Home use of a compact, 12?lead ECG recording system for newborns.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:An easy-to-operate ECG recorder should be useful for newborn screening for heart conditions, by health care workers - or parents. We developed a one-piece electrode strip and a compact, 12?lead ECG recorder for newborns. METHOD:We enrolled 2582 newborns in a trial to assess abilities of parents to record a 12?lead ECG on their infants (2-4?weeks-old). Newborns were randomized to recordings by parents (1290) or our staff (1292 controls). Educational backgrounds of parents varied, including 64% with no more than a high school diploma. RESULTS:For newborns randomized to parent recorded ECGs, 94% of parents completed a 10-minute recording. However, 42.6% asked for verbal help, and 12.7% needed physical help. ECG quality was the same for recordings by parents versus staff. CONCLUSIONS:By use of a one-piece electrode strip and a compact recorder, 87% of parents recorded diagnostic quality ECGs on their newborn infants, with minimal assistance.

SUBMITTER: Lin HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6458066 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar - Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature