KardiaMobile and Apple Watch - Atrial Fibrillati...

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KardiaMobile and Apple Watch

Debjimmay profile image
73 Replies

I recently wore a heart monitor for two weeks. While on the monitor both my CardioMobile and my Apple Watch picked up several episodes of Afib, PACs, and Etopics. The results from the heart monitor test showed I had some episodes of PACs but otherwise the test was normal. It never picked one single Afib episode. How can that be? So now I’m wondering if I really have Afib and if I am taking the blood thinner Eliquis unnecessarily. Has anyone had a similar experience?

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Debjimmay
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73 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Whilst the Kardia is good the Holter monitor is the gold standard. I wouldn't stop anticoagulation just yet but what does your EP say.

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toBobD

Hi Bob. My EP wants me to have a chemical stress test to rule out CAD so he can put me on Flecainide. I cancelled the stress test and have an appointment with my EP this Fri. to see what he wants to do. I don’t like questioning my EP but I definitely don’t want to take Flecainide if it’s not necessary. I’m really frustrated and confused and don’t know what to do.

Bunkular profile image
Bunkular in reply toDebjimmay

The cardiologist that performed my angiogram told me that treadmill stress tests with ECG are 90% accurate in detecting plaques in coronary arteries & ectopics whereas other less invasive tests like sonograms, ECGs without dye or treadmill etc are less accurate. Smart watches and KardiaMobile belong in the least accurate catagory compared to ECGs but are tests that can add to private, at home checks when a Holter monitor or large machine is usually unavailable to the patient when an episode is taking place.

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

Kardia is known for diagnosing frequent ectopics as AF so probably an Apple Watch has the same problem. I’m not sure whether Flecainide is helpful for ectopics, hopefully someone else knows. The anticoagulant issue is tricky.

Buzby62 profile image
Buzby62 in reply toBuffafly

Interesting Buffafly I’ve been questioning what I’ve seen post ablation earlier today.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Buzby62 profile image
Buzby62

I have been asking something similar on another post. I definitely had AF before ablation but question what I’m seeing now.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

mjames1 profile image
mjames1

Are you saying that you Kardia picked up a fib but your halter monitor did not during the same time two week period?

If that is the case, show your ep the relevant Kardia and Apple Watch ekg's, as may have been missed by the Holter's automatic alogarithm, which happens.

The Kardia and Apple Watch EKG's should have a timestamp and your EP should manually be able to go back to that point in time and see what the Holter showed as opposed to what it analyzed. It sounds like either the Kardia picked up an Afib episode that the holter did not, or the Kardia mistook a string of ectopics for a fib.

Daily flecainide is primarily prescribed to help prevent a fib episodes. If you don't have any episodes, or they are infrequent, short and/or asymptomatic, you may not need flecainide.

Once you get it all sorted out, you should discuss the thinner decision based on your risk score and a fib burden.

Jim

bean_counter27 profile image
bean_counter27 in reply tomjames1

I watched a Harvard Medical School Continuing Education video on anticoagulation for AF. The EP presenter said they anti-coagulate regardless of type of (non-valvular) AF (paroxysmal, persistent or permanent) and also include atrial flutter. So it doesn't sound like the doctors pay much attention to the AF burden. That's why I like the idea behind the study they are doing on using AC in response to episodes lasting more than x hours (can't remember exact number but might be one hour even though increased risk threshold was something like 5 1/2 hours I think) for a period of weeks and then ceasing AC until another episode that triggers a new course of AC.

It makes a lot of sense to me (but I'm not a medical professional) to only use AC when heightened risk of stroke occurs (during/following AF episode) rather than 24/7. The latter introduces risk of major bleeding during periods when AC is potentially less beneficial or not required.

One problem I can foresee is is how well they can detect AF events given the devices being used (Apple Watch) are not able to be worn 24/7 (need to be charged up). Missing an event might mean missing a potentially vital course of AC.

