April 4, 2008–WASHINGTON, D.C.–Digital media players are safe for use by patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) according to new research published in the April issue of the Heart Rhythm Journal. Despite recent concerns raised about the potential for dangerous interactions between digital media players and implantable cardiac rhythm devices, new studies show there is no evidence of electromagnetic interference between digital media players and the intrinsic function of pacemakers and ICDs.
A preliminary study publicized in May 2007 at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 28th Annual Scientific Sessions, reported that iPods cause pacemaker interference and, in one case, caused a device to stop functioning. Since the initial report was made, further research has been conducted to better understand the potential interference and if this interaction could impact device functionality in patients.
The two new studies tested the potential interaction on patients with cardiac rhythm devices using several types of media players such as iPods, ScanDisk Sansa and a Microsoft Zune. None of the participating patients experienced any negative symptoms during testing and neither study found evidence of direct interference with the devices.
“We live in an age of technology where portable electronic devices are a part of everyday life for the general public, and it is important that we study and understand the impact these devices can have on a patient’s health,” said Dr. Andrew Krahn, MD of the London Health Sciences Center in Ontario, who authored an editorial on the topic in the April issue of HeartRhythm. “The good news is that this new research provides reassurance to patients that digital media players will not have a negative effect on pacemakers or ICDs.”
Authors of the two studies published in the April issue of the HeartRhythm Journal on the topic of digital media players and pacemakers/ICDs include Gregory Webster, MD, Children’s Hospital Boston in Boston, Massachusetts and Jay P. Thaker, student at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan.