Deep learning for comprehensive ECG annotation

Heart Rhythm. 2020 May;17(5 Pt B):881-888. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.02.015.

Abstract

Background: Increasing utilization of long-term outpatient ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring continues to drive the need for improved ECG interpretation algorithms.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the BeatLogic® platform for ECG interpretation and to validate the platform using electrophysiologist-adjudicated real-world data and publicly available validation data.

Methods: Deep learning models were trained to perform beat and rhythm detection/classification using ECGs collected with the Preventice BodyGuardian® Heart monitor. Training annotations were created by certified ECG technicians, and validation annotations were adjudicated by a team of board-certified electrophysiologists. Deep learning model classification results were used to generate contiguous annotation results, and performance was assessed in accordance with the EC57 standard.

Results: On the real-world validation dataset, BeatLogic beat detection sensitivity and positive predictive value were 99.84% and 99.78%, respectively. Ventricular ectopic beat classification sensitivity and positive predictive value were 89.4% and 97.8%, respectively. Episode and duration F1 scores (range 0-100) exceeded 70 for all 14 rhythms (including noise) that were evaluated. F1 scores for 11 rhythms exceeded 80, 7 exceeded 90, and 5 including atrial fibrillation/flutter, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular bigeminy, ventricular trigeminy, and third-degree heart block exceeded 95.

Conclusion: The BeatLogic platform represents the next stage of advancement for algorithmic ECG interpretation. This comprehensive platform performs beat detection, beat classification, and rhythm detection/classification with greatly improved performance over the current state of the art, with comparable or improved performance over previously published algorithms that can accomplish only 1 of these 3 tasks.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; BeatLogic; Deep learning; Electrocardiographic interpretation; Preventice Solutions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Cardiac Complexes, Premature / diagnosis
  • Cardiac Complexes, Premature / physiopathology*
  • Deep Learning*
  • Electrocardiography / methods*
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*