IoT-based cardiac arrest patient monitoring and alert System

Abstract

Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of mortality both globally and in Uganda, where limited healthcare resources, delayed emergency response, and insufficient monitoring contribute to high fatality rates. This project proposes the design and implementation of an IoT-based cardiac arrest patient monitoring and alert system aimed at improving real-time detection and response to cardiac emergencies in hospitals. Cardiac arrest, characterized by the abrupt cessation of heart function, requires immediate medical intervention to prevent irreversible organ damage or death. In many Ugandan hospitals, particularly government-run facilities, timely medical response is often hindered by staff shortages, communication delays, and the absence of continuous monitoring systems. This system integrates biomedical sensors, ECG (AD8232), blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation sensors (MAX30100/MAX30102) with an ESP32 microcontroller and a SIM800C GSM module for wireless communication. It enables real-time monitoring of patients' vital signs and automatically sends SMS alerts to medical personnel when abnormalities are detected, including when a patient’s condition deteriorates suddenly or an emergency button is pressed. The solution is designed to be non-invasive, compact, and cost-effective, making it suitable for deployment in resource-constrained healthcare settings. The project follows a systematic methodology: identifying user and technical requirements, designing hardware and software components, integrating the system, and validating its effectiveness through testing. Focused primarily on hospitalized cardiac arrest patients, the system aims to reduce emergency response time and improve patient outcomes. This research has the potential to bridge critical gaps in emergency cardiac care in Uganda and contribute to broader efforts to modernize patient monitoring and enhance public health infrastructure.