The role of automated 12-lead ECG interpretation in the diagnosis and risk stratification of cardiovascular disease

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most widely used diagnostic test in clinical settings. The ECG signal is well-understood and its use in clinical applications is regulated by widely adopted clinical practice guidelines. Computer-aided automated ECG interpretations, hence, play an important role in cardiovascular disease diagnostics and risk stratification. This chapter will provide a comprehensive overview of the cellular and electrical basis of cardiac electrophysiology, technical specifications that govern electrocardiography, the current standards of automated ECG interpretation algorithms, machine learning applications in ECG interpretation, and the role of interpretation automation in diagnostic and risk stratification. Challenges, limitations, and future opportunities of computer-aided ECG diagnostics are also summarized.