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tobean_counter27

Yes, this makes sense to me also and it sounds like a much better idea than taking the ACs all the time. If I’m not getting Afib readings when wearing a heart monitor (and I have worn a heart monitor twice) I asked my cardiologist if I could cut back to the 2.5 mg of Eliquis. He said no. I was having severe nosebleeds then so I was pretty much begging him to put me on the 2.5 or take me off it completely. I started cutting my 5 mg in half so my cardiologist finally gave me a prescription for the 2.5. When I went to the EP, which my cardiologist recommended, he said there is no way I can take 2.5 mg of Eliquis and that I have to be on 5 mg. He said the only way around that is getting the Watchmen. I would be terrified to have something like that done so that’s not an option for me. I’m back on the 5 mg of Eliquis for now. I have an appointment with my EP on Friday so we will have to discuss what’s going on. I’m a 72 y/o female.

bean_counter27 profile image
bean_counter27 in reply toDebjimmay

I thought going on AC would be your decision based on your doctor's advice.I'm not on AC so no experience here. However, have you thought about posting your situation and seeking feedback about the experience of others on AC.... problems with Eliquis and what they ended up doing? It might give you some ideas to discuss with EP.

Good luck and keep us updated on how you go.

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tobean_counter27

I don’t feel that my EP is willing to work with me on what I would like to do as far as the AC goes. He pretty much told me that if I don’t let him treat me the way he wants then I will have to look for another doctor. I will mention that I’ve only been to him for one visit as my cardiologist recommended him. I’m considering looking for another EP.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

I see you're from the US where changing ep's, depending on insurance, can be a lot easier than in other places. Personally, I wouldn't stand for the my-way-or-the-highway approach and would seek another ep who believes in shared medical decision making.

I consulted with at least five ep's before I made a final decision. All self referred and paid for by Medicare. Some were virtual visits, some in person.

Jim

Peacefulneedshelp profile image
Peacefulneedshelp in reply tobean_counter27

My EP said a similar thing to me regarding AC, if the episode is under 24 hours which mine are/where, he wouldn't prescribe an AC, and under 75 years of age. So many differing opinions.

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPeacefulneedshelp

The doctors are saying because I’m female, 72 with high blood pressure (controlled), I have no other option but to take the AC no matter if I’ve only had one episode of Afib. I don’t agree with this but don’t know what I can do. I was ok with the 2.5 mg of Eliquis so I would at least be on something but the EP said no and there’s no way I would get a doctor to write a prescription for the 2.5 mg.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

I was told just this after my single AF episode following an atrial flutter ablation (which otherwise didn't need anticoagulants). I had no predisposing aspects such as blood pressure, diabetes, weight or sleep apnoea, but still I was told to take them for life.

Steve

Peacefulneedshelp profile image
Peacefulneedshelp in reply toDebjimmay

Doctors aren't gods you have the final decision. Someone on this forum posted some really good information regarding the percentage of so called stroke situation. It was censored, so there is that.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tobean_counter27

One problem I can foresee is is how well they can detect AF events given the devices being used (Apple Watch) are not able to be worn 24/7 (need to be charged up). Missing an event might mean missing a potentially vital course of AC.

Great observation, however the trial has taken into account the limitations of the Apple Watch, i.e. that it may need charging. In fact, participants are only required to wear the watch 16 out of 24 hours, leaving 8 hours where they will seemingly be unprotected, however they really are protected.

That's because the protocol of taking a thinner if an event lasts longer than an hour, factored in the worst case probability that someone would go into afib right after taking off the watch and then not realize they were in afib 8-9 hours later after they woke up and put the watch on. Unlikely, but a possibility.

So the real threshold number Dr. Passman had in mind is closer to 10-12 hours, not one hour. He played it conservative in the trial because of the charging issue. Unfortunate, because my Apple Watch Ultra 2, basically only requires 1-2 hours of charging a day and had he set up the protocol using that watch, he could have expanded the threshold from one hour to 6-8 hours before one needed to take a thinner.

Jim

loghousegal profile image
loghousegal in reply tomjames1

I have heard that even if you have one Afib event you should be on an AC. A stroke is nothing to mess with and I would rather be overly careful than risk a stroke. I am on Zarelto after a failed ablation followed by persistent Afib so there is no question whether I need an AC even though Dikosyn seems to be controlling my Afib for now.

Ennasti profile image
Ennasti in reply tologhousegal

Agree. My EP put me on Eliquis even though I have short, low rate and infrequent AF which is only been picked up on my Apple Watch. I’m female and was put onto it at 56 years old. I have no problems with it and I’m monitored closely by my GP for iron levels etc.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tologhousegal

I have heard that even if you have one Afib event you should be on an AC.

