These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Optimal duration of event recording for diagnosis of arrhythmias in patients with palpitations and light-headedness in the general practice.
    Author: Hoefman E, van Weert HC, Boer KR, Reitsma J, Koster RW, Bindels PJ.
    Journal: Fam Pract; 2007 Feb; 24(1):11-3. PubMed ID: 17158181.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Patient-activated continuous-loop event recorders (CER) are useful as a diagnostic tool in new episodes of palpitations and/or dizziness. So far, no analysis of optimal duration for monitoring in unselected patients has been published. METHODS: During a period of 30 days, we prospectively evaluated the time until diagnosis using CER in patients with symptoms of palpitations and/or dizziness in general practice. RESULTS: In total, 127 patients received an event recorder for a maximum duration of 30 days. Events were recorded by 104 patients (82%), of whom 83 (78%) showed an arrhythmia. After 2 weeks, 75% of all diagnoses and 83.3% of all clinically relevant diagnoses could be established. CONCLUSION: The yield of event recording in general practice diminishes with recording time. A minimum recording time of 2 weeks seems necessary.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]