Study Shows iPods Interfere with Pacemaker Function
High School Senior Leads University Study
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann-Marie White
Heart Rhythm Society
202-464-3476
awhite@hrsonline.org
DENVER — iPods caused pacemakers to malfunction in 50 percent of patients, according to a new study presented today by a 17-year-old high school student at Heart Rhythm 2007, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 28th Annual Scientific Sessions. When held two inches from the patients’ chests for five to 10 seconds, iPods interfered with telemetry equipment monitoring the heart, caused implantable pacemakers to misread the heart’s pacing, and, in one case, caused the device to stop functioning.
“For people depending on these pacing devices, iPod interference can lead physicians to misdiagnose the actual heart function,” said Jay Thaker, lead author and a high school senior at Okemos High School in Okemos, MI. “Our findings are disconcerting because although the typical pacemaker patient may not be an iPod user, they are often in close contact with grandchildren or other young people who are avid users.”
The study tested iPods on 83 patients at the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute at Michigan State University with dual chamber and single chamber pacemakers. Telemetry interference was found in 29 percent of patients, over sensing (pacemakers misreading the heart’s function) in 20 percent, and pacemaker inhibition (pacemaker stopped functioning) in one patient. In some cases, interference was detected even when iPods were held as far as 18 inches from the chest.
After reading news stories about studies involving cell phones and pacemakers, Thaker approached Krit Jongnarangsin, M.D., at the University of Michigan about doing a similar study using iPods.
“At first I was surprised when Jay contacted me with the idea. He seemed genuinely interested in doing the research and had a real curiosity about the subject,” said Dr. Jongnarangsin, senior author and an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan. “I felt comfortable with Jay doing the research. Besides Jay, this study was performed by physicians including electrophysiologist and fellows in electrophysiology at Michigan State University.”
Thaker, whose father is an electrophysiologist and mother is also a physician, has not yet decided where to attend college next year, but is leaning toward Michigan State. He plans to go onto medical school.
Session details: (AB16-1) “Pacemaker Interference with iPod MP3 Players” [May 10, 1:30 PM, Korbel 1D]
HEART RHYTHM 2007 takes place May 9-12 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The meeting is the most comprehensive educational event on heart rhythm disorders, offering over 400 educational opportunities in multiple formats and over 125 innovative products and services for the heart rhythm management field. The world’s most renowned scientists and physicians will present a wide range of heart rhythm topics including advances in statins, cardiac resynchronization therapy, catheter ablation, cardiac pacing and heart failure and the latest technology, including state-of-the-art pacemakers and defibrillators.
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About the Heart Rhythm Society
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients, and the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, DC, it has a membership of over 4,000 heart rhythm professionals in more than 60 countries around the world.
