Premium
Seizure detection using heart rate variability: A prospective validation study
Author(s) -
Jeppesen Jesper,
FuglsangFrederiksen Anders,
Johansen Peter,
Christensen Jakob,
Wüstenhagen Stephan,
Tankisi Hatice,
Qerama Erisela,
Beniczky Sándor
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.16511
Subject(s) - ictal , epilepsy , heart rate variability , electroencephalography , heart rate , medicine , electrocardiography , gold standard (test) , anesthesia , cardiology , psychiatry , blood pressure
Although several validated seizure detection algorithms are available for convulsive seizures, detection of nonconvulsive seizures remains challenging. In this phase 2 study, we have validated a predefined seizure detection algorithm based on heart rate variability (HRV) using patient‐specific cutoff values. The validation data set was independent from the previously published data set. Electrocardiography (ECG) was recorded using a wearable device (ePatch) in prospectively recruited patients. The diagnostic gold standard was inferred from video–EEG monitoring. Because HRV‐based seizure detection is suitable only for patients with marked ictal autonomic changes, we defined responders as the patients who had a>50 beats/min ictal change in heart rate. Eleven of the 19 included patients with seizures (57.9%) fulfilled this criterion. In this group, the algorithm detected 20 of the 23 seizures (sensitivity: 87.0%). The algorithm detected all but one of the 10 recorded convulsive seizures and all of the 8 focal impaired awareness seizures, and it missed 2 of the 4 focal aware seizures. The median sensitivity per patient was 100% (in nine patients all seizures were detected). The false alarm rate was 0.9/24 h (0.22/night). Our results suggest that HRV‐based seizure detection has high performance in patients with marked autonomic changes.