Yes, but there have been enough evidence to the contrary, that the REACT-AF trial was launched in the US, to test this idea. No one wants to risk a stroke, but on the other hand, no one should be on a thinner unless there's a benefit. Hopefully, the trial will give us some answers.

Jim

bean_counter27 profile image
bean_counter27 in reply tomjames1

TRENDS study - "AT/AF (atrial tachycardia/atrial fibrillation) burden > or = 5.5 hours on any of 30 prior days appeared to double TE (thromboembolic event) risk."

"Temporal Association Between Episodes of Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke" study "In this large cohort of patients with CIEDs and continuous rhythm monitoring prior to ischemic stroke, excess stroke risk above baseline was highest within 5 days of an episode of AF of 5.5 hours or more in duration and diminished rapidly thereafter."

Jim

I think the outcome from the TRENDS study led to 5.5 hours being the cut-off for analysis in the second study and both led to the new study using Apple Watches.

In the second study they found "AF greater than 23 hours on a given day was associated with the clearest increase in stroke risk (OR, 5.00; 95% CI, 2.08-12.01)"

So 8 - 9 hours doesn't sound too bad after all. My initial concern was based on the 5.5 hour figure, which could theoretically occur during during an 8 hour "off" period.

Hopefully the results of the new study will support use of AC on a campaign basis for AF episodes before I need to start AC in a few years time.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tobean_counter27

Thanks for posting! I'll take 5 1/2 hours because my Flecainide PIP always coverts me in under 4 hours 😀

Jim

WildIris profile image
WildIris

As far as I know, AFib never has a little "p" wave before the big "qrs" spike of a heartbeat on an ECG. Because the p wave is from the atria, which is busy fibrillating in aFib. Both Kardia models show the presence or absence of a p-wave, and the 24 hour Holter monitor I had also kept an ecg trace. So the answer should be available from the Kardia, at least, which in my experience, doesn't call a heartbeat with a "p" wave aFib. Others seem to have experiences where a string of ectopics is called a fib or possible afib. Its pretty easy to spot a p-wave, lots of people on this forum can do it, though, of course, cardiologists and EPs are the final word.

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly in reply toWildIris

Doesn’t show on my kardia when in NSR!

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toWildIris

Thank you for the information about the “p” wave on the EKG reading. I’ve noticed when the Kardio says I’m in Afib there there is a little “p” wave before the big “R” wave. I thought it was just the opposite, and I was looking for a little “p”wave before the big “r”wave. I have a concern about my “R” wave reading though and that is it goes up so far that it’s off the chart. I asked both my cardiologist and EP doctor if that was normal and they said it’s of no concern. I did some research online and it stated otherwise. So now I’m confused. Do you have any idea why my “R” waves are so high? Thanks

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

I gather that a home ECG that uses finger tips as electrodes can't pick up that kind of thing so I think your doctor has told you the correct information. He or she will have seen your 12-lead ECGs and each scans, too, so will know the state of your heart.

Steve

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

That's fascinating. My Kardia trace was twice shown to be wrong by my cardiologist as it was fooled by runs of ectopic beats. My Apple Watch, however, got it right and reported, instead, "Inconclusive".

I have come to trust the watch, and have since bought two Wellue AI ECG monitors as these have the option of chest electrodes and AI analysis which has shown itself to be much less prone to electrical noise and have produced astonishingly good results.

I feel that all home-type devices are useful but not 100% reliable owing to the poor electrical contact system used.

Steve

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

Steve, I get an inconclusive reading all the time on my Apple Watch. Are you saying this means it’s Afib?

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

No. The Apple Watch shows AF accurately (in my case) but if there are runs of ectopic beats (which feels the same to me as AF), then my Watch shows this as Inconclusive. I attach a scan from this morning to show this and one that showed as AF from the other week.

Apple Watch ECG "Inconclusive"
Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toPpiman

And reporting AF...

Apple Watch AF trace
Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

Ppiman, can you please tell me how I can get a copy of my EKG from my Kardia so I can take it to my doctor so he can see it? Thank you 😊

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

I don't have my Kardia now but as I recall, you open the app on your iPhone and on the page there's a button to press to share the ECG information, or download it. Then a second page opens and you are able to send yourself (or your doctor) the ECG via email.

