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The World Health Organizations 2014 Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) indicated that chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, contributed to 68% of all deaths in 2012. Unsurprisingly, 75% of NCD deaths occurred in middle- and low-income countries, with almost half of these deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. Insufficient primary care, including access to physicians, technologies, and treatments, contributes to these cardiovascular disease outcomes. [1] An electrocardiogram (ECG) device is a medical device that measures the electrical activity of the heart and plots the voltage versus time for a doctor to interpret. Traditional ECG machines cost between $2,000 and $10,000 and require a trained physician to analyze test results. For these reasons, it is the goal of this project to create an ECG device, costing roughly $350, which can be used to screen patients for cardiovascular disease. The goal of this device is not to diagnose any particular cardiovascular disease or arrhythmia, but rather to help a doctor determine if something is abnormal. This device sends a condensed version of the ECG data to an off-site doctor via text message so that the doctor is no longer required to be present in the rural community to make informed health care decisions. |
