Nonparametric Spectral Estimation Technique to Estimate Dominant Frequency for Atrial Fibrillation Detection

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is related with heart failure, stroke, and high mortality rates. In frequency domain analysis, pre-requisite for Afib detection has been the estimation of reliable dominant frequency (DF) of atrial signals via different spectral estimation techniques. DF further characterizes Afib, and helps in its treatment. This paper aims at finding the most appropriate nonparametric FFT-based spectral estimation technique to estimate reliable DF for Afib detection. In this work, real-time intra-atrial electrograms have been acquired and pre-processed for frequency analysis. DF is estimated via Bartlett using Hanning window, and Welch methods. Regularity index (RI), a parameter to ensure reliability of DF, is calculated using Simpson 3/8 and Trapezoidal rules. The best method is declared based upon high accuracy of Afib detection using reliable DF. On comparison, Welch method is found to be more appropriate to estimate reliable DF for Afib detection with 98% accuracy.