Feasibility and diagnostic added value of a point of care mobile EEG system.

Objective: EEG is an essential diagnostic tool in epilepsy. Many patients with intellectual disability and epilepsy reside in residential care facilities and do not have access to EEG, as the modality is not available on-site. Additionally, due to poor cooperation, transporting these patients to specialized hospital-based EEG centers is often difficult or impossible resulting in lack or delayed diagnostic evaluation. Mobile, point-of-care EEG systems, with electrodes that can be easily applied outside the hospital by caregivers without formal training in EEG recording, have the potential to bridge this diagnostic gap. Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, we assessed the feasibility and clinical utility of a point-of-care EEG system in residential care facilities. EEG electrodes were applied by local personnel without prior training in EEG recording. Data was uploaded to a secure cloud platform and remotely interpreted by experts. Results: We recruited 25 participants. EEG recording could be completed in 22 participants. The recordings were clinically interpretable in 17 participants and provided complete answers to the referrals in 11 participants. No technical failures of the EEG device or data transmission were observed. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the feasibility and clinical utility of point-of-care mobile EEG for the diagnosis of epilepsy in residential care facilities. Significance: Point-of-care mobile EEG has the potential to improve equity in access to neurophysiological diagnostics.