Publication

A relatively large proportion of fatalities on Swedish roads are due to sudden illness in drivers, with the majority of these cases attributed to cardiovascular disease. Being able to detect and manage these sudden events could save many lives. Various types of driver monitoring systems already exist in new vehicles, and organizations like Euro NCAP emphasize that the next generation of driver monitoring systems should be able to detect and manage sudden sickness in drivers. However, only a limited number of studies have examined the detection of critical medical conditions in vehicles to date.

The main aim of this project was to investigate the possibility of detecting sudden cardiovascular disease in drivers by measuring ECG and heart rate through sensors in the vehicle. The project was a feasibility study, which included gathering knowledge about what has already been done and is currently being done in the field, assessing the potential to adapt these technologies for in-vehicle use, and consolidating this information into a comprehensive assessment.

As part of the project, a literature review was conducted to assess the current state of knowledge regarding the measurement of vital parameters in vehicles. This review formed the basis for a general assessment of feasibility and direction for further research and development in the field. Subsequently, two sub-studies were conducted: one focused on developing an algorithm to detect sudden cardiovascular disease that works with single-lead ECG and pulse measurements, and the other examined how noise, interference, and interruptions in heart rate measurements affect the ability to detect sudden illness during real driving conditions.