Electronic BCG Sock Detects Unhealthy Gait

Main summary

An electronic sock that detects an unhealthy walking style linked to diabetes and poor circulation shows promise for preventing foot ulcers and amputations. The new research will benefit many diabetes patients who have clogged arteries in their legs and is being presented for the first time at EHRA 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)(1).

Study author Dr. Ki Hong Lee from Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea, said:

“Diabetes can affect the way people walk, also known as their gait. Patients with diabetes tend to put pressure on the metatarsal area of ​​the foot, rather than the heel. This way of walking encourages the formation of ulcers , which can become infected and lead to amputation. “Early identification of walking problems using an electronic sock would allow patients to learn a healthy walking style and prevent serious foot problems.”

About 1 in 10 people (537 million in total) have diabetes worldwide(2), putting them at two to four times the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and arterial disease. peripheral compared to healthy people. companions (3). Foot problems are common in diabetes. High blood sugar levels damage nerves and blood vessels, with symptoms including numbness, tingling, pain and loss of sensation. Symptoms can be difficult to detect in the early stages, meaning cuts and ulcers can develop and become infected. The combination of infection and poor blood flow makes healing difficult and can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation.

This study examined whether a sock equipped with a ballistocardiogram (BCG) sensor could distinguish between healthy people and patients with diabetes. A BCG detects body movement as the heart ejects blood and could be used to measure heart rate and the pressure exerted on the feet when walking.

20 patients with diabetes and 20 controls without diabetes participated in the study. All participants wore the BCG sock for 40 seconds while standing and 40 seconds while walking to measure heart rate and evaluate pressure distribution in the foot. While wearing the sock, participants underwent an electrocardiogram (ECG) heart rate assessment using a small patch attached to the wrist and a single electrode attached to the chest. The ECG is the reference tool in cardiology to measure heart rate.

The purpose of the heart rate measurement was to evaluate the accuracy of the BCG sock as a measurement tool relative to the ECG, the gold standard method. For this analysis, ECG values ​​in each study participant (patients and controls) were compared to BCG values ​​in the same participant. The researchers found that heart rate measurements using the BCG sock and ECG were almost the same, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 (95% confidence interval: 0.99-1.00).

Measurements of foot pressure distribution were performed to find out if the BCG sock could 1) detect differences between patients with diabetes and healthy controls, and 2) detect differences between patients with diabetes based on whether or not they had nerve damage or blood vessels. Nerve damage was classified using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), while blood vessel damage was classified using the ankle-brachial index (ABI).

Regarding the comparison of BCG between patients and healthy controls, it was shown that patients with diabetes exerted greater pressure on the metatarsal area of ​​the foot when walking compared to participants without diabetes. For the comparison of BCG among patients with diabetes, the researchers found that, compared with patients without blood vessel damage (ITB score of 0.9 or higher), those with blood vessel damage (ITB score less than 0 ,9) exerted significantly more pressure on the metatarsal area of ​​the foot when walking and less pressure on the heel. There were no significant differences in measurements of foot pressure distribution between patients with or without nerve damage.

Dr. Lee said:

“The novel BCG sock produced accurate heart rate measurements, as indicated by values ​​almost identical to those on the ECG. Pressure measurements showed that the sock could identify patients with diabetes, and could also identify patients with diabetes and poor circulation. Taken together, the results suggest that the e-sock could be an easy, non-invasive way to find patients with diabetes who could benefit from gait training to prevent foot complications.”

References

(1) The abstract ‘Portable Self-Powered Ballistic Signal Detectors with Ferroelectric Composite Arrays for Cardiovascular and Diabetic Complications’ will be presented during the ‘Basic Science 1’ session taking place on April 7, 2024 at 17:30 CEST on Modered ePosters 1 .

(2) International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas: https://diabetesatlas.org/.

(3) Marx N, Federici M, Schütt K et al. 2023 ESC Guidelines for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Eur Corazón J. 2023;44:4043-4140.

Money

This study was supported by a CNUH-GIST research collaboration grant funded by the Biomedical Research Institute of Chonnam National University Hospital.

Disclosures: None.

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This quality-reviewed publication from our Home Medical Devices section was selected for distribution by Disabled World editors because of its likely interest to readers in our disability community. Although content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article “An electronic BCG sock detects unhealthy gait” was originally written by the European Society of Cardiology and submitted for publication on 04/07/2024. If you require further information or clarification, you can contact the European Society of Cardiology at escardio.org website. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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Cite this page (APA): European Society of Cardiology. (2024, April 7). An electronic BCG sock detects unhealthy gait. Disabled world. Retrieved April 8, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/medical/ballistocardiogram.php

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