Analyze Diet
Frontiers in veterinary science2017; 4; 170; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00170

Agreement between Electrocardiogram and Heart Rate Meter Is Low for the Measurement of Heart Rate Variability during Exercise in Young Endurance Horses.

Abstract: Analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) gains more and more importance in the assessment of training practice and welfare in equine industry. It relies on mathematical analyses of reliably and accurately measured variations in successive inter-beat intervals, measured as RR intervals. Nowadays, the RR intervals can be obtained through two different techniques: a heart rate meter (HRM) or an electrocardiogram (ECG). The agreement and reliability of these devices has not been fully assessed, especially for recordings during exercise. The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement of two commercially available devices using the two mentioned techniques (HRM vs ECG) for HRV analysis during a standardized exercise test. Simultaneous recordings obtained during light exercise and during canter with both devices were available for 36 horses. Data were compared using a Bland-Altman analysis and the Lin's coefficient. The agreement between the assessed HRV measures from the data obtained from the ECG and HRM was acceptable only for the mean RR interval and the mean heart rate. For the other studied measures (SDNN, root mean square of successive differences, SD1, SD2, low frequency, high frequency), the agreement between the devices was too poor for them to be considered as interchangeable in these recording conditions. The agreement tended also to be worse when speed of the exercise increased. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful when interpreting and comparing results of HRV analysis during exercise, as the results will depend upon recording devices. Furthermore, corrections and data processing included in the software of the devices affect largely the output used in the subsequent HRV analysis; this must be considered in the choice of the device.
Publication Date: 2017-10-17 PubMed ID: 29090214PubMed Central: PMC5650972DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00170Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is focused on comparing the effectiveness and agreement of two commonly used methodologies to measure heart rate variability (HRV) in young endurance horses during exercise. The comparative study reveals that only certain measures showed acceptable agreement between the Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Heart Rate Meter (HRM) methods, with some measures showing poor agreement between the two devices, especially when exercise speed increased.

Introduction

  • The study begins with acknowledgement of the increasing importance of HRV analysis in assessing training practice and horse welfare within the equine industry.
  • The software and devices used in HRV measurement predominantly utilize two techniques, the ECG and HRM. However, their reliability and agreement have not fully been evaluated, particularly in the context of exercise.

Aim of the Study

  • The main objective of the research was to evaluate the level of agreement between HRM and ECG methods when used to analyze HRV during exercise.

Methodology

  • The research used 36 horses for the experiment. The horses were subjected to a standardized exercise protocol, during which data was collected simultaneously from both ECG and HRM devices.
  • The researchers used Bland-Altman analysis and Lin’s coefficient for the comparative analysis of the collected data.

Results & Conclusion

  • The results revealed acceptable agreement between HRM and ECG only for the mean RR interval and the mean heart rate.
  • Other parameters, such as SDNN, SD1, SD2, low frequency, high frequency, showed poor agreement, deeming the devices not interchangeable.
  • A noted trend was the decreased level of agreement as the exercise speed increased.
  • The article concludes by cautioning about the interpretation and comparison of HRV analysis results, particularly when they depend on the recording device.
  • Additionally, the paper shows that software corrections and data processing built into the devices greatly influence the output for HRV analysis. Therefore, consideration for these factors is crucial when choosing the device for HRV measurement.

Cite This Article

APA
Lenoir A, Trachsel DS, Younes M, Barrey E, Robert C. (2017). Agreement between Electrocardiogram and Heart Rate Meter Is Low for the Measurement of Heart Rate Variability during Exercise in Young Endurance Horses. Front Vet Sci, 4, 170. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00170

Publication

ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 4
Pages: 170
PII: 170

Researcher Affiliations

Lenoir, Augustin
  • Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Trachsel, Dagmar S
  • Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
  • CIRALE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Younes, Mohamed
  • CIAMS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.
Barrey, Eric
  • GABI UMR1313, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Robert, Céline
  • Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
  • GABI UMR1313, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.

