ABSTRACT

The critical global issue of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide,
emphasizing the significance of early prediction and classification for saving lives.
Employing Electrocardiogram (ECG) as a non-invasive tool for measuring heart electrical
activity, the study harnesses the power of deep learning techniques to predict four major
cardiac abnormalities: abnormal heartbeat, myocardial infarction, history of myocardial
infarction, and normal person classes. The research encompasses three key methodologies:
initial investigation through transfer learning using pretrained deep neural networks
SqueezeNet and AlexNet, proposal of a new convolutional neural network (CNN)
architecture, and utilization of both pretrained models and the proposed CNN for feature
extraction in traditional machine learning algorithms. The experimental results showcase the
superior performance metrics of the proposed CNN model, achieving 98.23% accuracy,
98.22% recall, 98.31% precision, and 98.21% F1 score. Additionally, when employed for
feature extraction, the proposed CNN model attains an exceptional score of 99.79% using the
Naïve Bayes algorithm, underscoring its efficacy in enhancing cardiovascular abnormality
prediction and contributing to advancements in diagnostic accuracy.

Electrocardiography (ECG) as a primary diagnostic tool for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs),

aiming to enhance traditional diagnostic methods and patient-doctor interactions. Despite the
proven utility of ECG signals, deciphering large datasets for meaningful information remains
a challenge in CVD diagnosis and treatment. The research introduces a deep neural network
(DNN) strategy, involving a learning stage to improve classification accuracy through robust
feature extraction, followed by a genetic algorithm (GA) process to optimize the combination
of feature extraction and classification. Comparative analysis with state-of-the-art methods
reveals a notable increase in average accuracy and F1 score, respectively. The outcomes
suggest that the proposed model can function as an analytic module, providing alerts to users
or medical experts upon detecting anomalies, thereby contributing to more effective and
timely interventions in cardiovascular healthcare.