Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41904279›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Characterisation of thigh-based electrocardiography (ECG) across different pathologies.

Aline Dos Santos Silva, Miguel Velhote Correia, Andreia Gonçalves da Costa, Rui J Cerqueira, Hugo Plácido da Silva

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Aline Dos Santos SilvaInstitute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology, and Science (INESC TEC), Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal. aline.s.silva@inesctec.pt.
Miguel Velhote CorreiaINESC TEC, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
Andreia Gonçalves da CostaOLI-Sistemas Sanitários, S.A., Travessa do Milão, 3800-314, Aveiro, Portugal.
Rui J CerqueiraDepartment of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Hugo Plácido da SilvaInstituto de Telecomunicações (IT), Instituto Superior Técnico, Department of Bioengineering, Av. Rovisco Pais, n. 1, Torre Norte-Piso 10, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.

Funding

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 2022.10245.BDANA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is essential for prevention and treatment, but conventional approaches based on the need for some voluntary action often limit comfort and adherence in long-term use. This study investigates the feasibility of acquiring ECG signals from a toilet seat interface embedding dry electrodes in the posterior thighs. A total of 30 hospitalised patients with diverse cardiovascular conditions-including arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, structural abnormalities, and aneurysms-were enrolled. Thigh-acquired ECGs were recorded simultaneously with conventional limb-lead signals and analysed for morphology, heart rate variability (HRV), and disease-related clustering. Thigh-based ECGs demonstrated clear P-QRS-T complexes with preserved morphology, allowing reliable extraction of mean templates and HRV metrics. The comparison between pathological and normal groups showed that post-surgical aortic repair patients had ECG profiles closest to the normal cluster; in contrast, aortic stenosis (AS) appeared most distant. HRV analysis revealed disease-specific autonomic patterns: patients with tricuspid or mitral involvement exhibited higher variability (SDNN up to 140 ms), whereas those with aortic valve disease presented markedly reduced parasympathetic indices (RMSSD and pNN50). Principal component analysis of multi-feature ECG data identified overlapping groups of Acute Coronary Syndrome, Unstable Angina and Ascending Aortic Aneurysm. At the same time, hierarchical clustering confirmed the distinct separation of conditions with severe hemodynamic disruption, such as PS and AS. These findings support the feasibility of unobtrusive thigh-based ECG monitoring via a toilet-seat interface, enabling reliable signal acquisition, HRV analysis, and preliminary patient stratification. This approach may lay the groundwork for future home-based cardiovascular screening and telemedicine applications.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesElectrocardiographyThighAgedArrhythmias, CardiacFemaleHeart RateHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID41904279
PMCPMC13039916

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.