The project focuses on research into the precise measurement and processing of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients undergoing experimental oncological or neurological treatment. The main goal is to create tools for doctors and researchers that will allow them to continuously monitor the patient's health, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment procedures and at the same time predict risk conditions in real time, thereby increasing the chance of treatment effectiveness, quality of life and deepening knowledge about the patient's health.

HRV is considered by several scientific studies to be a reliable indicator of the patient's health, stress and ability to recover. At the same time, Prof. MUDr. Vojtěch Thon from Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic) has already expressed interest in using available HRV measurement, suitable for supporting experimental treatment.

The Faculty of Informatics of PEVŠ has many years of experience in developing software solutions for collecting and analyzing medical data, especially in patients with awake coma and disorders of consciousness. Within these projects, we focus on the analysis of high-frequency data collection such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, respiration and inflammatory markers (e.g. CRP). In patients in conscious coma, these solutions have led to increased knowledge of the internal state and reduced risks in both home and clinical care.

When selecting sensors available to patients, we want to take advantage of technological deflation, i.e. the rapid decrease in prices and the simultaneous expansion of options for high-precision measurement of heart rate variability (HRV). Based on renowned scientific studies, we will therefore select and validate those sensors that demonstrably achieve the required level of accuracy.

The project is also cross-border in nature and connects two key areas of the future: medicine and informatics. This creates space for deeper cooperation between experts from both domains, as well as for the development of broader international academic partnerships. In addition, after verifying the research model, the solution can potentially be applied to other target groups of patients, for example with post-radiation complications or disorders of consciousness.

The project was supported by the Nadácia VÚB.