Accuracy of Wearable Photoplethysmography Sensors for Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring in Telehealth Applications

Abstract

The demand for extended care for people suffering from heart failure is omnipresent. Wearables providing continuous heart rate measurement through optical sensors are of great interest due to their ease of use without the need for medical staff and their low cost. In this study, seven wearables were tested in fifteen measurement runs, with a duration of fourteen-hour each, and compared to a reference sensor. By calculating the Pearson correlation and the root mean square error, as well as the graphical representation by a Bland Altman plot, it was found that these wearables lack sufficient accuracy and may not be suitable for medical purposes.

Keywords: healthcare monitoring; heart failure; mHealth; photoplethysmography; wearable device.