A research-oriented database management system for Holter data

Summary

Computerized management of clinical data may be very helpful for physicians: in particular, personal computers allow safe and friendly use for processing of biological signals and alphanumerical data in clinical practice.

Holter monitoring consists of a continuous recording of electrocardiographic signals during 24 hours. The analysis of the recording gives rise to a report of normal and arrhythmic events. Classification of the events is automatically determined by means of a dedicated algorithm for wave recognition and only visual control of the procedure is required by the operator.

Counts, minute and hourly rates of arrhythmic events, length and frequency of major arrhythmias (mainly tachycardias), allow precise classification of the recording, in order to establish its prognostic value in clinical practice.

Personal computers may be helpful in:

• storage and retrieval of the reports;

• joining of general and clinical information to the rough data;

• automatic calculation of parameters derived from rough data, produced by the analyzer;

• classification of the recording with a prognostic score based on the quality and quantity of arrhythmic events (Lown’s class).

When correct recognition of the events is ascertained by the supervision of a skilled operator, all the subsequent passages may be automatically performed by the computer. From the clinical point of view, three main advantages may be underlined:

• high computational speed of the computer;

• correct prognostic classification, by means of an automatic algorithm;

• storage and retrieval of data with simple procedures.

Moreover, collected data may be processed, beyond standard clinical analysis, with complex algorithms for research purposes. Also such procedures may be automatically performed by the computer in a very short time and allow fast collection of a lot of data, without supplementary charge of work for the operator.

In conclusion, computerized database management systems for Holter data on personal computers warrant safe and fast collection of clinical parameters, both for standard and research purposes, with very limited medical supervision.