Evaluation of Remote Photoplethysmography Measurement Conditions toward Telemedicine Applications

Camera-based remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) is a low-cost and casual non-contact heart rate measurement method suitable for telemedicine. Several factors affect the accuracy of measuring the heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) using rPPG despite HRV being an important indicator for healthcare monitoring. This study aimed to investigate the appropriate setup for precise HRV measurements using rPPG while considering the effects of possible factors including illumination, direction of the light, frame rate of the camera, and body motion. In the lighting conditions experiment, the smallest mean absolute R-R interval (RRI) error was obtained when light greater than 500 lux was cast from the front (among the following conditions-illuminance: 100, 300, 500, and 700 lux; directions: front, top, and front and top). In addition, the RRI and HRV were measured with sufficient accuracy at frame rates above 30 fps. The accuracy of the HRV measurement was greatly reduced when the body motion was not constrained; thus, it is necessary to limit the body motion, especially the head motion, in an actual telemedicine situation. The results of this study can act as guidelines for setting up the shooting environment and camera settings for rPPG use in telemedicine.

Automated summary

This study investigated the setup for precise HRV measurements using camera-based remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), considering factors like illumination, light direction, camera frame rate, and body motion. Results showed that accurate HRV measurements were achieved with light intensity above 500 lux from the front, and frame rates above 30 fps. Limiting body motion, especially head motion, was found to greatly improve the accuracy of HRV measurements in telemedicine settings.