Wired ambulatory monitoring of the electrocardiogram (ECG) is an established method used by researchers and clinicians. Recently, a new generation of wireless, compact, and relatively inexpensive heart rate monitors have become available. However, before these monitors can be used in scientific research and clinical practice, their feasibility, validity, and reproducibility characteristics have to be investigated. Therefore, we tested how two wireless heart rate monitors (i.e., the Ithlete photoplethysmography (PPG) finger sensor and the Cortrium C3 ECG monitor perform against an established wired reference method (the VU-AMS ambulatory ECG monitor). Monitors were tested on cross-instrument and test-retest reproducibility in a controlled laboratory setting, while feasibility was evaluated in protocolled ambulatory settings at home. We found that the Cortrium and the Ithlete monitors showed acceptable agreement with the VU-AMS reference in laboratory setting. In ambulatory settings, assessments were feasible with both wireless devices although more valid data were obtained with the Cortrium than with the Ithlete. We conclude that both monitors have their merits under controlled laboratory settings where motion artefacts are minimized and stationarity of the ECG signal is optimized by design. These findings are promising for long-term ambulatory ECG measurements, although more research is needed to test whether the wireless devices’ feasibility, validity, and reproducibility characteristics also hold in unprotocolled daily life settings with natural variations in posture and activities.

中文翻译：

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无线心率监测器的跨仪器可行性、有效性和可重复性：延长日常生活监测的新机会

心电图 (ECG) 的有线动态监测是研究人员和临床医生使用的一种既定方法。最近，新一代无线、紧凑且相对便宜的心率监测器已经上市。然而，在将这些监测仪用于科学研究和临床实践之前，必须对其可行性、有效性和可重复性特征进行研究。因此，我们测试了两个无线心率监测器（即 Ithlete 光电体积描记法 (PPG) 手指传感器和 Cortrium C3 ECG 监测器）如何针对已建立的有线参考方法（VU-AMS 动态心电图监测器）进行测试。监测器在交叉测试在受控的实验室环境中进行仪器和重测的重现性，同时在家中的协议门诊环境中评估可行性。我们发现 Cortrium 和 Ithlete 监测器与实验室环境中的 VU-AMS 参考显示出可接受的一致性。在门诊环境中，两种无线设备的评估都是可行的，尽管使用 Cortrium 获得的数据比使用 Ithlete 获得的数据更有效。我们得出的结论是，在受控的实验室设置下，这两款监视器都有其优点，在这些设置下，运动伪影最小化，ECG 信号的平稳性通过设计得到优化。这些发现有望用于长期动态心电图测量，尽管还需要更多研究来测试无线设备的可行性、有效性和可重复性特征是否也适用于姿势和活动自然变化的无协议日常生活环境。