| Abstract [eng] |
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) can be triggered by various factors, including alcohol consumption, physical exertion, lack of sleep, stress, overeating, consuming cold food, and cold drinks. In most cases, these triggers can be avoided or minimized by modifying the patient's behavior. This study aims to examine the relationship between PAF triggers and long-term physiological data recorded in patients diagnosed with PAF under everyday conditions. The study analyzed the records of 16 patients who experienced PAF episodes in their daily lives. The objective was twofold: first, to determine the feasibility of photoplethysmography to detect PAF episodes, and second, to evaluate the performance measurements. Three algorithms were implemented to identify potential triggers of PAF: psychological stress, lying on the left side, and physical overload. By recognizing the triggers that provoke PAF episodes, the study aimed to objectively assess the relationship between photoplethysmography and the occurrence of episodes, without relying on subjective questionnaires. The study analyzed and identified the triggers that provoke episodes of PAF by comparing the relative durations of PAF before and after the introduction or recognition of the triggers. The investigation of the detection of PAF in long-term photoplethysmograph signals revealed that although specificity was high (0.98), the sensitivity was inadequate (0.58). However, overall diagnostic accuracy improved during the night, with a sensitivity of 0.69, specificity of 0.98, and Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.86. When evaluating the annotated arrhythmia profiles, the burden of atrial fibrillation was 25.6 %, while the analysis of the photoplethysmogram indicated a burden of 15.6 %. Furthermore, it was observed that the AF burden increased after psychological stress and lying on the left side, and decreased after physical overload. |
