Resting 12‑lead ECG tests performed by patients at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic — Results from the first 1000 patients

Abstract

BackgroundThere were surges in the demand for telehealth and home care in the COVID-19 pandemic. A new home ECG testing model was developed and used in the real-world clinical practice. MethodsSince June 2020, QT Medical, Inc. (Diamond Bard, California) has been providing home ECG testing service by mail. Upon receiving the order from a clinician, an ECG testing kit was sent to the patient by mail. The kit included an ECG recorder, a prepositioned electrode strip of proper size for the patient (determined by the ordering clinician), printed instructions for performing the test, and a return envelope. We reviewed and analyzed the de-identified administrative dataset of the first 1000 ECG tests ordered by 37 medical practices. ResultsOf the 1000 patients served by this mail delivery home ECG testing service, 77.3% were female and 22.7% were male. Their ages ranged from 1 year old to 96 years old, mean 49.5 ± 13.4 years (median 52). 92.9% patients completed their tests with clinical quality ECGs uploaded to their ordering clinician's online accounts. Of those who did not complete the tests, the main reason was they “no longer needed the test”. Failure to complete the test due to technical issues was 1.4%. Only one patient had to repeat the test due to inadequate ECG quality as judged by the ordering physician. The median turnaround time, from the kit being mailed out to the recorder being returned, was 10 days. Overall, 2.2% of the ECG devices were lost in shipping or unreturned by patients. ConclusionOf the first 1000 patients who had their ECG tests at homes, it was found that this home ECG testing platform and care model could be reliably used by patients with no training to acquire clinical grade ECG. The current study proved that medical standard, resting 12‑lead ECG can be performed by the majority of patients at home.