Reliability of pulse palpation in the detection of atrial fibrillation in an elderly population

Figures & data

Figure 1. SimPad BloodPressure trainer; manufacturer: Laerdal.

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the elderly subjects.

N	173
Age, years	78.4 [3.9]
Female gender	98 (56.6)
Secondary or higher level of education	76 (43.9)
Functional independence	163 (94.2)
Computer at home	66 (38.2)
At least weekly exercise	138 (79.8)
MMSE score	29 [2]
MMSE score ≥24	170 (98.3)
History of AF or another arrhythmia	8 (4.6)
History of participation in competitive sports	13 (17.5)
Previous experience of pulse palpation	62 (35.8)
Ability to count own heart rate	129 (74.6)

AF: atrial fibrillation; MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination.

Values are presented as number (%) or median [interquartile range].

Table 2. The ability of the subjects to determine the correct rhythm by pulse palpation in the elderly and healthcare groups.

	Elderly group		Healthcare group
N (%)	148 (100)	95% CI (%)	57 (100)	95% CI (%)	p Value
SR, rate 60	144 (97.3)	94.6–100.0	55 (96.5)	91.6–100.0	.671
AF, rate 60	121 (81.8)	75.5–88.1	32 (56.1)	43.0–69.2	<.001
AF, rate 120	136 (91.9)	87.4–96.4	46 (80.7)	70.2–91.2	.045
SR with PVC, rate 80	110 (74.3)	67.1–81.5	40 (71.4)	59.4–83.4	.723

AF: atrial fibrillation; PVC: premature ventricular contraction; SR: sinus rhythm.

Values are presented as number (%).

Table 3. The independent predictors of correct identification of rhythm by the elderly.

	Incorrect identification	Correct identification	Univariate p Value	Multivariate p Value	OR	95% CI
N = 148	n (%)	n (%)
SR with PVCs	38 (100)	110 (100)
Previous experience of pulse palpation	4 (10.5)	50 (45.5)	<.001	<.001	8.05	2.55–25.42
Secondary or higher level of education	11 (28.9)	54 (49.1)	.037	.020	2.78	1.17–6.60
One-point increase in MMSE score	28 [3]	29 [2]	.005	.019	1.34	1.05–1.70
SR
One-point increase in MMSE score	28 [3]	29 [2]	.090	.192	1.40	0.84–2.32
Fast AF
One-year decrease in age	79.4 [5.8]	78.4 [3.8]	.071	.055	1.17	0.97–1.37
Slow AF
–

AF: atrial fibrillation; CI: confidence interval; MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination; OR: odds ratio; PVC: premature ventricular contraction.

Values are presented as number (%) or median [interquartile range].