Cardiac rhythm monitoring plays an integral role in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions. Technological developments of recent years have partly increased the ease of use and the availability of cardiac rhythm monitoring. Yet, the multitude of options has also added confusion. Various manufacturers offer devices for pulse wave and electrocardiogram analysis. Their use plays an important role in clinical routine, both for diagnostic purposes and for the need to interpret opportunistic findings. This article is intended to provide an overview of existing technologies and to highlight their advantages and disadvantages. It also is intended to introduce future technologies. In any case it is important to emphasize that numerous clinical trials will be required to evaluate the benefit of modern cardiac rhythm monitoring and foster its medical use.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac arrhythmias; Cardiac rhythm; Electrocardiography; Wearable electronic devices.