Could supermarket trolleys be lifesavers?

Researchers in Liverpool fitted special sensors that scan customers’ grip pulses to the trolleys and assessed the data from more than 2,000 shoppers over a period of two months.

During this time, 39 people were newly identified as having atrial fibrillation (AF) and were referred to a heart specialist for further advice.

Shoppers were asked to hold the handle for a minute.

If an irregular heartbeat was detected, the in-store pharmacist manually checked their pulse and an electrocardiogram (ECG) heart trace was taken that was then reviewed by a cardiologist.

Of the 220 who presented with an irregular heartbeat:

• 115 showed no evidence of AF
• 59 were found to have AF, 39 undiagnosed
• 46 had readings that were unclear

If no irregular heartbeat was detected, a researcher manually checked their pulse - and of these, 10 were found to have AF.

The trial findings were presented recently at a European Society of Cardiology conference, in Edinburgh.

Lead researcher Prof Ian Jones, from Liverpool John Moores University, said: "This study shows the potential of taking health checks to the masses without disrupting daily routines.

"Nearly two-thirds of the shoppers we approached were happy to use a trolley and the vast majority of those who declined were in a rush rather than wary of being monitored.

"This shows that the concept is acceptable to most people and worth testing in a larger study."

Understanding atrial fibrillation (AF)

• AF is when the heart beats irregularly or chaotically so the heart muscle cannot relax properly between contractions
• People with AF might notice an irregular and fast pulse or heart palpitations
• Some have no symptoms though and it is only picked up during a check-up
• AF can increase the risk of blood clots in the heart that may lead to stroke
• AF is thought to affect more than 40 million globally.

Related: Deadly heart condition reversed for first time