Two-week monitor after unexplained fainting identifies life-threatening heart conditions

A trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress demonstrated that a two-week wearable heart monitor significantly improves the detection of life-threatening heart conditions in patients who arrive at the ER with unexplained fainting. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh conducted the study involving 2,234 individuals who experienced unexplained fainting.

The study found that those who wore the chest-worn monitor for two weeks had a 22% detection rate of heart rhythm problems after one year, compared to 9% in the standard care group. The death rate after one year was also lower in the monitoring group at 1.5% compared to 2.9%. Heart rhythm problems, known as arrhythmias, were identified on average 22 days earlier with the two-week monitor compared to 54.5 days with standard care.

This early detection led to quicker treatment, with 10.8% of monitor group patients receiving antiarrhythmic medication and 6.8% undergoing pacemaker implantation, compared to 7.3% and 4.6% in the standard care group. The researchers estimate that around 650,000 people in the UK visit the ER with unexplained fainting each year.