ECG-based prediction of ventricular fibrillation by means of the PCA

A Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is a death resulting from cardiac failure with no significant symptoms earlier than one hour before occurrence. It is the cause of for approximately 400000 deaths per year in United States and millions of deaths worldwide. The proposed system, including two-stage algorithm and wearable diagnostic device allows for SCD risk estimation and continuous monitoring of high risk patients. A single channel of the ECG is analyzed. A classification of the patients into normal and high risk group is based on the evaluation of a QRS complex by means of the PCA. The algorithm has been tested using Sudden Cardiac Death Holter Database.