National awareness campaign reaches 2M and triples the AF detection rate

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of a population-based approach to the detection of atrial fibrillation via a comprehensive media campaign, and to assess the potential impact on clinical care.

Approach

In what is probably the clearest demonstration to date of FibriCheck’s scalability, the solution was put to the test as part of a comprehensive country-wide detection and awareness-raising campaign in Belgium. The call for participants was published both online and in print, with collaboration support from several major news outlets. In addition to supporting the recruitment of over 62,000 study participants, the campaign successfully raised public awareness about atrial fibrillation, reaching over 2 million people in total.

Participants activated and downloaded the FibriCheck app via QR codes published in newspapers and online media. Over an 8-day programme, they took 60-second measurements with their smartphone one to two times per day, and additionally when experiencing symptoms. The resulting PPG data was first analysed by the FibriCheck app and then validated by skilled medical technicians, under the supervision of cardiologists, to assess the accuracy of the algorithm’s findings.

Outcome

62,821 people activated and downloaded the FibriCheck app, and over 98% completed the 8-day programme, producing more than 588,000 measurements in all. The result: 791 cases of possible atrial fibrillation were detected, illustrating the significant impact large-scale detection programmes can have on population health.

The diagnostic yield for AF increased from 0.5% with one measurement to 1.8% after 8 days. This was untargeted, opportunistic case finding; applied in a targeted approach to high-risk cohorts, the results would be higher still, owing to the gains associated with prolonged and on-demand measuring. That matters most in the early stages of AF, when episodes are largely intermittent and difficult to capture during routine appointments.

Beyond proving a tripling in detection rate by monitoring over a week compared with a single spot-check, 65% of participants reported benefit in the referral of irregular results to their physician. Most importantly, the project confirmed the feasibility and potential cost-effectiveness of supervised digital screening at scale, and demonstrated that the yield of new AF cases did not add excess burden on the healthcare system.