Detecting heart diseases in underserved areas of Honduras with mobile electrocardiography (#940)

Authors

Diaz, Salvador

Argueta, Edil

Sosa, Lilian

Sierra, Alicia

Diaz, Alicia

Molina, Yolly

Zablah, Jose Isaac

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases pose significant health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), making early detection of heart disease vital to improve outcomes, but access to conventional diagnostic tools. Mobile electrocardiography (MECG) offers a promising solution for remote and resource-limited settings. To evaluate the use of MECG technology to detect cardiac disease in underserved areas of Honduras. It focuses on mobile health technologies' efficacy, challenges, and potential to expand access to cardiovascular diagnosis. MECG devices were deployed in the El Paraíso, Honduras, using Prince 180D devices and a cloud-based mobile application to record and transmit ECG data. A total of 1044 ECGs were collected between November 2023 and January 2024, and the data were analyzed remotely by cardiologists. Among the 1044 ECGs recorded, 262 had abnormalities, such as ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and third-degree atrioventricular block. MECG technology demonstrated sensitivity to various cardiac pathologies, and abnormalities were predominantly identified in women and patients aged 41 years or older. MECG technology demonstrated high accuracy and reliability in detecting multiple cardiac pathologies, especially in geographically isolated regions. This system enabled early diagnosis and facilitated timely referrals, offering a scalable solution to health disparities in LMICs.