Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major global health burden characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and associated complications. Standard monitoring methods, such as fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), rely on invasive blood sampling and access to laboratory facilities, which may reduce patient adherence and limit early detection. Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), a non-contact optical technique using facial video analysis, has emerged as a promising alternative for estimating physiological and metabolic parameters. However, evidence regarding its validity in assessing glycemic markers remains limited .
Objective This study aims to evaluate the validity and diagnostic performance of rPPG-based facial scan technology in estimating blood glucose and HbA1c levels compared with standard laboratory measurements.
Methods This study employs an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional diagnostic validation approach conducted in Kelurahan Semanan, Jakarta. A total of 150-300 adult participants will be recruited using a community-based sampling method. Each participant will undergo venous blood sampling for laboratory measurement of fasting blood glucose and HbA1c, alongside a non-contact rPPG facial scan using a smartphone-based system. Agreement between methods will be assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, while correlation analysis (Pearson/Spearman) will evaluate the strength of association. Diagnostic performance, including sensitivity and specificity, will be calculated using clinical cut-offs (≥126 mg/dL for glucose and ≥6.5% for HbA1c).
Expected Results It is expected that rPPG-derived estimates will demonstrate moderate to good correlation with laboratory measurements, with acceptable agreement for screening purposes. The technology is anticipated to show reasonable diagnostic performance in identifying individuals with high glycemic risk. These findings may support the feasibility of rPPG as a non-invasive, accessible screening tool for diabetes monitoring in community settings.
