Fall Risk Detection Using Heart Rate Variability

Falls are a significant public health concern, especially for the elderly and individuals with high blood pressure. The World Health Organization reports that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths, claiming 684,000 lives annually and costing $43.8 billion in medical care. This study introduces a novel approach to prevent falls by analyzing Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in individuals with and without hypertension, using the Garmin Venu SQ 2 smartwatch. HRV data were collected from two female participants over a week, one with hypertension and one without. RMSSD and SDRR values were measured, reflecting parasympathetic nervous system activity and overall heart rate variability. Results showed that individuals with hypertension had lower RMSSD and SDRR values, indicating a higher fall risk, aligning with previous research. The study emphasizes the importance of reduced HRV as an indicator of increased fall risk in hypertensive individuals, contributing to fall prevention research and advocating for a comprehensive approach to reduce healthcare costs and enhance well-being in high-risk populations.