Don't Rely on Smartphone Apps to Measure Heart Rate in Pediatric Patients

Smartphone applications did not perform well at heart rates >210 beats/min.

Many healthcare applications (apps) for smartphones are now available to the public, including several apps that measure heart rate. Investigators assessed the accuracy of two heart rate detection apps (Instant Heart Rate and Heart Beat Rate) before and after episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in 26 children (age, < 18 years) who were undergoing electrophysiology studies.

At baseline, both apps produced heart rate readings within 4 beats per minute (bpm) of the electrocardiogram (ECG) heart rate (Pearson correlation coefficient [r], 0.99). However, during 21 SVT events in 18 patients, the two apps failed to measure a heart rate in 50% to 70% of 38 measurement attempts. Correlation was poor for the measurements that were obtained.…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Don't Rely on Smartphone Apps to Measure Heart Rate in Pediatric Patients

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Reviewing Author