2 Kardia mobile devices

[Bobsterguy]

I have afib & cll...

There are two Kardia mobile devices I.e. the best selling $79 KardiaMobile 1-Lead Personal EKG Monitor – Record at Home – Detects AFib & Irregular Arrhythmias

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And the second best selling $129 KardiaMobile 6-Lead Personal EKG Monitor – Six Views of The Heart – Detects AFib and Irregular Arrhythmias .

Which one do you like best and why? If you could purchase either one which would you buy? Thanks in advance for your reply. Bob

[mjames1]

The 6L. Better connectivity, studier and the option to do a six-lead EKG, which can offer more information to your cardiologist than the Mobile's single lead in diagnosing arrhythmias. I own both.

Jim

[CDreamer]

I have both but the 1L is a renewal of original version which I was given as my then EP was part of the team studying the Kardia back for approval back in 2013. Jim is correct in that the 6L may have slightly better connectivity, unless you or your doctor want the full Monty of 6L information then I believe for personal use, just to see if you are or not in AF then the 1L is adequate. The 6L can provide a lot more information if you are going to email to your EP for diagnosis and/or treatment plan.

[bean_counter27]

I only have the 6L so have no direct experience with both. However, I went with the 6L believing the single lead is good but the 6L is better - and for an additional cost not much more than the cost of a carton of beer, I didn't hesitate getting the 6L.

We're not allowed to include unapproved links but if you Google the following you can read a comparison from 2021 of the devices on "The Skeptical Cardioligist" website.

"A Comparison of Alivecor’s Kardia 6L and Kardia Single Lead Mobile ECG With and Without the V2 Algorithm"

[LeeBlack]

I have the 6L. I find that lead II gives the clearest view of the heart's rhythm, especially when it comes to identifying the p-wave. The lack of a p-wave is one indicator of AF. I have read that the ECG on a patient's hospital monitor typically comes from lead II.

[Ppiman]

I used to have the 6L and liked it as it used Bluetooth to connect to my phone, which was smooth, easy and less likely to suffer interference.

I am currently trying an EMay / Contec 6L device which is proving excellent and lacks the need for any subscription.

Steve

[ozziebob in reply to Ppiman]

But if you simply have pAF and NSR, without any other arrhythmias, you don't need to pay any subscription with your Kardia. I realise this is not your particular situation.

[Ppiman in reply to ozziebob]

That's right, Bob. The lack of a screen is another negative for the Kardia, though, but that does make it more pocketable, I suppose. It's an excellent device.

I don't know how many people are in the lucky position of having "pure" AF. I've often wondered. It's clear that many here do.

[ozziebob]

I didn't refer to "pure" AF (?), but if I did need to investigate other arrhythmias, or needed nighttime monitoring, or just longer monitoring, I also definitely would not be paying a monthly/yearly subscription, and seeking one of the devices you mention.

[manabouttown]

I would get the 6L.In hospitals they use12L so6Lgives far more info.

[ozziebob]

Yes, and the 6L can also record a 1L ecg if want. 6L is deffo the best purchase option.

[LaceyLady]

I have the one lead one because the other wasn’t available. My consultant cardiologist said it was perfectly fine and he went and got his father in law one 😜

My GP at the time was amazed, asked me if he could take a video of me using it so to use in training sessions 😜

I haven’t used it so much in the last 6 months, I had an ablation end of February and so far 🤞🏻

[momist]

The only thing wrong with the 1 lead Kardia is that it uses an ultra sound means of communication with the phone/tablet it needs to run the app on. More up market or most modern phones/tablets have clever "noise filters" operating on the microphone which will detect the signal and classify it as noise, which defeats the connection. It seems to be rather random which phones/tablets will work, and which ones won't. I am currently running a ten year old model Motorola phone, just for the old Kardia to work, as my main phone doesn't work with it at all.

I'd recommend the 6 lead model (although I've never used one) as it uses Bluetooth for communication and should work with any phone/tablet that can run the Kardia app on iOS or Android.

[LaceyLady in reply to momist]

I have Apple iPhone 12 Pro

[momist in reply to LaceyLady]

Nice to hear it works with that phone, it doesn't work with my OnePlus5T, which is now over 5 years old. I'm due a new phone soon, but I'm happy with Android and don't want to embrace the Apple Empire.