CardioGuard: Athlete-Focused Real-Time ECG Monitoring and Arrhythmia Detection System

Arrhythmia, a condition where the heart beats irregularly, can be life-threatening if not identified promptly. This challenge is particularly critical for athletes, whose intense physical activities, such as strenuous training, induce cardiac changes like hypertrophy. These changes can lead to symptoms such as unusual heartbeats, shortness of breath, or fatigue, which are often mistakenly attributed to workout aftereffects. However, these could indicate early-onset arrhythmia, complicating timely detection. Despite advancements in wearable technologies, real-time and reliable systems tailored to athletes’ needs remain lacking. To address this gap, we propose CardioGuard, a real-time ECG monitoring system designed for arrhythmia detection during physical activity. CardioGuard incorporates an ECG analog front-end sensor for continuous single-lead data acquisition and an ARM-based microcontroller for noise reduction, signal filtering, and ECG analysis. Machine learning models operate at the edge within the microcontroller, ensuring accurate detection without relying on cloud connectivity. Upon detecting arrhythmias, the system triggers immediate alerts and transmits ECG data via 5G networks for swift review and intervention. This portable, athlete-friendly device is optimized for continuous use during training and competition. Furthermore, eight ML models were evaluated, and the most reliable and accurate model, integrated into the CardioGuard system, ensures precise arrhythmia detection. This represents a significant step in safeguarding athletes’ health through real-time monitoring and rapid response to life-threatening cardiac events.