This is the Kardia website page that gives complete details of this: alivecor.zendesk.com/hc/en-...

Steve

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

Steve, thank you so much for that information. I will give it a try!

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

Steve….. thank you so much. Worked perfectly. Now I can print these out and take them to my EP on Friday and see what he says.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

If you have frequent tachycardia (i.e. a racing pulse) when you get AF, then maybe another question to ask your doctor is about the state of the heart valves and the left ventricle of your heart (the bottom pumping chamber that provides the body with oxygenated blood), and what he feels the long term outlook is for these and what can be best done to keep them healthy. I was given a blood pressure medicine called losartan for this even though I don't have high blood pressure as the cardiologist I saw said it protects the heart in the long term (although I think this was more because I also have a "wide QRS" and "left bundle branch block" as well as AF).

Another good question is at what point he thinks you should go to A&E with your AF, or whether you could take an extra dose of bisoprolol at home and sit it out (which is what I do).

Steve

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

Hi Ppiman. I’m trying to figure out how I can post one of my EKGs on here to see if someone can tell if it’s Afib or not. Are you able to tell me how to do that?

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

To send the PDF trace cannot be done, but you can take a screen shot from your laptop or mobile phone which will be of a part of the trace and be a suitable file type for posting here (i.e.a JPG file, most often).

One way is to open up the trace so it fills the phone screen (I email the PDF file to myself. The instructions above show how). You can then take a screen shot of the part that seems to show AF, save it to your photos, then attach it to your post here.

To take a screenshot with an iPhone, it depends a bit on which model, but generally you quickly press the volume up button at the same time as pressing the side (on/off) button on the opposite side or top; with an iPhone 6/7/8 you press the Home button and side button; on an Android phone, like a Samsung, say, you press the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time.

Steve

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

I took a screenshot on my Apple phone and then attached it here. I think it came through OK.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

It's not attached to the post (or was it to another post, you meant?). To attach a photo, click on the right hand button below where you type (the one that looks like a mountain and a sun). Then choose the photo from your phone and click "Upload", then post. You will be asked to fill in a short description, too, for people who need that.

I've attached one of mine from this morning. Luckily I tend not to get extreme symptoms, even with the rate going up to over 160bpm at times this morning. I feel strong palpitations and, for the first time, had a left-sided headache which I guess was blood pressure related from the AF.

Steve

Apple Watch ECG AF trace.
mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toPpiman

My Kardia trace was twice shown to be wrong by my cardiologist as it was fooled by runs of ectopic beats.

The Kardia trace was not wrong, it was the automatic determination that was wrong. This happens with ALL automatic determinations, whether it be the Kardia, Apple Watch, the 12-Lead in your doctor's office, or your chosen device, the Wellue.

And while you may not have had errant readings with the Wellue, I believe I have directed you to reviews before, that show this to be the fact.

A good ep never trusts -- or even looks at -- an automatic determination. They read the ekg based on their training. So let's not hold the Kardia up to a higher standard than a 12-lead!

That said, unlike the Wellue, Kardia is Medical grade, had to past tests and has published data as to how many false positives and false negatives it's determinations give. Overall, it does an excellent job. Wellue, on the other hand, is not certified as medical grade and to my knowledge has not had their results certified.

I'm not trying to be critical of Wellue as I think it fills a gap in the home ekg monitoring market, but you criticisms of Kardia do not align with the facts, just perhaps your own experience that cannot be extrapolated to others.

Jim

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply tomjames1

I do praise the Kardia, at least their pricier 6L with its better Bluetooth wireless link. Its design is excellent and it’s so very practical. However, it is limited to just 5 minutes recording time and, in my case, cost an extra fee of nearly £10 per month. That meant it missed many issues and reported “inconclusive” frustratingly often. That also happens with the Apple Watch but never with the Wellue.

The Wellue device comes, so far as I can tell, from a parent company with a long history of making professional ECG devices. I am really not sure what FDA or whatever approval means in practice for home use. All of the devices give a decent trace but, again, the Wellue gives a far clearer one when used with gel chest electrodes. Their AI analysis is used professionally in hospitals, so far as I know, is free and very comprehensive.

I give no more than my experience of the devices I have owned. If Karda produced something closer to the Wellue, I would likely buy it and probably prefer it for the reasons you suggest about this company. I’m not promoting any devices, rather, I’m giving my experiences of using them.

