Single-lead Thigh ECG Dataset (tOLIet) with Analysis of BMI Effects on Cardiac Signal Quality

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Healthy and self-reported cardiac conditions (n=86). Intervention: Toilet-seat-embedded single-lead thigh ECG vs. 12-lead clinical ECG. Primary outcome: Percentage of valid ECG signal.

Aline Santos Silva; Miguel Velhote Correia; Sérgio Matoso Laranjo; Helena Fonseca; Andreia Cristina Gonçalves da Costa; Hugo Plácido da Silva

doi:10.1038/s41597-026-06713-6

March 12, 2026Scientific DataOpen Access

Single-lead Thigh ECG Dataset (tOLIet) with Analysis of BMI Effects on Cardiac Signal Quality

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Toilet-seat ECG successfully acquires thigh signals, but higher male BMI reduces valid signal yield.

n=86

Figures

Why the study?

To advance cardiovascular assessment using single-lead thigh ECGs from an invisible toilet-seat system and evaluate how anatomical or physiological factors such as BMI affect signal reliability.

Does a toilet-seat-integrated single-lead ECG system provide valid cardiac signals in a diverse cohort?

Key Points

To introduce the tOLIet dataset and evaluate the feasibility, signal quality, and anatomical influences of acquiring single-lead thigh electrocardiograms using toilet-seat-embedded electrodes.
Recruited N=86 individuals (50 females, 36 males; mean age 31.73 ± 13.11 years; mean BMI 23.95 ± 3.95 kg/m2) at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central in Portugal.
Collected 149 recordings measuring four differential signals from toilet-seat electrodes with varying textures and positions alongside reference data from a hospital-grade 12-lead ECG.
Performed gender-specific evaluations comparing valid cardiac signal percentages across participant Body Mass Index values.
Established the tOLIet dataset containing 149 thigh-derived ECG records paired with clinical 12-lead ECG benchmarks.
Demonstrated the operational feasibility of acquiring diagnostic-grade limb-derived cardiac signals passively across four distinct electrode pairs.
Identified anatomical and physiological variations linked to gender and BMI that alter electrode–skin contact and signal yield.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=86)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does a toilet-seat-integrated single-lead ECG system provide valid cardiac signals in a diverse cohort?

P

Population

86 individuals (50 females, 36 males; mean age 31.73 ± 13.11 years; weight 66.89 ± 10.70 kg; height 166.82 ± 6.07 cm), Portuguese nationality, recruited via Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central (CHULC).

I

Intervention

Single-lead thigh ECG acquisition using a custom-developed system integrated into a standard toilet seat with four pairs of dry electrodes (flat, sinusoidal, pyramidal, trapezoidal).

C

Comparator

Simultaneous clinical-quality recordings using a GE Healthcare MAC800 12-lead ECG system (ECG_REF) in selected participants.

O

Outcome

Feasibility of acquiring ECG from four pairs of toilet-seat-embedded electrodes, signal quality, valid-signal yield across electrode pairs, and physiological variability (BMI and gender effects).surrogate

Limitations

Male participants did not remove underwear, potentially confounding signal quality results.
Imbalances in sample size between BMI categories.
Self-reported cardiac conditions lacked official clinical diagnoses.
Low-amplitude signals are prone to deformation from baseline fluctuations.
No official clinical diagnoses were available for confirmation of self-reported cardiac conditions
Reduced-lead or limb-derived ECGs do not reproduce the full diagnostic capability of a 12-lead system
Variability in file lengths due to natural toilet use

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

A novel dataset of single-lead thigh ECGs acquired via a toilet seat demonstrates the feasibility of unobtrusive, passive cardiovascular monitoring.

Abstract

In previous work, we introduced an ‘invisible’ ECG system with electrodes integrated into a toilet seat, capturing signals from the thighs. Here, we present the tOLIet dataset with single-lead thigh ECGs to advance cardiovascular assessment using this novel approach. The dataset includes 149 records from 86 individuals (50 females, 36 males; mean age 31.73 ± 13.11 years; weight 66.89 ± 10.70 kg; height 166.82 ± 6.07 cm). Participants were recruited via the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central (CHULC). Each recording features four differential signals from toilet-seat electrodes alongside reference data from a hospital-grade 12-lead ECG. Beyond signal collection and quality evaluation, we conducted a gender-specific analysis comparing valid signal percentages relative to Body Mass Index (BMI). This analysis explores anatomical or physiological factors affecting thigh-based ECG acquisition, guiding system design and customization to enhance signal reliability across populations.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Silva et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Healthy and self-reported cardiac conditions (n=86). Toilet-seat-embedded single-lead thigh ECG vs. 12-lead clinical ECG was evaluated on Percentage of valid ECG signal. A toilet-seat-integrated ECG system successfully acquired thigh ECG signals, though male participants with higher BMI showed decreased valid signal percentages compared to females.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69b4fc7fb39f7826a300d735 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-06713-6

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Single-lead Thigh ECG Dataset (tOLIet) with Analysis of BMI Effects on Cardiac Signal Quality

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Single-lead Thigh ECG Dataset (tOLIet) with Analysis of BMI Effects on Cardiac Signal Quality

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading