Long-term ECG recording: findings and implications.

BACKGROUND

Long-term ECG recording is a commonly used test. However, there are no clear guidelines on who should be examined using this method, and we lack an overview of the results of testing and their therapeutic implications.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

All long-term ECG recordings performed at Sørlandet Hospital Arendal in the period 2017-18 were included in the study. The tests were identified by searching the medical records system for relevant procedure codes, and all medical records related to the test were subsequently reviewed. Patient characteristics, referrer, indication, results, further assessment, and treatment were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 1 262 long-term ECG recordings were performed at Sørlandet Hospital Arendal in the period 2017-18. The median age of those tested was 60 years, and 48 % of tests were performed in women. A total of 253 (20 %) recordings revealed arrhythmias and 168 (13 %) had therapeutic implications. For patients without known heart disease or a history of stroke (n = 619 (49 %)), the test had therapeutic implications in 32 (5 %) cases.

INTERPRETATION

Long-term ECG recording was often used to test patient populations with limited cardiac arrhythmia, and the results rarely had therapeutic implications. The findings of the study may indicate that long-term ECG recording should be used to a greater extent in patients for whom positive findings would have therapeutic and prognostic implications, such as those in whom stroke prophylaxis would be indicated if they were found to have atrial fibrillation.