Patients with implanted cardiac devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators can safely drive or ride in an electric car without risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI).
These are the findings of a study by the Mayo Clinic, titled “Hybrid Cars and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: Is It Safe?”, which is the first of its kind to address the interaction between these devices and electric cars.
In some cases, implanted devices may sense signals from electrical or magnetic objects and misinterpreted them as potential distress coming from the patient’s heart.
The increasing prevalence of electric and hybrid cars, one of the fastest growing segments of the American automotive industry, prompted Mayo Clinic cardiac investigators to study the potential risk of the effects of EMI on patients with implantable devices.
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