DETECT-AF PRO: Detection of Atrial Fibrillation with Smartphone Camera Feasible

Researchers for this two-center prospective study recruited patients with presumed atrial fibrillation (AF) and matched controls in sinus rhythm. Each patient had a photoplethysmorgraphy (PPG) recording taken by a regular smartphone camera followed by an internet-enabled electrocardiography (iECG). PPG was analyzed using an algorithm and compared with a blinded iECG diagnosis. Based on 5 minutes of PPG analysis, the automatic algorithm detected AFA with 91.5% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity. Sensitivity was reduced to 89.9% and specificity to 99.1% when the analysis time was shortened to 1 minute. “This is the first prospective clinical two-center study to demonstrate that detection of AF by using a smartphone camera alone is feasible, with high specificity and sensitivity,” the researchers wrote. “PPG signal analysis appears to be suitable for extended AF screening.”

https://academic.oup.com/europace/article/21/1/41/5062933

Brasier N, Raichle C, Dorr M, et al. EP Europace. 2019;doi:10.1093/europace/euy176