Use of AliveCor Heart Monitor for Heart Rate and Rhythm Evaluation in Domestic Water Buffalo Calves

Abstract Text:

Objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of a smartphone-based electrocardiogram (ECG) device (AliveCor ECG^tm) in dairy water buffalo calves for the determination of heart rate and rhythm as part of an adjunct to physical examination. Additionally, the quality of ECG from the AliveCor device was compared to a standard 6-lead ECG. We hypothesized that the AliveCor device could be used to obtain an accurate heart rate and rhythm in water buffalo calves in a field setting. Six healthy neonatal water buffalo calves had simultaneous AliveCor and standard 6-lead ECGs performed.  The AliveCor ECG was recorded with the device placed over the left cardiac apex. Paper speed was 25 mm/sec and amplitude was 10 mm/mV. All ECGs were evaluated unpaired and independently by a data-blinded veterinary cardiologist. The average heart rate was determined based on 6 seconds of ECG recording, rhythm diagnosis was recorded for each tracing, and each ECG was assigned a quality score from 0 (high quality) to 3 (low quality). The findings were then reviewed to determine if the AliveCor device was comparable to the 6 lead ECG for rate and rhythm diagnosis. A paired t-tests was used to assess for significant differences between each calf’s average heart rate determined by the AliveCor device and the 6-lead ECG, and a Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the quality scores between the two readings for each calf. There was no significant difference between average heart rate obtained between AliveCor recordings when compared to those from the 6 lead ECG (P = 0.174). Average group quality scores were 1.167 (+/- 0.753) for the standard ECG and 0.833 (+/- 0.753) for the AliveCor. No significant difference was observed between standard and AliveCor quality scores (P=0.6250). A normal sinus rhythm was diagnosed for all 12 recordings. We conclude that the AliveCor device allows for accurate heart rate determination and diagnosis of a normal sinus rhythm in neonatal diary water buffalo calves in a field setting. Thus, the AliveCor could serve as an adjunct for data collection from water buffalo calves in both research and clinical settings.

Keywords: AliveCor, Cardiology, Bubaline, Smartphone