References

This article includes 48 references
  1. Tulppo MP, Mäkikallio TH, Takala TE, Seppänen T, Huikuri HV. Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise.. Am J Physiol 1996 Jul;271(1 Pt 2):H244-52.
  2. Kuwahara M, Hiraga A, Kai M, Tsubone H, Sugano S. Influence of training on autonomic nervous function in horses: evaluation by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1999 Jul;(30):178-80.
  3. Physick-Sheard PW, Marlin DJ, Thornhill R, Schroter RC. Frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability in horses at rest and during exercise.. Equine Vet J 2000 May;32(3):253-62.
    doi: 10.2746/042516400776563572pubmed: 10836482google scholar: lookup
  4. Rietmann TR, Staᆲher M, Bernasconi P, Auer JA, Weishaupt MA. The association between heart rate, heart rate variability, endocrine and behavioural pain measures in horses suffering from laminitis.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2004 Jun;51(5):218-25.
  5. Cottin F, Médigue C, Lopes P, Petit E, Papelier Y, Billat VL. Effect of exercise intensity and repetition on heart rate variability during training in elite trotting horse.. Int J Sports Med 2005 Dec;26(10):859-67.
    doi: 10.1055/s-2005-837462pubmed: 16320171google scholar: lookup
  6. Cottin F, Barrey E, Lopes P, Billat V. Effect of repeated exercise and recovery on heart rate variability in elite trotting horses during high intensity interval training.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):204-9.
  7. Hada T, Ohmura H, Mukai K, Eto D, Takahashi T, Hiraga A. Utilisation of the time constant calculated from heart rate recovery after exercise for evaluation of autonomic activity in horses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):141-5.
  8. Kinnunen S, Laukkanen R, Haldi J, Hanninen O, Atalay M. Heart rate variability in trotters during different training periods.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):214-7.
  9. Schmidt A, Aurich J, Möstl E, Müller J, Aurich C. Changes in cortisol release and heart rate and heart rate variability during the initial training of 3-year-old sport horses.. Horm Behav 2010 Sep;58(4):628-36.
    doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.011pubmed: 20600048google scholar: lookup
  10. Becker-Birck M, Schmidt A, Lasarzik J, Aurich J, Möstl E, Aurich C. Cortisol release and heart rate variability in sport horses participating in equestrian competitions. J Vet Behav 2013 8:87–94.
  11. Munsters CC, van Iwaarden A, van Weeren R, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. Exercise testing in Warmblood sport horses under field conditions.. Vet J 2014 Oct;202(1):11-9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.07.019pubmed: 25172838google scholar: lookup
  12. Vermeulen AD, Evans DL. Measurements of fitness in thoroughbred racehorses using field studies of heart rate and velocity with a global positioning system.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):113-7.
  13. Kobayashi M, Kuribara K, Amada A. Application of V200 values for evaluation of training effects in the young thoroughbred under field conditions.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1999 Jul;(30):159-62.
  14. Couroucé A, Chrétien M, Valette JP. Physiological variables measured under field conditions according to age and state of training in French Trotters.. Equine Vet J 2002 Jan;34(1):91-7.
    doi: 10.2746/042516402776181141pubmed: 11817559google scholar: lookup
  15. Lindner A, Mosen H, Kissenbeck S, Fuhrmann H, Sallmann HP. Effect of blood lactate-guided conditioning of horses with exercises of differing durations and intensities on heart rate and biochemical blood variables.. J Anim Sci 2009 Oct;87(10):3211-7.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2009-2001pubmed: 19542497google scholar: lookup
  16. Fonseca RG, Kenny DA, Hill EW, Katz LM. The association of various speed indices to training responses in Thoroughbred flat racehorses measured with a global positioning and heart rate monitoring system.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):51-7.
  17. Thayer JF, Hahn AW, Pearson MA, Sollers JJ 3rd, Johnson PJ, Loch WE. Heart rate variability during exercise in the horse.. Biomed Sci Instrum 1997;34:246-51.
    pubmed: 9603047
