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Patients with pacemakers or defibrillators do not need to worry about e-Cars: An observational study

2019 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 1641

In 108 patients with CIEDs exposed to electromagnetic fields from four common electric cars during roller-bench test-driving and charging, no abnormalities in CIED function or programming were observed by ECG recordings and device interrogation. The largest m…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019
Study typecross_sectional
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Patients with pacemakers or defibrillators do not need to worry about e-Cars: An observational study Lennerz C, Horlbeck L, Weigand S, Grebmer C, Blazek P, Brkic A, Semmler V, Haller B, Reents T, Hessling G, Deisenhofer I, Lienkamp M, Kolb C, O'Connor M. Technol Health Care. 2019 Nov 8. doi: 10.3233/THC-191891. Abstract BACKGROUND: Electric cars are increasingly used for public and private transportation and represent possible sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Potential implications for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) range from unnecessary driving restrictions to life-threatening device malfunction. This prospective, cross-sectional study was designed to assess the EMI risk of electric cars on CIED function. METHODS: One hundred and eight consecutive patients with CIED presenting for routine follow-up between May 2014 and January 2015 were enrolled in the study. The participants were exposed to electromagnetic fields generated by the four most common electric cars (Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, BMW i3, VW eUp) while roller- bench test-driving at Institute of Automotive Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University, Munich. The primary endpoint was any abnormalities in CIED function (e.g. oversensing with pacing- inhibition, inappropriate therapy or mode-switching) while driving or charging electric cars as assessed by electrocardiographic recordings and device interrogation. RESULTS: No change in device function or programming was seen in this cohort which is representative of contemporary CIED devices. The largest electromagnetic field detected was along the charging cable during high current charging (116.5 μT). The field strength in the cabin was lower (2.1-3.6 μT). CONCLUSIONS: Electric cars produce electromagnetic fields; however, they did not affect CIED function or programming in our cohort. Driving and charging of electric cars is likely safe for patients with CIEDs. Open access paper: content.iospress.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional
Effect directionno_effect
PopulationPatients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), including pacemakers or defibrillators
Sample size108
Exposureroller-bench test-driving; charging (high current charging mentioned)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 108 patients with CIEDs exposed to electromagnetic fields from four common electric cars during roller-bench test-driving and charging, no abnormalities in CIED function or programming were observed by ECG recordings and device interrogation. The largest magnetic field detected was 116.5 μT along the charging cable during high-current charging; cabin field strength was 2.1–3.6 μT.

Outcomes measured

  • Electromagnetic interference (EMI) effects on CIED function/programming (e.g., oversensing with pacing-inhibition, inappropriate therapy, mode-switching)
  • Measured magnetic field strength during driving/charging (μT)

Limitations

  • Frequency characteristics of the electromagnetic fields were not reported in the abstract.
  • Exposure duration and detailed exposure protocol (time, distances/positions) were not fully specified in the abstract.
  • Study design described as prospective, cross-sectional; no control/comparator group is described in the abstract.
  • Only four electric car models were tested; generalizability to other vehicles/charging systems is not established in the abstract.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electric cars (driving and charging)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "roller-bench test-driving; charging (high current charging mentioned)"
  },
  "population": "Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), including pacemakers or defibrillators",
  "sample_size": 108,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electromagnetic interference (EMI) effects on CIED function/programming (e.g., oversensing with pacing-inhibition, inappropriate therapy, mode-switching)",
    "Measured magnetic field strength during driving/charging (μT)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 108 patients with CIEDs exposed to electromagnetic fields from four common electric cars during roller-bench test-driving and charging, no abnormalities in CIED function or programming were observed by ECG recordings and device interrogation. The largest magnetic field detected was 116.5 μT along the charging cable during high-current charging; cabin field strength was 2.1–3.6 μT.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency characteristics of the electromagnetic fields were not reported in the abstract.",
    "Exposure duration and detailed exposure protocol (time, distances/positions) were not fully specified in the abstract.",
    "Study design described as prospective, cross-sectional; no control/comparator group is described in the abstract.",
    "Only four electric car models were tested; generalizability to other vehicles/charging systems is not established in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electric cars",
    "electromagnetic interference",
    "EMI",
    "cardiac implantable electronic devices",
    "CIED",
    "pacemaker",
    "defibrillator",
    "charging cable",
    "magnetic field",
    "microtesla"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "medical-implants",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Assesses electromagnetic interference risk to pacemakers/defibrillators (CIEDs) from electric cars."
    },
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Includes exposure during driving/charging scenarios, though not explicitly occupational."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3233/thc-191891
PubMed: Not supplied

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