For people with arrhythmias that are difficult to “catch” in the limited time offered by an Apple Watch or Kardia, the option to use the Wellue to record for up to 24 hours is currently unique and, I would say, extraordinarily useful. Wouldn’t you agree?

You seem to be critical of my posts on this. I’m sorry that is the case and I have become sensitive to it when I write. I try hard to be fair and objective but welcome your pointing out where that is not the case. .

Steve

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toPpiman

Steve, I acknowledge that the Wellue can do things the Kardia cannot do, mainly offer 24 hour continuous recording. And for that reason, I have often stated it fills a real gap between professional Holter monitoring and the kind of event recording that Kardia and Apple Watch do. I'll even go one farther and say in some respects it may be superior to a Holter in that some arrhythmia's may be missed during the Holter's 1-3 week time frame while the Wellue can be used as needed, for as long as needed. And personally, if I felt I needed that type of continuing monitoring, I'd have no problem getting a Wellue.

My criticism of your posts have nothing to do with the Wellue, or which is better -- they are really apples and oranges -- but what I feel is your sometimes unfair and misleading criticism of the Kardia. If you simply said that the Wellue can do what the Kardia cannot do, i.e continuous recording, I would agree.

However, you seem to continually make the point that the Kardia's tracings are often "wrong" because they do not correlate what your ep says.

Once again, ALL automatic determinations -- be it Kardia, Apple Watch, Wellue, or the 12 lead at your doctor's office are always inferior to a good ep's eye. And all the home devices, including Wellue, will make mistakes, but that doesn't mean the integrity and quality of the tracing is "wrong". So when you say, " Wellue's AI analysis is used professionally in hospitals," I have to take pause, because again, AI analysis of ekg's has not yet gotten to the point where it's as good as an ep. And I refer you again to Dr. Anthony Pearson's review of Wellue, where he cautions against taking their automatic determinations at face value.

So if you can't analyze the tracing yourself, just show it to an ep, but don't overly rely on the machine to tell you what you have.

As to certification, among other things it means that the specificity and sensitivity of the Kardia's automatic determinations are published and have been verified by a third party.

In summary, Wellue and Kardia are two different animals that do two different things. Both have adequate tracings and both have imperfect AI analysis as does any machine, including the 12 lead at your ep's office. For those that require continuous recording and are willing to wear a chest strap or adhesive electrodes 24/7, by all means get a Wellue, but for those looking for a simple way of telling if they're in afib or not at a gien point in time, the Kardia or Apple Watch cannot be beat.

Jim

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply tomjames1

I have re-read my recent posts and wonder whether you might be reading more than my words actually say? I try to be fair and objective in all I write and can't see where I haven't been.

Concerning what the cardiologist who carried out my ablation told me (being a Brit, he calls himself a "cardiologist" not an "EP") it was that two of my Kardia reports were wrong. I've made this point only as a relevant response to what others have asked, so far as I am aware, and not to be critical of Kardia or to promote the Apple Watch or Wellue because of that. He commented also that the "P" wave on home ECGs can be too small to see (it's the same on the Apple Watch) because of the amount of artificial smoothing the software carries out to remove the mass of "noise" from the traces caused by the use of fingertip electrodes. This is another area where the Wellue might well be superior since it offers the option of using noise-free chest gel electrodes.

I believe I wrote not that Wellue AI ECGs were used in hospitals but that their parent company, Viatom, manufacture and supply hospitals with professional ECGs and have done so for many years. I read Dr Pearson's review and can't gainsay him, of course, but my point is that the Wellue does have important advantages. No one uses a home ECG determination for more than what it is, surely? A doctor's view will always trump one of these devices.

I just noticed that the cheapest priced Wellue device, with AI determinations, is now only $65.00. For many people, that makes such a useful device very affordable.

Steve

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

Hi Ppiman. I’m considering getting the Wellue 24 hour ECG recorder. I went to getwellyou.com and the price I’m seeing is $269. Does that sound right? I checked on Amazon but I didn’t see them on there.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

They are on Amazon - just search for Wellue AI ECG; indeed, I see on my Amazon web page today there's an extra £100.00 discount, but I think that is commonly available.

