Early detection of epileptic seizures and timely assistance through an intelligent solution and low-cost wearable devices

Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects more than 60,000 people in Panama, according to the Ministry of Health, with a prevalence of 57 cases per-1,000 inhabitants, one of the highest in Latin America. This disorder represents a major public health challenge, especially in childhood, with close to 3,000 annual consultations at the Dr. José Renán Esquivel Children’s Hospital. In response, a smart technology solution and wearable devices with integrated sensors were developed, designed to detect possible patterns associated with epileptic seizures, send real-time alerts and record critical events for personalized, continuous and detailed clinical follow-up. This tool combines continuous monitoring technology with data analysis algorithms to identify physiological variations associated with an epileptic seizure, such as changes in heart rate, blood oxygenation and abnormal body movements. The solution is aimed at patients with generalized and focal epileptic seizures, which are frequent in the Panamanian pediatric population, seeking to improve the early response of caregivers in environments with limited resources. In addition, the automatic recording of events is expected to greatly facilitate the work of child neurology specialists by providing accurate, continuous, accessible and tailored information for the treatment of each patient. This technology initiative also seeks to encourage caregiver engagement, promote epilepsy education in affected communities, and facilitate more timely and efficient medical care by integrating data into secure digital platforms that are adaptable to the national healthcare system.