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Accuracy of the Garmin 920 XT HRM to perform HRV analysis

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Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is widely used to investigate autonomous cardiac drive. This method requires periodogram measurement, which can be obtained by an electrocardiogram (ECG) or from a heart rate monitor (HRM), e.g. the Garmin 920 XT device. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the accuracy of RR time series measurements from a Garmin 920 XT HRM as compared to a standard ECG, and to verify whether the measurements thus obtained are suitable for HRV analysis. RR time series were collected simultaneously with an ECG (Powerlab system, AD Instruments, Castell Hill, Australia) and a Garmin XT 920 in 11 healthy subjects during three conditions, namely in the supine position, the standing position and during moderate exercise. In a first step, we compared RR time series obtained with both tools using the Bland and Altman method to obtain the limits of agreement in all three conditions. In a second step, we compared the results of HRV analysis between the ECG RR time series and Garmin 920 XT series. Results show that the accuracy of this system is in accordance with the literature in terms of the limits of agreement. In the supine position, bias was 0.01, − 2.24, + 2.26 ms; in the standing position, − 0.01, − 3.12, + 3.11 ms respectively, and during exercise, − 0.01, − 4.43 and + 4.40 ms. Regarding HRV analysis, we did not find any difference for HRV analysis in the supine position, but the standing and exercise conditions both showed small modifications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the patients, for their collaboration in the study. We also thank Fiona Ecarnot (EA3920, University Hospital Besancon, France) for editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EA 4660, Laboratoire Culture, Sport Santé et Société, Plateforme Exercice Performance Santé Innovation, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France

    Johan Cassirame & Romain Vanhaesebrouck

  2. Matsport, R&D Division, Mooky Lab, Saint Ismier, France

    Johan Cassirame & Simon Chevrolat

  3. EA 3920 Prognostic Markers and Regulatory Factors of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and Exercise Performance, Health, Innovation Platform, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France

    Laurent Mourot

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  1. Johan Cassirame
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Correspondence to Johan Cassirame.

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All subjects provided written informed consent to participate in this study, which was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Cassirame, J., Vanhaesebrouck, R., Chevrolat, S. et al. Accuracy of the Garmin 920 XT HRM to perform HRV analysis. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 40, 831–839 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-017-0593-8

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