Validation of a system for the acquisition and analysis of heart rate variability in real time (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Heart rate variability (HRV) is defined as the temporal variation between heartbeats or RR intervals (distance between R waves in an electrocardiographic signal). These variations are currently a recognized biomarker of physiological stress. With the analysis of HRV, the autonomic nervous system can be assessed through its impact on the activity of the heart. For the acquisition and analysis of HRV, electronic equipment and analysis software that work independently are currently used, which limits their use in the clinical context. OBJECTIVE In this article, the validation process of a single portable device (Herons HRV) capable of acquiring electrocardiographic signals and calculating a total of 19 HRV metrics is presented. With this, the processing time for health professionals is reduced. The protocol designed for the validation of the device aims to determine the capability of the device to replace the existing analysis software. METHODS The study was conducted under controlled conditions in the simulation hospital of the University of La Sabana, Colombia, with a total of 60 volunteers. The acquired signals and metrics calculated by the designed device were compared with those by the reference system “Kubios HRV”. RESULTS The results show a strong level of correlation (r > 0.95, P < .05) between the 19 metrics compared. Additionally, the Bland–Altman graphical analysis indicates a high concordance between the metrics studied. There is also an average difference close to 0 in each of the graphs. Additionally, 100% of the calculated differences are within the limits of agreement. CONCLUSIONS Results implies that the device can be used to acquire and to analyze electrocardiographic signals in a single system. The use of the proposed portable system in clinical scenarios controlled by medical specialists and researchers is recommended for the evaluation of the autonomic nervous system.