Secure and Reversible Data Hiding in ECG Signals for Enhanced Patient Privacy in Telecardiology

Due to the worldwide rise in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, telecardiology has become increasingly mainstream in recent years. As a result, a great deal of Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and other private patient information are transmitted over the web. Using the ECG signal as a host for patient data is a potential method for protecting sensitive information. However, the original ECG signal is not perfectly reproduced. Therefore, any changes in the ECG have the potential to lead the doctor to an incorrect diagnosis, which is unacceptable from the patient's point of view. The fundamental idea behind this article demands complete concealment of patient information and ECG signals through reversible hidden data. It is advisable to incorporate sensitive patient information inside the ECG signals while preserving its prominent visibility feature. Subsequently, a singular pre-existing encryption technique will be employed to safeguard the confidentiality of both the patient and the ECG signal. The process of generating the watermarked ECG signal is characterized by a high level of reconstruction density. The results demonstrate that the strategies we have proposed exhibit reversibility and possess a Percent Residual Difference (PRD) value of maximum 0.3 %. The proposed method has been tested for prevention of unauthorized access.