Short Review of Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technique Versus Optical Techniques for Monitoring Vascular Health

Abstract

Noninvasive optical techniques have drawn substantial amount of interest among researchers in exploring potential self-monitoring devices. Photoplethysmograpm (PPG) is one of the high potential optical techniques used in vascular health monitoring. It is a low cost and easy to handle device that can measure the volume change in light absorption. Lately there are development in PPG to detect Atrial Fibrillation (AF) that is one of the types of cardiac arrhythmia which initiated by irregular heart rhythms. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the clinical gold standard measurement for AF. ECG morphology is similar to the second derivatives of PPG signals which has been established in both hypertensive and atherosclerosis studies. This paper reviews on the various AF detection techniques in both ECG and PPG and highlights the potential of PPG as AF detection technique.