BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the clinical validity and reliability of two wireless telemetry electrocardiogram (ECG) devices in the Emergency Medicine Department.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who attended the Emergency Medicine Department underwent wireless telemetry ECG testing (N=245) using the Infron Micro Cor and the Nihon Kohden Cardiofax M 1350 K devices. ECG recordings included heart rate, P-wave amplitude, PR segment length, QRS duration, QT and QTc intervals, ST depression and elevation, the number of ECG artifacts, the ECG diagnosis, and duration. Statistical analysis of reliability included the use of Cohen’s kappa (κ) values.

RESULTS: One hundred women (40.8%) and 145 men (59.2%) were included in the study. The duration for the Infron Micro Cor ECG readings (57.5±0.93 seconds) was significantly shorter compared with the Nihon Kohden Cardiofax M ECG readings (65.2±9.72 seconds) (p=0.0001). The Infron Micro Cor ECG readings contained significantly more lead artifacts (93 or 37.9%) compared with the Nihon Kohden ECG readings (71 or 28.9%) (p=0.01). There was no difference between the two devices in terms of the other ECG parameters. The compatibility of ST-segment elevation detection was found to be almost in complete agreement between the Infron Micro Cor and Nihon Kohden Cardiofax M ECG devices, as determined by the k-values for ST elevation and ST depression.

CONCLUSIONS: Two wireless telemetry ECG devices were found to be reliable for use in the Emergency Medicine Department. The Infron Micro Cor wireless telemetry ECG device provided more rapid results.

Keywords: Electrocardiography, Telemetry, Wireless Technology, Aged, 80 and over, Diagnosis, Differential, Emergency Medicine, Emergency Service, Hospital, Reproducibility of Results