Does anyone have any experience and advice on using the two Kardia options?How easy to use are they (do you stick one on your ankle) How easy is it to get the data - does it appear via an app on your mobile and what reception do medical staff give it?
I've got Afib but sometimes there appears to be a different rhythm so I would like to check it out and show at my next cardiology appointment.
Any views or advice most welcome!
I have several models and prefer the Kardia 6L.
Easy to use and does both single lead (lead 1) and six lead ekgs.
You only need to touch ankle or knee for a six lead ekg. Most of the time I just do a single lead using fingers only.
Yes, appears on app if you have an IPhone or Kardia compatible Android phone.
Kardia is medical grade and gets very good reception with electrophysiologists (ep's) and most cardiologists.
GP's on the whole, are not very good at analyzing ekg's and tend to rely on automatic machine analysis, which is less accurate than a well trained human analysis.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Agree with Jim here. I also have the 6L. Only thing I'd add is that for me it's often finicky to get it to work using the 6 lead mode. I often can't get it to conduct on my leg or ankle, and am often fiddling with it for several minutes trying different spots before it works. Because of that, like Jim, I usually just use the fingers-only mode, which works on the first try for me every time. I'm usually just looking for it to tell me whether I'm in a-fib or not, and the 2-lead mode seems to do that just fine.
I have the 6l and I tend to dampen my knee first (with a locked finger!), then have no trouble with it working.
I find the 6L very easy to use. I find the knee is easier but whichever you choose make sure it is the left ankle or knee and not the right.
Many thanks for getting back to me with really helpful advice
I have the single lead Kardia. It’s completely simple and reliable. The app is great tho it costs £9:99 a month - but I think it’s worth it. My cardiologist/EP loves it and he dives into the reports it produces every time I see him. At my last appointment he actually said ‘I Iove these Kardia devices!’ I’ve never had a six lead one but the single lead seems to me to be brilliant.
Very helpful, many thanks for your advice
You don't need to pay the £9.99 a month for basic app functionality! you are paying for "advanced determination". The differences are shown here, the advanced didn't work well for me, but it's also cheaper to buy annually if you find it useful. store.alivecor.co.uk/produc...
Thanks. Very helpful and I will look into this.
I use a 6 lead version and it works brilliantly . Both my doctor and consultant have appreciated getting the readouts in the past. You can email them and send the code to open them via the app.
That's really helpful, looks like I'll be getting one soon - many thanks for your help
Hi
I have the kardia 6L which was recommended to me by my Gp after my first hospitalisation with af, my EP also accepts these readings which I’ll send in to him now & again for his records as well as my Gp.
They both find it really useful to keep updated with my heart health.
I always use the knee & the fingers as I find it best for a reading & connects well, more often than not I’ll dampen the knee & there’s no faffing about at all, always on the left knee.
The main drawback with the Kardia Mobile (2 lead) is that the signal is communicated to the mobile phone or tablet using very high frequency sound, and many modern phones use noise filters that remove the signal and stop it from working. The cheaper or older phones will work fine with it though, but that's a gamble.
The 6L model uses bluetooth and should work with the majority of Android or iOS devices.
Just like to add a little to my previous post and clarify some of the issues raised.
There is no mandatory monthly fee for Kardia or the Kardia App. There is however, an option called "Kardia Care" that does come with a monthly or annual fee. It may or may not be bundled with your purchase, that you would have to check.
We have had Kardia Care in the US for some time, but it might be new in the UK. It does not effect the ekg's or their accuracy at all, however you do get more automatic determinations (analysis). You also get the ability to have your ekg's analyzed by a Kardia cardiologist with quick turnaround via email, should you seek more information. I find Kardia Care very useful, but again, not necessary to use Kardia.
As to the 6L versus Mobile -- for afib, the single lead Mobile is fine. However, the 6L gives a lot more information to distinguish other arrhythmia's such as aflutter. I think it's worth the extra price although I was very happy with my single lead Mobile before the 6L was released.
Jim
If you haven’t bought a home ECG yet, I’ve been using two different models made by a company called Wellue and have just sold my Kardia. As good as the Kardia undoubtedly was, having AF much less often than other arrhythmias, the tenner a month it was costing eventually put me off. The Wellue devices can detect a wide range of heart issues using AI technology and this is entirely free once the initial device has been bought.
Steve
Thanks Steve, nor bought anything yet so I'll check that out, many thanks for sharing your experience - very helpful
I first bought the 24-hour model as I was struggling to catch what was happening on my Kardia and the detail that gives is truly impressive. However, it’s less convenient than the Kardia as it needs a chest strap or electrodes (well, it will work handheld but needs five minutes minimum run time).
Only later did I get the handheld model which still uses AI but is limited to 30 seconds or one minute handheld or five minutes with electrodes. The AI analysis on that one is also somewhat less detailed but it still picks up a wide range of issues apart from simply AF.
Steve
I also sent back my Kardia 6L and bought a Wellue. The Kardia even paying for advanced determination gave me lots of "undetermined" results when I was going thru a tricky perdiod. The AI Wellue gave me much better diagnostics and also comes with a strap so you can wear it over the heart. This is the one I bought with the £15 off amzn.to/43HA6F2
But they say:
* Note: The AI analysis function will be charged after a trial period.
?
That's interesting, thank you! I notice that the free trial is mentioned only on the product information for the cheaper Wellue DuoEK ECG monitor, which I don't have. I have the 24-hour ECG Monitor which the Wellue web site states includes free AI analysis. I notice that on the Amazon UK web site for this product, the AI is also stated as free of charge.
I also more recently bought the Wellue Pulsebit ECG Monitor with Touchscreen and that also has AI, too, which is currently entirely free and there's no mention of any future charge in the advertising information for that, either.
Steve
I'm watching with interest to see what happens with my cheaper device after the 31st July!
I suspect it will keep working. The web pages seem less than brilliantly produced. The company behind the Wellue consumer brand is called Viatom, and they seem to be a company making professional grade medical equipment.
Are you pleased with it?
Steve
yes, every time I had an issue it identified something, whereas the Kardia more often than not came back as unclassified!! I do like the fact I can put it directly onto my chest for a reading which seems to work very well.
That’s my exact experience. My heart issues are complicated by my having left bundle branch block (“wide QRS”) but without the tenner a month, Kardia was near useless for me unless I had AF.
Steve
I’ve never used it on anything but my phone. Kardia fixes on to the back of my phone and I take a reading using a finger on each pad.
I just use finger Kardia. Accepted by my Cardiologist although as mjames1 says, GPs sceptical. Very easy to use. Just open app and a few clicks, you are done.
That's great, many thanks for taking the time to reply!
Kardia. 
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Advice please. Kardia mobile and Huawei smartphone. 
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