hartritmemonitoring

Hartritmemonitoring (heart rhythm monitoring) refers to the systematic observation and recording of the heart's electrical activity to detect abnormalities in rhythm. It encompasses a spectrum of modalities from short-term ambulatory ECG to long-term monitoring.

Common methods include 24- to 48-hour Holter monitoring, event recorders, and patch-based monitors that can run for days to weeks, as well as implantable loop recorders that may monitor for years. Data are typically reviewed by clinicians to identify arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, bradyarrhythmias, and conduction disturbances.

Metrics often include heart rate, rhythm, intervals (PR, QRS, QT), and AF burden, and correlations with symptoms or events are sought to guide diagnosis and treatment.

Indications include palpitations, syncope or presyncope, unexplained dyspnea, assessment of suspected arrhythmias, monitoring after stroke of unknown source, and evaluation of response to antiarrhythmic drugs or device therapy. The choice of modality depends on the suspected event frequency, required monitoring duration, and patient factors.

Advantages of hartritmemonitoring include increased diagnostic yield for intermittent events and real-world assessment; limitations include artifacts, motion-related noise, incomplete wear time, skin irritation, and data management challenges. Privacy and data security considerations apply, especially with cloud-based systems and patient-owned wearables. Future developments focus on integrated wearable sensors, AI-assisted analysis, and seamless data integration with electronic health records.