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Abstract

For American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) living in Arizona, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a primary cause of death. Moreover, since many older AI/AN individuals live remotely, they may lack timely medical feedback and intervention associated with a cardiac emergency. PURPOSE: Hence, our aim was to assess the feasibility of wearing a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) device over a 14-day period in a local and potentially remote-living AI/AN population. METHODS: We recruited 5 participants from Navajo Nation. Conveniently, we enrolled “5” urban-based, AI/AN participants from Northern Arizona. The BodyGuardian Mini (Boston Scientific, Boston, MA), a Holter monitor device that records heart electrical activity, 24/7, over a 14-day timeframe, was utilized. Baseline and follow-up interactions with participants included: (1) signing informed consent, (2) learning about the daily care and skin prep associated with the device placed over the sternum via an adhesive strip, (3) obtaining demographic and self-reported health history information, (4) creating participant accounts through the Boston Scientific portal system, (5) administering a post-monitor survey related to the wearability and comfort of the monitor, and (6) delivering diagnostic reports within 1-2 weeks post-monitor. RESULTS: Age (yrs), height (cm), weight (kg), resting heart rate (bpm), systolic blood + diastolic resting blood pressure (mmHg), waist to hip ratio, gender, and tribal affiliation were, respectively (mean ± SD): 46.6 ± 8.5, 104.1 ± 86.3, 55.9 ± 46.8, 75 ± 12.8, 119.8 ± 9.1, 79.6 ± 3.4, 110 ± 8.3, 1.0 ± 0.04, 4 female/1 male, 3 Navajo + 1 Cheyenne/Arapaho + 1 Utu Utu Gwaitu Benton Paiute/Kiowa. On average, on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best), participants rated the device’s wearability and every-day comfort a “4”. A cardiology group from Boston Scientific analyzed the ECG data and produced a diagnostic report. No adverse arrhythmias reported. CONCLUSION: Primarily, participants had a positive viewpoint of wearing the device over a 2-wk period with minor skin irritation. Participants suggested the device could be smaller with a pocket-size diary to record signs and symptoms. Next steps include recruiting rural AI/AN participants (n = 30) and analyzing the ECG signal for validity and reliability during every-day activities.

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