Secondary Preventive stroke prevention
Performance of short ECG recordings twice daily to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in stroke and transient ischaemic attack patients
Poulsen M.B., Binici Z., Dominguez, H., Soja A. M., Kruuse, C., Hornnes, A.H., Rasmussen R.S. & Overgaard K.
International Journal of Stroke, 2016 Sept 30
In this prospective study from Herlev Hospital in Denmark 95 strokepatients (n= >65 years) were examined with Zenicor thumb-ECG twice daily for 30 days and at the same time monitored with a 5 day Holter. Previously undiagnosed PAF was detected in 20 patients (21,1%) with the Zenicor thumb-ECG and 17 (17,9%) with the 5 day Holter monitor. The difference was not statistically significant. 10 of the patients were found with both methods. 76% of the patients preferred the Zenicor-ECG and 2% preferred the Holter monitor.
Detection of Atrial Fibrillation with Intermittent Handheld Electrocardiogram in Patients with Ischaemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack
Olsson, A-S. & Engdahl, J.
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases (2016, Aug; 01) (E-published ahead of print)
In this retrospective study data was compiled from 370 strokepatients at Halland Hospital in Halmstad, Sweden, that had been investigated with Zenicor thumb-ECG. A total of 7,6% new AF was detected. The detection was higher among patients with stroke (11%) than with TIA (5%) and increased with increasing age (m=65 yrs). Compliance to the Zenicor thumb-ECG investigation was considered excellent.
Zenicor-ECG project at Queen Alexandra Hospital
Njafuh, R. & Sukyus, U.
(Presented at European Stroke Congress, 2016. Not yet published.)
In this project from Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth Hospital NHS trust, UK, 71 Stroke and TIA patients were investigated for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF), using Zenicor thumb-ECG for three weeks in combination with continuous 24 hours Holter ECG. With Zenicor thumb-ECG 14 % of the patients were diagnosed with PAF, but only 7 % were detected with the Holter ECG. In the stroke subgroup 19% were diagnosed with PAF. > 94% of the patients found the device convenient or very convenient to use.
Screening of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation after Ischaemic Stroke: 48-Hour Holter Monitoring versus Prolonged Intermittent ECG Recording
Orrsjö G.,Cederin B.,Bertholds E.,Nasic S. & Welin, L.
ISRN Stroke, Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 208195
In a compilation of results from two years’ use of Zenicor-EKG at Skaraborg Hospital in Skövde, it was investigated how many atrial fibrillations had been detected using Zenicor-EKG compared to Holter-EKG in stroke patients. It was then confirmed that Zenicor-EKG detected four times as many patients with previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation.
Improving screening for silent atrial fibrillation after ischaemic stroke (Propp-Stopp)
Sobocinski Doliwa P., Rooth Änggårdh E., Frykman Kull V., von Arbin M., Wallén H. & Rosenqvist M.
Europace (2012) 14, 1112–1116
In a study of around 250 patients with ischaemic stroke/TIA, patients underwent four weeks of investigation with Zenicor-EKG while simultaneously being investigated with Holter (continuous readings over 24 hours). A total of 17 (7.1%) patients were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Zenicor-EKG diagnosed three times as many cases of atrial fibrillation as Holter.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of screening for silent atrial fibrillation after ischaemic stroke
Levin L., Husberg M., Doliwa Sobocinski P., Frykman Kull V., Friberg L., Rosenqvist M. & Davidson T.
Europace (2014 Oct 27), Online
Based on figures from the Propp-Stopp study, researchers in Linköping have been able to confirm that screening of 75-year-old stroke patients for silent atrial fibrillation is very cost-effective and after seven years, savings in terms of healthcare costs can even be seen. In the studies Zenicor-EKG has proved to be both more sensitive and result in lower costs than Holter-EKG.
