Intra-day and inter-day reliability of heart rate variability measurement

Abstract

At present, analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is becoming widely used as a clinical or research tool. Supported reliability studies for HRV measurement are, however, still limited. The main purpose was to perform an assessment of the absolute and relative reliability of HRV parameters from short-term recordings by means of orthoclinostatic stimulation and to investigate, whether there is a difference in repeating the retest immediately or after several days. The study group consisted of 99 participants (mean age 22 ± 1.24 years). Standard HRV indexes were computed: PT (total spectral power), PHF (high frequency spectral power), PLF (low frequency spectral power) and LF/HF. Absolute reliability was assessed by the standard error of measurement and 95% limits of agreement; relative reliability was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient. There was also an estimate of the sample size needed to detect the mean difference ≥ 30% of the between-subject standard deviation. In conclusion, a large random variation (within individuals) of HRV parameters was revealed, regardless of whether the retest was repeated immediately or with an interruption. For most HRV parameters (particularly in the immediately repeated test-retest), however, random variation represents a limited portion of the between-subject variability.

Intra-session stability of short-term heart rate variability measurement: gender and total spectral power influence

“…The research results are in accordance with previously published conclusions (Cipryan & Litschmannova, 2013), which present the low within-individual reliability of the HRV measurement. The study group heterogeneity may be one of the causes.…”

“…the change in the level of vigilance) could have appeared in the non-interrupted testretest procedure. In contrast, we have previously demonstrated that there is not a reliability difference between intra-session and inter-day HRV measurements (Cipryan & Litschmannova, 2013). …”

“…More homogeneous study groups have been, therefore, created in order to eliminate the possible impact of heterogeneity of the study group on the intra-session stability level. We build upon our previous work (Cipryan & Litschmannova, 2013), in which we demonstrated low absolute reliability regardless of gender or HRV magnitude. The goal of our research efforts is to continue to seek out a more reliable means of HRV examination and demonstrate its influencing factors.…”

“…This study aims, however, to conclude if HRV measurement reliability depends on gender, since this is one of the important factors influencing HRV. The unsatisfactory absolute reliability, expressed by SEM, has been already demonstrated regardless of the attempt to make the study group more homogeneous (Cipryan & Litschmannova, 2013). The study group heterogeneity may have hypothetically had an influence on the absolute and particularly relative reliability of the HRV measurement.…”

Test-Retest Reliability of Pediatric Heart Rate Variability

“…Declining reliability with longer test-retest intervals is not unexpected (Cohen & Swerdlik, 2002), and has been observed among young adults (e.g., Cipryan & Litschmannova, 2013) and among infants and youth. For example, Perry and colleagues (2013) observed declining HF reliability in toddlers across 1 to 2 year follow-up intervals (r = 0.52; r = 0.34, respectively).…”