A Brief History of Holter Monitoring

A Holter ECG is a noninvasive cardiac examination in which an ECG is recorded over an extended period of time (24–72 h). The device is carried by the patient continuously, covering both daytime and nighttime, throughout periods of rest and physical activity. A Holter ECG is a diagnostic test specifically designed to detect and analyze cardiac arrhythmias. It helps establish a link between the patient’s symptoms and ECG recording. A wide range of automated patient monitoring systems are extensively utilized in cardiology, including ECG recordings and multiparameter monitoring systems in Intensive Care Units (ICU). The very origins of ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring are closely linked to its creator, Norman Jeff Holter. However, prior to approaching Norman Holter, it is important to highlight major historical aspects of electrocardiography.