Correlation between diastolic seismocardiography variables and echocardiography variables

Echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool for assessment of myocardial performance and haemodynamics. Seismocardiography (SCG) can potentially provide fast and reliable assessments of key components related to myocardial performance. The aims of this study were to investigate the correlation between SCG and echocardiographic measures, and a decrease in preload by raising the subjects to a 30° head-up tilt position would be detected by both echocardiography and SCG.

A total of 45 subjects were included in the study. SCG and electrocardiogram were recorded simultaneously and afterwards echocardiography was recorded. The SCG signals were divided into individual heart beats using a duration-dependent Markov model. Using a fiducial point detection algorithm, the diastolic fiducial points were identified. The amplitudes from the SCG showed a high correlation, especially with the variable e′ from the echocardiography. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the diastolic SCG complex and e′ had a high correlation of 0.713 (P < 0.001). The second minimum in diastolic occurring after the closing of the aortic valve was the only amplitude showing a high correlation when comparing supine with head-up tilt in the SCG. All the echocardiography variables but E/e′ showed a high correlation when comparing supine with head-up tilt.

The results found in this study showed a high correlation between the amplitudes from the diastolic SCG and the diastolic variable e′ from the echocardiography, thus indicating that the SCG could potentially be utilized to evaluate the diastolic function.