I bought mine direct from Wellue using a discount code. I've just tried it again and it worked. I think that if you type WELLUE10 into the "Discount Code" box before you pay, it will give an extra 10%. If you buy from Amazon, you do, of course, get the excellent extra assurance that Amazon purchases offer in terms of certainty of refunds, etc., although my experience buying direct has been excellent. Shipping times were excellent, too, arriving within a week if I recall.

Steve

baba profile image
baba in reply toPpiman

No need to pay extra monthly fees to use Kardia.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply tobaba

As I seem to recall posting once before, maybe to someone else, that’s not always the case. Most people don’t need to pay, perhaps, but for those, like me, who have certain types of arrhythmia (e.g. with a wide QRS segment), for which the Kardia will always report “Inconclusive” unless the extra monthly fee is paid.

Steve

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply toPpiman

I pay the extra fee for the Kardia readings also. I feel it’s well worth it.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toDebjimmay

It is often well worth it especially if you have any doubts over what the trace shows as you get a free monthly report from Kardia. Someone here recommended the Wellue AI and, well, it captures far more as it runs for much longer, and there's more information given without charge.

Steve

richard_jw profile image
richard_jw

My Kardia sometimes sows AFIB but at least 2 cardiologists hava looked at traces and said that they were not AF at all rather they were ectopics. I have worn a Holter for a week twice recently and it did not detect any AF. I looked at the time and on one occasion the Kardia did detect AF but the holter did not, and said it was a run of SVEs.

However the cardiologist is not recommending that I stop the anticoagulant (edoxaban 60mg)

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply torichard_jw

The only way to be sure if afib or not is to have the ep compare the Kardia's tracing to the tracing on the Holter at the same time mark. It's unclear from your post if that was done. The automatic determinations on both the Kardia and the Holter are inferior to a good ep's interpretation of the actual tracings.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Thank you for that idea. I’m going to bring my Kardia readings with me for my appointment on Fri. with my EP. Then he can compare my readings with the heart monitor since the Kardia showed 15 Afib readings and the monitor showed none. I’m wondering if the EP will be willing to take the time to check this for me. They are always in a rush and make you feel like you’re taking up too much of their time.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

Yes going through the Holter readings looking for a particular timestamp may not be something he is in the mood for 😄

But you may not have to do it. Why don't you first just get the ep to verify that one or two of your Kardia's tracings are actually a fib. This should only take a few seconds of their time. They may or may not agree with the Kardia's AI interpretation.

But if they do agree the Kardia showed afib, then to me the only conclusion is that the Holter and/or its AI missed the episode.

Please let us know how it goes.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Thanks Jim! That is a great idea! I would be happy if he would just compare ONE reading to see if it was Afib. I find that most of the readings on my kardio are Etopics or Sinus Rhythm with PVCs. I also have Bigeminy where I have a PVC every other beat and this will go on daily for days, weeks or even months. The bad thing is I feel and am aware of every single missed/skipped/early beat. I have pulsating tinnitus so I can hear my heart and know when it’s beating normal and when it’s not. When this is going on, I feel very stressed and anxious and have no energy. Then, all of a sudden, after days or weeks or months I’m back in NSR. But it seems the older I get the more episodes I’m having, and they appear to be lasting longer. I just wish family and friends would realize what a toll this can take on you. I was feeling quite alone and depressed but being on this forum, and being able to ask questions without being judged, as helped a lot

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

I know I initially said to ask the ep to compare readings of Kardia versus Holter. But on second reflection, not really necessary, and like you say, the ep may not want to spend the time or effort.

But they really don't have to compare even a single reading. They just have to look at a few of your Kardia ekg's to see if it picked up afib or not. That should just take a minute or so.

It's possibly that Kardia confused ectopics/bigeminy with afib, but it's also possible that it did pick up afib episodes that the Holter missed.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

I’ve actually printed out 2 copies of the Afib readings from the Kardia. I will bring these with me and he should be able to tell by looking them if it’s actual a fib or not. Right?

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

Absolutely correct. And if the ep agrees that your afib readings do show afib, no real reason to even to compare to the Holters, other than academic interest, as Kardia's ekg's are medical grade and universally accepted.

