purchase it

[OzRob in reply to Hidden]

I purchased mine online at aliexpress.com, shipped from China which is where they are made.

Much cheaper than other sources, just be sure to search '24 hour heart monitor with AI analysis'. Took me some time to locate the device, that search term works.

[Hidden in reply to OzRob]

thank you

[Autumn_Leaves]

Yes please, OzRob. Do share.

It appears to be a potentially useful device. The only problem is whether our consultants and/or arrhythmia nurses would accept the results. If the device is properly calibrated and is reliable and accurate enough there shouldn’t be any reason why not, but they aren’t always open to patients’ personal recordings. Some are, others are dismissive

Do you think you will be able to manage your AF better as a consequence? Would it influence your treatment decisions? Does it change how you live with your condition day-to-day?

I’m quite interested in self-monitoring anyway, and I’m trying out the new AF monitoring on the Apple Watch at the moment. There are no readings as far as I can tell, just a percentage of time spent in AFib. I’m not sure what else it can tell me, so it seems very limited.

[OzRob in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

It is only early days with the unit, my cardiologist will be OK with it as he was very impressed with the recordings my Withing's watch gave when I saw him last. He is a bit of a tech geek I think.

The way I look at it is the more I can become educated about our own Afib by monitoring and interpreting ECG's the less anxiety I will have which can only help.

I have the pill in the pocket Flecainide, but only take it when I can't switch the Afib off myself by stimulating the Vagal nerve. So in a month I might have Afib 20 nights and only take Flecainide 3 or 4 times.

First Afib episode was 1 and 1/2 years ago, had a 5 month and then a 7 month period of almost zero Afib. 3 months ago had a bad cold and the Afib started almost nightly, then Covid soon after, that is when I discovered that I could switch my Afib off as soon as it starts.

[ILowe]

See the various reviews on Amazon.

My biggest problem is getting the position right. Unfortunately, the device does not tell you if it is working. Only when I take it off and upload the data I see that it has not recorded.

In my view, the data analysis is very limited. I hope this will get better.

[OzRob]

As soon as you put it on it vibrates. Are you sure you are using the same device? It records everything, I have not missed one minute.

What aspect of the data is limited?

[ILowe in reply to OzRob]

Same device. Yes, it vibrates sometimes, and rather unpredictably. My wife has the same problem. When it works, it works well. The trouble is, I cannot rely on it and I only know if it has recorded, after the event. I could try recording 10 minutes or so, then uploading and inspecting the trace. But that is problematic in itself. Sometimes I get a good recording, then detach it and re-attach it for another spell and get bad recordings. Sometimes just movement in bed will make it better, or worse.

When I showed the results to the consultant he said he missed important details in the analysis. This might improve if the manufacturer pays a good programmer.

[ILowe]

You ask what is missing in the data analysis. For starters, a small graph of heart rate over time. The chart only provides the maximum and minimum in any hour. Then, there is missing information about QRT interval.

Unfortunately, the nearest equivalent costs well over 1000 pounds. And we have to pay 20% tax on it!!

[OzRob]

I assume you are using the chest strap if it is vibrating unpredictably and you are only getting short readings, this means it is disconnecting due to poor contact.

I live in the tropics with high humidity so think perhaps the humidity helps with conductivity when using the chest strap. See image below which shows last nights recording duration, 7h 38m.

You need to use adhesive electrode pads instead if you have a recoding issue. I don't like the pads myself as the adhesive is quite aggressive so difficult to remove in the morning.

I do have on order Gel electrode pads with 3.,5mm snap connectors to test, these are the style used for TENS machines and are easily removable and can be used many times.

The data analysis is just a snapshot of the extended use, the QRT intervals can be seen in the ECG tracings itself. In my 7h 38m recording is 459 pages of ECG tracings.

I myself have not been to my Cardiologist as yet since buying this unit 2 weeks ago, I have an appointment on the 7th of November so will post here his view of the data produced.

[OzRob]

Image

ECG Duration

[Alphakiwi]

Hi Ozrob. I would like to know more as my gp wants me to keep a diary. I too have lots not nice happening at night. Im in permanent af and cant hack drugs easily. I have a severely enlarged left atrium posibly caused through life long athletics,especially running and cycling. I had a pacemaker put in 3 years ago with the intention of having an AV node ablation. The usual af ablation apparently wont work because of the size of my left atrium.. Thanks Rob. Colin NZ

[OzRob]

Hi Colin,

I am now on a low dose of daily Flecainide, have not had an AF episode in nearly 2 years so have not used the unit since then. When I did use it it was great.

Robert