Members of the general public without known heart rhythm problems were invited via advertisements in the local press and radio to attend a free heart-screening event, held over three days, in the foyer of Jersey Hospital. The Island of Jersey has a population of approximately 98,000. We set out to identify the effectiveness of a hand-held, single-lead ECG device to identify arrhythmia and other ECG abnormalities in a large, asymptomatic, unselected Island population. Pulse checks can help detect atrial fibrillation (AF) but a recorded electrocardiogram (ECG) remains the gold standard. Due to its highly portable nature and ease of use, this application could be used as a rapid screening tool for cardiovascular abnormalities in the community.Ītrial arrhythmias are often asymptomatic and can remain undiagnosed until presentation with stroke or heart failure. In conclusion, this novel ECG application was quick and easy to use and led to the new diagnoses of arrhythmia, bundle branch block, LVH and cardiomyopathy in 23 (2.4%) of the total patients screened. In addition, increased voltages meeting criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on 12-lead ECG were detected in four patients leading to one diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Other abnormalities detected included atrial and ventricular ectopy, bundle branch block and ST-segment abnormalities. Of these, 23 (43%) were abnormal with two confirming atrial fibrillation and two showing atrial flutter. There were 54 (5.6%) people noted to have a potential abnormality, including suspected conduction defects, increased voltages or a rhythm abnormality requiring further evaluation with a 12-lead ECG. There were 989 participants aged 12–99 years evaluated: 954 were screened with the ECG application. Participants filled out dedicated questionnaires, had their blood pressure checked and an ECG recorded using the AliveCor (CA, USA) device attached to an Apple (CA, USA) iPhone 4 or 5. Members of the general public were invited to attend a free heart screening event, held over three days, in the foyer of Jersey General Hospital. We evaluated the efficacy of a novel smartphone application to provide a rapid electrocardiogram (ECG) screening method on the Island of Jersey, population 98,000. C ardiac screening in the community is limited by time, resources and cost.
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