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Veterinary research communications2024; 49(1); 43; doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10584-w

A new smartphone-based digital stethoscope featuring phonocardiography and electrocardiography in adult horses.

Abstract: Smartphone-based technology is increasingly used in veterinary medicine as a complementary tool for cardiac auscultation and ECG recording. This prospective observational study evaluates a digital stethoscope (DS) that consists of simultaneous phonocardiographic and one-lead ECG recording (dECG) in adult horses, comparing it with auscultation using a conventional stethoscope (CS) and reference base-apex ECG (rECG). A total of 104 horses underwent cardiac auscultation using CSs and DSs to detect arrhythmias and murmurs. Audio and dECG were acquired using the DS. The rECG tracings were also recorded. All ECG tracings were blindly evaluated for interpretability, measurements, and diagnosis. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the data distribution. Weighted Cohen's κ and Bland Altman plot analysis were applied to verify the agreement between reference vs. smartphone-based methods. Almost perfect agreement was found in detecting murmurs and/or arrhythmias between auscultation with the CS and DS, and between CS auscultation and re-listening to DS audio. Perfect agreement was observed between re-listening to DS audio and DS auscultation and in detecting murmur timing between CS and DS auscultation. Almost perfect agreement was found between rECG and dECG in detecting bradycardia, tachycardia, or normal heart rate (HR) and for P-wave polarity. The lack of variability with both methods for QRS polarity prevented statistical analyses from being performed. Fair agreement was found in the assessment of the presence of artifact. In conclusion, the DS reliably detected heart murmurs and arrhythmias through direct auscultation and re-listening to recordings, and accurately evaluated HR, wave and interval measurements, P-wave and QRS-complex polarities in adult horses.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2024-11-27 PubMed ID: 39601957PubMed Central: 7754639DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10584-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explores the effectiveness and reliability of a smartphone-based digital stethoscope in detecting cardiac conditions in horses, comparing its performance with a conventional stethoscope and a standard electrocardiograph.

Objective of the Research

The research aims to evaluate the efficiency and reliability of a digital stethoscope (DS) and a one-lead digital electrocardiography (dECG) tool in diagnosing murmurs and arrhythmias in horses. These tools are compared to traditional auscultation using a conventional stethoscope (CS) and benchmark electrocardiographic (rECG) methods.

Methodology of the Research

  • The study involved 104 adult horses that were put through cardiac auscultation using both conventional and digital stethoscopes to identify murmurs and arrhythmias.
  • Sounds and one-lead digital ECG (dECG) data were recorded using the digital stethoscope (DS).
  • Reference ECG (rECG) data were also obtained for comparison.
  • All ECG data were then evaluated independently without knowledge of the device used, to determine interpretability, measurements, and diagnosis.
  • Statistical methods used to analyze data and agreement between the digital and reference methods included the Shapiro-Wilk test, weighted Cohen’s κ, and Bland Altman plot analysis.

Results of the Research

  • The study found high consistency in detecting murmurs and arrhythmias between conventional and digital auscultation methods.
  • There was also high agreement between conventional auscultations and re-listening to recorded audio from the digital stethoscope.
  • Perfect agreement was noted in two instances: when re-listening to the digital stethoscope’s audio and during DS auscultation, and in detecting the timing of murmurs using both stethoscope types.
  • Strong agreement was found between reference ECG and digital ECG in detecting variances in heart rate (bradycardia, tachycardia), and P-wave polarity. However, statistical analyses for QRS polarity were not feasible due to lack of variation with both methods.
  • There was a fair agreement in assessing the presence of artefacts.

Conclusion of the Research

Led by the findings, the study concludes that the digital stethoscope reliably detects murmurs and arrhythmias in horses, both during direct auscultation and when re-listening to recordings. It also accurately measures heart rate, wave and interval measurements, and P-wave and QRS-complex polarities..

Cite This Article

APA
Bindi F, Bozzola C, Vezzosi T, Zucca E, Caivano D, Freccero F, Sala G, Sgorbini M. (2024). A new smartphone-based digital stethoscope featuring phonocardiography and electrocardiography in adult horses. Vet Res Commun, 49(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-024-10584-w

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 43

Researcher Affiliations

Bindi, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Bozzola, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
Vezzosi, Tommaso
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. tommaso.vezzosi@unipi.it.
Zucca, Enrica
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
Caivano, Domenico
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Freccero, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Sala, Giulia
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Sgorbini, Micaela
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Smartphone
  • Stethoscopes / veterinary
  • Electrocardiography / veterinary
  • Electrocardiography / instrumentation
  • Electrocardiography / methods
  • Phonocardiography / veterinary
  • Phonocardiography / instrumentation
  • Phonocardiography / methods
  • Male
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Heart Auscultation / veterinary
  • Heart Auscultation / instrumentation
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: The experiments were conducted following the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals in Research and Teaching, after the approval of the Ethic Committee of the University of Pisa (OPBA n. 53/2020). Consent to participate: All authors consent to participation in this publication. Consent to publish: All authors consent to publication of the manuscript. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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