SUPERMARKET trolleys could help save people’s lives by detecting a heart condition that puts people at risk of stroke, a trial suggests.
Scientists asked stores to stock carts with sensors on the handlebars to identify shoppers with atrial fibrillation.
AlamySupermarket trolleys could help detect atrial fibrillation, a trial suggests[/caption]
The electrocardiograms (ECGs) picked up on irregular and often abnormally fast heart rates in 59 people over two months.
More than two thirds had no idea they had the condition, which can be fatal.
Ian Jones, professor of cardiovascular nursing at Liverpool John Moores University, who led the study, said: “That’s 39 people at greater risk of stroke who received a cardiologist appointment.”
“This study shows the potential of taking health checks to the masses without disrupting daily routines.”
It is estimated around 1.5million people in the UK have atrial fibrillation, which contributes to one in five strokes.
The condition is treatable, but there are at least another 270,000 people in the UK who remain undiagnosed and unaware, according to the British Heart Foundation.
The scientists recruited 2,155 adults who used the trolleys with embedded sensors while shopping at Sainsbury’s or Lloyds Pharmacy.
They were asked to place their hands on the handle for around 60 seconds while the sensors gathered data on their heart rhythms.
The sensors showed a red light when it detected an irregular heartbeat and lit up green when it did not.
All those taking part in the study had an additional manual pulse check to confirm whether they had atrial fibrillation or not.
In the cases where the sensor went red, an in-store pharmacist performed another sensor reading using a standalone handle not attached to a trolley.
A cardiologist then reviewed the ECG recordings of people who had a red light or irregular pulse.
Findings showed that of the 2,155 adults who participated in the study, 220 had a red light or an irregular pulse.
Following cardiologist review, 115 people were found not to have the condition, while 46 recordings were unclear.
Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in 59 people – 20 already knew they had the condition while 39 were previously undiagnosed.
Prof Jones said that while a simple pulse check can identify those with atrial fibrillation, it relies on people noticing something unusual about their heartbeat and attending a GP surgery for assessment.
There are wearable devices that can also spot irregular heartbeat but this would also require people to take responsibility and wear the device.
Professor Jones said: “Nearly two-thirds of the shoppers we approached were happy to use a trolley, and the vast majority of those who declined were in a rush rather than wary of being monitored.
“This shows that the concept is acceptable to most people and worth testing in a larger study.”
He added: “Checking for atrial fibrillation while people do their regular shopping holds promise for preventing strokes and saving lives.
“A crucial aspect is providing immediate access to a health professional who can explain the findings and refer patients on for confirmatory tests and medication if needed.”
The findings were presented at the ACNAP 2023 conference organised by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
What is atrial fibrillation?
ATRIAL fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.
“Normal” is considered anywhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute when resting.
For people with AF, it can be significantly quicker, sometimes higher than 100 beats per minute.
This can cause problems including dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness.
Heart palpitations are also common, where your heart feels like it’s pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly.
However, not everyone experiences symptoms, so many people are completely unaware they have AF.
See a GP or call 111 if:
you have chest pain that comes and goes
you have chest pain that goes away quickly but you’re still worried
you notice a sudden change in your heartbeat
your heart rate is consistently lower than 60 or above 100 (particularly if you’re experiencing other symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as dizziness and shortness of breath)
AF is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting around 1.4million people in the UK.
It can affect adults of any age, but it’s more common in older people, and more men have it than women.
It is more likely to occur in people with other conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), atherosclerosis or a heart valve problem.
Source: NHS