Reliability of ﬁve-minute vs. one-hour heart rate variability metrics in individuals with spinal cord injury

PeerJ, 2023 · DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16564 · Published: December 18, 2023

Cardiovascular Science Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the physiological phenomenon of variation in the time interval between consecutive heartbeats. Variations in heart rate are analyzed by different methods such as time domain, frequency domain or combined time-frequency measures Spinal cord injury (SCI) can be categorized into two primary groups, determined by the level of the lesion: tetraplegia and paraplegia

Study Duration

September 2021 to January 2023

Participants

37 individuals with SCI (14 with tetraplegia and 23 with paraplegia)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Relative reliability was higher for the 1-h than for the 5-min duration in the overall SCI group for all HRV metrics.
2
Participants with tetraplegia had lower relative reliability compared to participants with paraplegia in all HRV metrics for the 5-min duration
3
Time domain metrics showed better reliability than frequency domain metrics for both durations in participants with tetraplegia and paraplegia.

Research Summary

The study investigated test-retest reliability of HRV metrics in individuals with SCI using a 1-h measurement in a supine position, comparing it with a 5-min measurement. Relative reliability was generally higher for the 1-hour duration compared to the 5-minute duration, but participants with tetraplegia showed lower reliability than those with paraplegia, particularly in the 5-minute duration. The supine position did not provide better reliability compared to unrestricted activity in participants with SCI, and HRV analysis using a 5-min duration is of limited value in SCI due to poor reliability.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

HRV analysis using a 5-min duration should be used with caution in individuals with SCI.

Research

Future studies should consider lesion level when interpreting HRV reliability measures in SCI.

Methodology

Longer HRV recording durations (1-hour) may be more reliable than shorter durations (5-min) in SCI.

Reliability of ﬁve-minute vs. one-hour heart rate variability metrics in individuals with spinal cord injury

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Research

Methodology

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Reliability of ﬁve-minute vs. one-hour heart rate variability metrics in individuals with spinal cord injury

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Research

Methodology

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?