  18. da Silva DF, Ferraro ZM, Adamo KB, Machado FA. Endurance Running Training Individually Guided by HRV in Untrained Women.. J Strength Cond Res 2019 Mar;33(3):736-746.
    doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002001pubmed: 28570494google scholar: lookup
  19. Clément F, Barrey E. [Heart rate fluctuations in the horse at rest: (1) Investigation of heart rate changes by spectrum analysis].. C R Acad Sci III 1995 Aug;318(8):859-65.
    pubmed: 7583775
  20. Clément F, Barrey E. [Heart rate fluctuations in the horse at rest: (2) Biological variation factors related to behavioural profile].. C R Acad Sci III 1995 Aug;318(8):867-72.
    pubmed: 7583776
  21. von Borell E, Langbein J, Després G, Hansen S, Leterrier C, Marchant J, Marchant-Forde R, Minero M, Mohr E, Prunier A, Valance D, Veissier I. Heart rate variability as a measure of autonomic regulation of cardiac activity for assessing stress and welfare in farm animals -- a review.. Physiol Behav 2007 Oct 22;92(3):293-316.
    doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.01.007pubmed: 17320122google scholar: lookup
  22. Kato T, Ohmura H, Hiraga A, Wada S, Kuwahara M, Tsubone H. Changes in heart rate variability in horses during immersion in warm springwater.. Am J Vet Res 2003 Dec;64(12):1482-5.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1482pubmed: 14672424google scholar: lookup
  23. Oel C, Gerhards H, Gehlen H. Effect of retrobulbar nerve block on heart rate variability during enucleation in horses under general anesthesia.. Vet Ophthalmol 2014 May;17(3):170-4.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.12061pubmed: 23738675google scholar: lookup
  24. Ohmura H, Boscan PL, Solano AM, Stanley SD, Jones JH. Changes in heart rate, heart rate variability, and atrioventricular block during withholding of food in Thoroughbreds.. Am J Vet Res 2012 Apr;73(4):508-14.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.73.4.508pubmed: 22452497google scholar: lookup
  25. Pasing S, von Lewinski M, Wulf M, Erber R, Aurich C. Influence of semen collection on salivary cortisol release, heart rate, and heart rate variability in stallions.. Theriogenology 2013 Aug;80(3):256-61.
  26. Sundra TM, Harrison JL, Lester GD, Raidal SL, Phillips JK. The influence of spasmolytic agents on heart rate variability and gastrointestinal motility in normal horses.. Res Vet Sci 2012 Dec;93(3):1426-33.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2012.05.003pubmed: 22683390google scholar: lookup
  27. Voss B, Mohr E, Krzywanek H. Effects of aqua-treadmill exercise on selected blood parameters and on heart-rate variability of horses.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2002 Apr;49(3):137-43.
  28. Yeragani VK, Rao R, Jayaraman A, Pohl R, Balon R, Glitz D. Heart rate time series: decreased chaos after intravenous lactate and increased non-linearity after isoproterenol in normal subjects.. Psychiatry Res 2002 Jan 31;109(1):81-92.
    doi: 10.1016/S0165-1781(01)00355-9pubmed: 11850054google scholar: lookup
  29. Ille N, Erber R, Aurich C, Aurich J. Comparison of heart rate and heart rate variability obtained by heart rate monitors and simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram signals in non-exercising horses. J Vet Behav 2014 9:341–6.
  30. Parker M, Goodwin D, Eager RA, Redhead ES, Marlin DJ. Comparison of Polar® heart rate interval data with simultaneously recorded ECG signals in horses. Comp Exerc Physiol 2009 6:137–42.
    doi: 10.1017/S1755254010000024google scholar: lookup
  31. Eggensperger BH, Schwarzwald CC. Influence of 2nd-degree AV blocks, ECG recording length, and recording time on heart rate variability analyses in horses.. J Vet Cardiol 2017 Apr;19(2):160-174.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2016.10.006pubmed: 28117225google scholar: lookup
  32. van Vollenhoven E, Fletcher L, Page PC, Ganswindt A, Grant CC. Heart rate variability in healthy, adult pony mares during transrectal palpation of the reproductive tract by veterinary students. J Equine Vet Sci 2017 58:68–77.
  33. Zucca E, Ferrucci F, Di Fabio V, Croci C, Ferro E. The use of electrocardiographic recording with Holter monitoring during treadmill exercise to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses.. Vet Res Commun 2003 Sep;27 Suppl 1:811-4.
