Smart ICT-solution to cost-efficiently detect atrial fibrillation to Reduce Europe’s burden of Stroke

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Stroke is the second most common cause of death and complex disability, accounting for ~1 million deaths in Europe each year. Total cost of stroke in the EU amounts to €65 billion a year. Main risk factor for stroke is atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Early identification of AF can prevent strokes as treatment can be started on time. However, AF is difficult to capture and often not noticed. Classical AF detection methods (electrocardiogram [ECG] and 24 hour-holter-ECG) have less than 20% success rate. Plus these methods are costly and not suitable for routine large-scale screening. German SME company Preventicus developed a smart ICT solution for accurate and cost-efficient AF screening, aiming to prevent stroke, based on technologies present in a standard smartphone. Its technology is clinically proven in international studies (accuracy: 96%, predictive value: >99%). To ensure wide deployment as structured AF detection program, Preventicus has set-up clinical grade services surrounding its ‘core’ technology, e.g. Telecare service to verify AF suspects, to safeguard timely referral of the screened AF-patients to a cardiologist for AF confirmation and treatment initiation. The target market is an attractive high volume market (~150-200M end-users in Europe). Preventicus is the first European player in the market (all its competitors are US-based). As such, investments in the company will enhance Europe’s standing in the smart healthcare technologies market vis à vis the USA. Following successful commercialisation in Germany (~170,000 active users and sales to large health insurance companies), Preventicus is now ready to accelerate growth beyond Germany. Funding will allow the company to take the final steps needed for EU-wide roll-out, directly driving employment growth and profitability of the company (estimated cumulative revenues: €78 million in 2025, representing return of investment of >31 times the EIC grant)