Australian and Iraqi researchers have discovered a new way of checking blood pressure using artificial intelligence and a camera.
Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and Baghdad’s Middle Technology University have claimed the new technology could possibly replace the method of strapping an inflatable cuff to a patient’s arm or wrist.
The technology is a non-contact system which accurately measures systolic and diastolic pressure.
“[The technique] involves filming a person from a short distance for 10 seconds and extracting cardiac signals from two regions in the forehead, using artificial intelligence algorithms,” a UniSA statement said.
“The systolic and diastolic readings were around 90-per-cent accurate, compared to the existing instrument (a digital sphygmomanometer) used to measure blood pressure, that is itself subject to errors.
“Experiments were performed on 25 people with different skin tones and under changing light conditions, overcoming the limitations reported in previous studies.”
UniSA remote sensing engineer Professor Javaan Chahl said monitoring blood pressure was essential in detecting and managing cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of global mortality and responsible for almost 18 million deaths in 2019.
“Furthermore, in the past 30 years, the number of adults with hypertension has risen from 650 million to 1.28 billion worldwide,” he said.
“The health sector needs a system that can accurately measure blood pressure and assess cardiovascular risks when physical contact with patients is unsafe or difficult, such as during the recent COVID outbreak.
“If we can perfect this technique, it will help manage one of the most serious health challenges facing the world today.”
