Smartphone detection of atrial fibrillation using photoplethysmography: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Simrat Gill, Karina Bunting, Claudio Sartini, Victor Roth Cardoso, Narges Ghoreishi, Hae-Won Uh, John Williams, Kiliana Suzart-Woischnik, Amitava Banerjee, Folkert Asselbergs, MJC Eijkemans, Georgios Gkoutos, Dipak Kotecha

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Abstract

Objectives Timely diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential to reduce complications from this increasingly common condition. We sought to assess the diagnostic accuracy of smartphone camera photoplethysmography (PPG) compared with conventional electrocardiogram (ECG) for AF detection.

Methods This is a systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane (1980–December 2020), including any study or abstract, where smartphone PPG was compared with a reference ECG (1, 3 or 12-lead). Random effects meta-analysis was performed to pool sensitivity/specificity and identify publication bias, with study quality assessed using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) risk of bias tool.

Results 28 studies were included (10 full-text publications and 18 abstracts), providing 31 comparisons of smartphone PPG versus ECG for AF detection. 11 404 participants were included (2950 in AF), with most studies being small and based in secondary care. Sensitivity and specificity for AF detection were high, ranging from 81% to 100%, and from 85% to 100%, respectively. 20 comparisons from 17 studies were meta-analysed, including 6891 participants (2299 with AF); the pooled sensitivity was 94% (95% CI 92% to 95%) and specificity 97% (96%–98%), with substantial heterogeneity (p<0.01). Studies were of poor quality overall and none met all the QUADAS-2 criteria, with particular issues regarding selection bias and the potential for publication bias.

Conclusion PPG provides a non-invasive, patient-led screening tool for AF. However, current evidence is limited to small, biased, low-quality studies with unrealistically high sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are needed, preferably independent from manufacturers, in order to advise clinicians on the true value of PPG technology for AF detection.
Original languageEnglish
Article number320417
Pages (from-to)1600-1607
Number of pages8
JournalHeart
Volume108
Issue number20
Early online date11 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 11 Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Not yet published in issue as of 15/03/2022.

Keywords

  • 1506
  • Arrhythmias and sudden death
  • atrial fibrillation
  • photoplethysmography
  • smartphone

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