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Comparison of three mobile devices for measuring R–R intervals and heart rate variability: Polar S810i, Suunto t6 and an ambulatory ECG system

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Abstract

The first aim of this study was to compare an ambulatory five-lead ECG system with the commercially available breast belt measuring devices; Polar S810i and Suunto t6, in terms of R–R interval measures and heart rate variability (HRV) indices. The second aim was to compare different HRV spectral analysis methods. Nineteen young males (aged between 22 and 31 years, median 24 years) underwent simultaneous R–R interval recordings with the three instruments during supine and sitting rest, moderate dynamic, and moderate to vigorous static exercise of the upper and lower limb. For each subject, 17 R–R interval series of 3-min length were extracted from the whole recordings and then analyzed in frequency domain using (1) a fast Fourier transform (FFT), (2) an autoregressive model (AR), (3) a Welch periodogram (WP) and (4) a continuous wavelet transform (CWT). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman limits of agreement (LoA) method served as criteria for measurement agreement. Regarding the R–R interval recordings, ICC (lower ICC 95% confidence interval >0.99) as well as LoA (maximum LoA: −15.1 to 14.3 ms for ECG vs. Polar) showed an excellent agreement between all devices. Therefore, the three instruments may be used interchangeably in recording and interpolation of R–R intervals. ICCs for HRV frequency parameters were also high, but in most cases LoA analysis revealed unacceptable discrepancies between the instruments. The agreement among the different frequency transform methods can be taken for granted when analyzing the normalized power in low and high frequency ranges; however, not when analyzing the absolute values.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

HRV:

Heart rate variability

SD:

Standard deviation

ICC:

Intra-class correlation coefficient

HF:

High frequency

HR:

Heart rate

LF:

Low frequency

LF/HF:

Ratio of low and high frequency power, sympatho-vagal balance

R–R interval:

Inter-beat interval, time between two consecutive R waves

FFT:

Fast Fourier transform

AR:

Autoregressive model

WP:

Welch’s periodogram

CWT:

Continuous wavelet transform

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the reviewers for their valuable comments and advice. The authors declare that they have no competing interests such as funding or personal financial interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Preventive Medicine, University of Rostock, St.-Georg-Str. 108, 18055, Rostock, Germany

    Matthias Weippert, Steffi Kreuzfeld, Annika Rieger & Regina Stoll

  2. Center for Life Science Automation (Celisca), F.-Barnewitz-Str. 8, 18119, Rostock, Germany

    Mohit Kumar & Dagmar Arndt

Authors
  1. Matthias Weippert
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  2. Mohit Kumar
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  3. Steffi Kreuzfeld
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  4. Dagmar Arndt
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  5. Annika Rieger
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  6. Regina Stoll
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Weippert.

Additional information

Communicated by Keith George.

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Weippert, M., Kumar, M., Kreuzfeld, S. et al. Comparison of three mobile devices for measuring R–R intervals and heart rate variability: Polar S810i, Suunto t6 and an ambulatory ECG system. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 779–786 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1415-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1415-9

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