If you're able, could you please upload your Kardia's ekg's here? Of course, no one here is a substitute for your ep, however it might be interesting for educational purposes, plus Dr. Dave -- owner of Kardia -- sometimes stops by and gives his opinion.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Jim, I would love to upload my EKG readings here to have someone else look at them, but how do I do that? I also have a copy of the halter monitor results that I can post also which may explain some things that I don’t understand.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

This works for iphone. You can skip steps if you use the Kardia app on your computer.

1) On your iphone Kardia app, go to "history" and then open the ekg in question; 2) Scroll down to "download pdf" and then click on "skip". 3)Now email the ekg to yourself and save it on your hard drive. 4) Once on your hard drive click on the symbol on the bottom right of the reply frame, navigate to your file and double click on it. That should upload it to the post.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Ok, I think I might have figured out how to send the EKG reading. Let me try and then let me know if you’re able to see it OK. Thanks

EKG
mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

Yes, I can see it. Shows 94 bpm. Is that your usual heart rate when in afib or is it usually faster?

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Yes that’s my usual heart rate when an a fib but one time it was really bad and it was up to 140 and that was when I went to the ER about two years ago. Were you able to see the EKG from my Apple Watch? Not sure if that one went through OK or not

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tomjames1

I only saw the Kardia ekg

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

If you scroll down a little little bit, you should see the Apple Watch EKG. I hope you can get a look at it because I think this one is actually Afib.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

I see it, but it's actually a Kardia ekg, not an Apple Watch ekg. Apparently, you have your Kardia linked to the "Apple Health" app and that's why you see it where you do. This ekg looks more problematic than the first one, like you say. This is the one I would bring to your ep and/or show to Dr. Albert.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Can you see the Apple Watch EKG ok?

Apple Watch EKG
mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

Above my pay grade to analyze anyone else's ekg, however looks to me that it's NSR and the Kardia was fooled by a run of PACs. Especially, given the low heart rate, unless your afib is always at a low heart rate. Do you have any others that showed afib, because this one might not be.

Jim

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toDebjimmay

I'm going to tag Dr. David Albert on this, and hopefully I have the right tag drdavehd

He's the inventor of Kardia and might give his opinion if this is afib or just NSR with PACs, etc.

Jim

Debjimmay profile image
Debjimmay in reply tomjames1

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you having Dr. Albert take a look at it. I sent two EKG’s. One from Kardia and one from my Apple Watch. It seems that the Apple Watch only picks up Afib rarely so I’m wondering if the watch may be more accurate?

Thomas45 profile image
Thomas45

You ask Why? The answer is because the Holter monitor is more accurate than Kardia and Apple watch.If you're still having a problem with Eliquis there are other anticoagulants.

AF will not kill you but now you've had AF you are 5 times more likely to have a stroke than people who've never had AF, so anticoagulation is necessary.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toThomas45

The answer is because the Holter monitor is more accurate than Kardia and Apple watch.

Actually, the tracings on the Kardia are superior to those from most Holters, according to several ep's I've talked to, all at top ten teaching hospitals in the US. Holters, like Kardia, make mistakes all the time in their automatic determinations. It's the ep reviewing the data that will make the real determination. So in Richard's case, above, only until the ep reviews both the Holter trace with the Kardia trace at the same time stamp, can a determination be made whether it showed afib or not.

Jim

mav7 profile image
mav7 in reply tomjames1

Actually, the tracings on the Kardia are superior to those from most Holters, according to several ep's I've talked to, all at top ten teaching hospitals in the US

From what I have read, this is correct. However, the Kardia does not provide continuous monitoring which is key for many like  Ppiman  Thomas45 myself and likely many others.

The Zio Patch is an excellent device but doctors normally begin with a holter monitor due to costs of the Zio.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tomav7

No disagreement. What I was suggesting is that since Kardia's AI said one thing at a certain point in time and that the Zio Patch's AI said another thing in that same point of time -- was for the ep to look at the actual tracings at that same point in time and decide which AI was correct. Unfortunately AI analysis is not yet as good as the analysis of a good ep, be it the AI analysis of Kardia, Apple Watch, Holter, Zio Patch, or even the 12 lead at the ep's office. No where am I suggesting that a Kardia should be substituted for something like a Holter or Zio Patch. The Kardia is an event monitor, the Holter and Zio Patch are continuous monitors. Two different animals for two different things.

Jim

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