Abnormal heart rhythms are a major cause of cardiovascular disease and death. Sudden cardiac death accounts for 50 % of cardiac mortality in developed countries. As effective treatment can be delivered if arrhythmias are detected early, one EU project has developed a new diagnostic tool for preventive clinical practice.
Ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation is the commonest form of underlying arrhythmia. In those still going about their daily lives, atrial fibrillation is the most common form and is associated with increased risk of stroke and heart failure, particularly in the older population.
Further details: Paving the way to a new generation of non-invasive sensors to identify abnormal heart rhythms reliably