  34. Younes M, Robert C, Barrey E, Cottin F. Effects of Age, Exercise Duration, and Test Conditions on Heart Rate Variability in Young Endurance Horses.. Front Physiol 2016;7:155.
    doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00155pmc: PMC4852288pubmed: 27199770google scholar: lookup
  35. Marchant-Forde RM, Marlin DJ, Marchant JN. Validation of a cardiac monitor for measuring heart rate variability in adult female pigs: accuracy, artefacts and editing.. Physiol Behav 2004 Jan;80(4):449-58.
    doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2003.09.007pubmed: 14741229google scholar: lookup
  36. Schmidt A, Möstl E, Wehnert C, Aurich J, Müller J, Aurich C. Cortisol release and heart rate variability in horses during road transport.. Horm Behav 2010 Feb;57(2):209-15.
    doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.11.003pubmed: 19944105google scholar: lookup
  37. Tarvainen MP, Ranta-Aho PO, Karjalainen PA. An advanced detrending method with application to HRV analysis.. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2002 Feb;49(2):172-5.
    doi: 10.1109/10.979357pubmed: 12066885google scholar: lookup
  38. Kuwahara M, Hashimoto S, Ishii K, Yagi Y, Hada T, Hiraga A, Kai M, Kubo K, Oki H, Tsubone H, Sugano S. Assessment of autonomic nervous function by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability in the horse.. J Auton Nerv Syst 1996 Aug 27;60(1-2):43-8.
    doi: 10.1016/0165-1838(96)00028-8pubmed: 8884694google scholar: lookup
  39. Bland JM, Altman DG. Measuring agreement in method comparison studies.. Stat Methods Med Res 1999 Jun;8(2):135-60.
    doi: 10.1191/096228099673819272pubmed: 10501650google scholar: lookup
  40. Lin LI. A concordance correlation coefficient to evaluate reproducibility.. Biometrics 1989 Mar;45(1):255-68.
    doi: 10.2307/2532051pubmed: 2720055google scholar: lookup
  41. Partik BL, Stadler A, Schamp S, Koller A, Voracek M, Heinz G, Helbich TH. 3D versus 2D ultrasound: accuracy of volume measurement in human cadaver kidneys.. Invest Radiol 2002 Sep;37(9):489-95.
  42. Bland JM, Altman DG. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement.. Lancet 1986 Feb 8;1(8476):307-10.
    doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(86)90837-8pubmed: 2868172google scholar: lookup
  43. Ding H, Sarela A, Helmer R, Mestrovic M, Karunanithi M. Evaluation of ambulatory ECG sensors for a clinical trial on outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. IEEE/ICME International Conference on Complex Medical Engineering Gold Coast, QLD (2010) p. 240–3.
  44. Schmidt A, Biau S, Möstl E, Becker-Birck M, Morillon B, Aurich J, Faure JM, Aurich C. Changes in cortisol release and heart rate variability in sport horses during long-distance road transport.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2010 Apr;38(3):179-89.
  45. Becker-Birck M, Schmidt A, Wulf M, Aurich J, von der Wense A, Möstl E, Berz R, Aurich C. Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability, and superficial body temperature, in horses lunged either with hyperflexion of the neck or with an extended head and neck position.. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2013 Apr;97(2):322-30.
  46. Visser EK, van Reenen CG, van der Werf JT, Schilder MB, Knaap JH, Barneveld A, Blokhuis HJ. Heart rate and heart rate variability during a novel object test and a handling test in young horses.. Physiol Behav 2002 Jun 1;76(2):289-96.
    doi: 10.1016/S0031-9384(02)00698-4pubmed: 12044602google scholar: lookup
  47. Munsters CC, Visser EK, van den Broek J, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. Physiological and behavioral responses of horses during police training.. Animal 2013 May;7(5):822-7.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731112002327pubmed: 23244508google scholar: lookup
  48. von Lewinski M, Biau S, Erber R, Ille N, Aurich J, Faure JM, Möstl E, Aurich C. Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability in the horse and its rider: different responses to training and performance.. Vet J 2013 Aug;197(2):229-32.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.12.025pubmed: 23380228google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
  1. Kapteijn CM, Frippiat T, van Beckhoven C, van Lith HA, Endenburg N, Vermetten E, Rodenburg TB. Measuring heart rate variability using a heart rate monitor in horses (Equus caballus) during groundwork. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:939534.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.939534pubmed: 36483490google scholar: lookup
