Evaluation of a new portable 1-lead digital cardiac monitor (eKuore) compared with standard base-apex electrocardiography in healthy horses.
Authors: Vitale Valentina, Vezzosi Tommaso, Tognetti Rosalba, Fraschetti Carlotta, Sgorbini Micaela
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Portable smartphone-based electrocardiography devices have gained traction in human medicine, but their application in equine practice has been limited by their single-lead capability and concerns about measurement accuracy. Researchers compared the novel eKuore device—a wireless cardiac monitor that records via modified base-apex electrode placement—against standard telemetric ECG in 28 healthy mares of mixed ages and breeds, with simultaneous recordings allowing direct comparison of heart rate, waveform duration, and signal quality. Heart rate measurements showed excellent agreement between systems, and both the polarity of cardiac deflections and artefact prevalence were comparable, with no clinically significant differences in the duration of electrical deflections recorded by either method. Whilst the smartphone device's single-lead format remains unsuitable for comprehensive diagnostic ECG interpretation (such as axis determination or detailed arrhythmia classification), it demonstrates sufficient reliability for screening purposes and field-based assessment of basic cardiac parameters. For practitioners working away from clinical facilities—farriers monitoring ridden work, coaches assessing fitness, or veterinarians conducting pre-purchase examinations on remote yards—this portable technology could offer a pragmatic preliminary screening tool, provided findings are contextualised within comprehensive clinical evaluation.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This portable ECG device offers a practical alternative for field-based cardiac screening in horses, reducing need to transport equipment or horses to clinic
- •The technology reliably detects heart rate and arrhythmias, making it useful as a first-line diagnostic tool at competitions, shows, or remote locations
- •While reliable for screening, this single-lead device should not replace standard multi-lead ECG for definitive diagnosis or detailed electrical measurements
Key Findings
- •Excellent agreement found between smartphone ECG device and reference telemetry system for heart rate measurement in 28 healthy mares
- •No significant differences in artifact number, duration, or percentage between the two ECG methods
- •Smartphone ECG device successfully recorded cardiac deflections with acceptable polarity readings comparable to standard base-apex electrocardiography
- •Portable smartphone ECG device demonstrated feasibility as a field-based screening tool for equine cardiac assessment