Who would have thought that shopping trolleys could someday save a person's life? UK-based scientists presented a study at the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions (ACNAP) Congress 2023 that could someday identify shoppers at risk of certain diseases.
Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) installed ECG sensors in supermarket trolleys and tested whether they could help detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition linked to stroke risk. The modified trolleys were part of the 'SHOPS-AFib' study, deployed in four Sainsbury's stores in Liverpool. AFib, an irregular heart rhythm, elevates stroke risk significantly.
Can Shopping Trolleys Save Lives? Scientists Explore the Potential of ECG Sensors in Supermarket Carts to Detect Atrial Fibrillation
How Can Shopping Trolleys Detect the Risk of Stroke
Researchers used modified supermarket trolleys fitted with ECG sensors to screen shoppers for irregular heartbeat, Interesting Engineering reported.
To check for AFib, shoppers only needed to grip the trolley handle for 60 seconds, during which the ECG sensors would detect any irregularities. If AFib signs were detected, a red cross would appear on the trolley handle; otherwise, a green tick indicated a normal heartbeat. The study involved screening over 2,000 shoppers, with 220 receiving red lights during the process.
The shoppers flagged with AFib signs underwent further manual testing by a cardiologist to confirm the condition's presence. Surprisingly, out of the 220 flagged individuals, only 59 were confirmed to have AFib, while the remaining 161 did not exhibit signs of the condition.
Among those diagnosed with AFib, 20 were already aware of their condition, while 39 shoppers discovered they had AFib for the first time through this screening process.
Although the shopping trolleys successfully detected AFib signs in 70% to 93% of the patients, manual tests revealed that only 25% to 50% of those flagged actually had AFib. This suggests that while the trolley-based approach offers an accessible means of diagnosing AFib, improvements in the accuracy of the ECG sensors are necessary before implementing it on a larger scale.
Ian Jones, one of the researchers and a professor at LJMU, expressed in a news release that nearly two-thirds of the approached shoppers were willing to use the trolleys, and most of those who declined did so due to time constraints rather than concerns about monitoring.
This indicates that the concept is widely accepted and warrants further exploration in a larger study. However, before proceeding with SHOPS-AFib II, adjustments are necessary to enhance the system's accuracy and reliability.
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What Is Atrial Fibrillation (AFibib)?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AFibib is a commonly treated heart arrhythmia where the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly, AFibfecting blood flow to the lower chambers.
This condition can occur in brief episodes or be a permanent condition, and it is estimated that around 12.1 million people in the US will have AFibib by 2030. While some individuals may not experience symptoms, others may have irregular heartbeats, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
The risk of AFibib increases with age, with high blood pressure being a significant factor. Other risk factors include obesity, diabetes, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease, alcohol use, smoking, and enlargement of the left heart chambers. More so, AFibib is linked to an increased risk of stroke, and it causes about 1 in 7 strokes. Strokes related to AFibib tend to be more severe.
Treatment options include medications to control heart rhythm and rate, blood-thinning medicine to prevent blood clots, and lifestyle changes to manage risk factors.
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