  2. Janicka W, Wilk I, Próchniak T, Janczarek I. Can Sound Alone Act as a Virtual Barrier for Horses? A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 15;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223151pubmed: 36428379google scholar: lookup
  3. Wiśniewska A, Janczarek I, Tkaczyk E, Wilk I, Janicka W, Próchniak T, Kaczmarek B, Pokora E, Łuszczyński J. Minimizing the Effects of Social Isolation of Horses by Contact with Animals of a Different Species: The Domestic Goat as an Example. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 2;12(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12172271pubmed: 36077991google scholar: lookup
  4. Somppi S, Törnqvist H, Koskela A, Vehkaoja A, Tiira K, Väätäjä H, Surakka V, Vainio O, Kujala MV. Dog-Owner Relationship, Owner Interpretations and Dog Personality Are Connected with the Emotional Reactivity of Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 24;12(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12111338pubmed: 35681804google scholar: lookup
  5. Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Buhl R, Hopster-Iversen C. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 10;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12060698pubmed: 35327097google scholar: lookup
  6. Domino M, Borowska M, Kozłowska N, Trojakowska A, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M. Selection of Image Texture Analysis and Color Model in the Advanced Image Processing of Thermal Images of Horses following Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 12;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12040444pubmed: 35203152google scholar: lookup
  7. Ter Woort F, Dubois G, Tansley G, Didier M, Verdegaal L, Franklin S, Van Erck-Westergren E. Validation of an equine fitness tracker: ECG quality and arrhythmia detection. Equine Vet J 2022 Feb 9;55(2):336-43.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13565pubmed: 35138653google scholar: lookup
  8. Gehlen H, Loschelder J, Merle R, Walther M. Evaluation of Stress Response under a Standard Euthanasia Protocol in Horses Using Analysis of Heart Rate Variability. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 13;10(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10030485pubmed: 32183168google scholar: lookup
  9. Wierig M, Mandtler LP, Rottmann P, Stroh V, Müller U, Büscher W, Plümer L. Recording Heart Rate Variability of Dairy Cows to the Cloud-Why Smartphones Provide Smart Solutions. Sensors (Basel) 2018 Aug 3;18(8).
    doi: 10.3390/s18082541pubmed: 30081480google scholar: lookup
  10. Janczarek I, Gazda I, Barłowska J, Kurnik J, Łuszczyński J. Social Isolation of Horses vs. Support Provided by a Human. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 3;15(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15111649pubmed: 40509115google scholar: lookup
  11. Villanueva-Saz S, Aranda MDC, Jiménez MLÁ, de Andrés PJ, Verde M, Climent M, Lebrero Berna ME, Marteles Aragüés D, Fernández A. Serum protein electrophoresis in European mink (Mustela lutreola): reference intervals and comparison of agarose gel electrophoresis and capillary zone electrophoresis. Vet Q 2024 Dec;44(1):1-11.
    doi: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2318195pubmed: 38389258google scholar: lookup
  12. Eichler F, Ehrle A, Machnik M, Jensen KC, Wagner S, Baudisch N, Bolk J, Pötzsch M, Thevis M, Bäumer W, Lischer C, Wiegard M. Behavioral observations, heart rate and cortisol monitoring in horses following multiple oral administrations of a cannabidiol containing paste (part 2/2). Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1305873.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1305873pubmed: 38234983google scholar: lookup
  13. Eichler F, Ehrle A, Jensen KC, Baudisch N, Petersen H, Bäumer W, Lischer C, Wiegard M. Behavioral observations, heart rate and heart rate variability in horses following oral administration of a cannabidiol containing paste in three escalating doses (part 1/2). Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1305868.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1305868pubmed: 38149295google scholar: lookup