2026-04-14T07:12:02Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:11351/130512025-10-24T10:34:36Zcom_2072_378070com_2072_378040col_2072_378092

PULSE survey: Population Survey on Knowledge, Gaps and Perception of Heart Rhythm disorders-an initiative of the Scientific Initiatives Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association Gunawardene, Melanie PÜRERFELLNER, Helmut Merino, Jose Luis Linz, Dominik Sultan, Arian Scherr, Daniel Adeliño, Raquel Institut Català de la Salut [Gunawardene MA, Sultan A] Department of Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Asklepios Hospital St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Giessen, Giessen, Germany. [Pürerfellne H] Ordensklinikum Linz Elisabethinen, Department of Cardiology, Linz, Austria. [Merino JL] Arrhythmia and Robotic Electrophysiology Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. [Linz D] Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. [Scherr D] Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. [Adelino R] Unitat d’Arrítmies, Servei de Cardiologia, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus Enquestes Arrítmia - Diagnòstic Arrítmia - Tractament Actituds sanitàries DISEASES::Cardiovascular Diseases::Heart Diseases::Arrhythmias, Cardiac Other subheadings::Other subheadings::/diagnosis DISEASES::Cardiovascular Diseases::Heart Diseases::Arrhythmias, Cardiac Other subheadings::Other subheadings::/therapy ANALYTICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES, AND EQUIPMENT::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::Surveys and Questionnaires PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOLOGY::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Attitude::Attitude to Health::Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ENFERMEDADES::enfermedades cardiovasculares::enfermedades cardíacas::arritmias cardíacas Otros calificadores::Otros calificadores::/diagnóstico ENFERMEDADES::enfermedades cardiovasculares::enfermedades cardíacas::arritmias cardíacas Otros calificadores::Otros calificadores::/terapia TÉCNICAS Y EQUIPOS ANALÍTICOS, DIAGNÓSTICOS Y TERAPÉUTICOS::técnicas de investigación::métodos epidemiológicos::recopilación de datos::encuestas y cuestionarios PSIQUIATRÍA Y PSICOLOGÍA::conducta y mecanismos de la conducta::actitud::actitud ante la salud::conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sanitarias Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac arrhythmias; Cardiac resuscitation Fibril·lació auricular; Arrítmies cardíaques; Reanimació cardíaca Fibrilación auricular; Arritmias cardíacas; Reanimación cardíaca Aims Despite increasing prevalence, the general population lacks knowledge regarding diagnosis, implications, and management of cardiac arrhythmias (CA). This study aims to assess public perception of CA and identify knowledge gaps. Methods and results The 36-item PULSE survey was disseminated via social media to the general population and conducted under the auspices of the European Heart Rhythm Association Scientific Initiatives Committee (EHRA SIC) with EHRA patient committee support. Among 3924 participants (2177 healthy, 1747 with previously diagnosed CA; 59% female, 90% European), 81% reported fear of CA. Females were more likely to be ‘very’ or ‘moderately afraid’ than males [odds ratio (OR) 1.159 (1.005, 1.337), P = 0.046]. While most recognized complications of CA—heart failure (82%), stroke (80%), and death (75%)—43% were unaware that CA can be asymptomatic. Those with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in the past 5 years were 2.6 times and 4.7 times more confident identifying sudden cardiac death and initiating CPR (P < 0.001). Confidence was lower in retired participants [OR 0.574 (0.499, 0.660), P < 0.001] and Southern Europeans [OR 0.703 (0.600, 0.824), P < 0.001]. Without CPR training, only 15% felt confident initiating CPR. Among CA participants, 28% reported severe to disabling daily symptoms. Males were more often asymptomatic (20% vs. 9%, P < 0.001). Treatment rates were comparable between sex categories (81% vs. 79%, P = 0.413). Interdisciplinary shared decision-making processes were reported by 4%. Notably, 1 in 10 CA cases was self-diagnosed using a wearable device, and 30% of CA participants used smartwatches for self-monitoring. Conclusion Significant knowledge gaps regarding CA exist in the general population. Targeted educational initiatives could be a viable tool to enhance public knowledge, confidence in detecting and managing arrhythmias, particularly for women, who experience greater fear and symptom severity despite similar treatment rates. 2025-05-08T09:57:08Z 2025-05-08T09:57:08Z 2025-04 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Gunawardene MA, Pürerfellner H, Merino JL, Linz D, Sultan A, Scherr D, et al. PULSE survey: Population Survey on Knowledge, Gaps and Perception of Heart Rhythm disorders—an initiative of the Scientific Initiatives Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association. EP Eur. 2025 Apr;27(4):euaf032. 1532-2092 http://hdl.handle.net/11351/13051 10.1093/europace/euaf032 40163514 001456268900001 http://hdl.handle.net/11351/13051 eng EP Europace;27(4) https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf032 Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess application/pdf Oxford University Press Scientia