Long-term home monitoring of hypermotor seizures by patient-worn accelerometers

Long-term home monitoring of epileptic seizures is not feasible with the gold standard of video/electro-encephalography (EEG) monitoring. The authors developed a system and algorithm for nocturnal hypermotor seizure detection in pediatric patients based on an accelerometer (ACM) attached to extremities. Seizure detection is done using normal movement data, meaning that the system can be installed in a new patient's room immediately as prior knowledge on the patient's seizures is not needed for the patient-specific model.In this study, the authors compared video/EEG-based seizure detection with ACM data in seven patients and found a sensitivity of 95.71% and a positive predictive value of 57.84%.The authors focused on hypermotor seizures given the availability of this seizure type in the data, the typical occurrence of these seizures during sleep, i.e., when the measurements were done, and the importance of detection of hypermotor seizures given their often refractory nature and the possible serious consequences. To our knowledge, it is the first detection system focusing on this type of seizure in pediatric patients.

► First to focus on nocturnal hypermotor seizures in pediatric patients. ► Ambulant movement detection compared to video/EEG-based detection. ► Sensitivity of 95.71% and PPV of 57.84%.