Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Beat-to-beat measurement and analysis of the R-T interval in 24 h ECG Holter recordings

  • Physiological Measurement
  • Published:
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study assesses the feasibility of beat-to-beat measurement of the R-T interval in Holter ECG recordings. The low sampling rate of the Holter system was increased by a specific interpolating filter, and the precision and accuracy of two T-wave fiducial point (T-wave maximum: Tm, T-wave end: Te) detection algorithms were compared. The results of the validation tests show better performance of the Tm measurement procedure in the presence of high noise levels. The overall process for the beat-to-beat R-T interval measurement was then tested on ECG Holter recordings collected during free and controlled respiration. Finally, the R-Tm and the corresponding R-R intervals were measured on 24h ECG recordings of healthy subjects and the spectral analysis was applied to the constructed series. Both R-R and R-Tm spectra show two main frequency components (low-frequency ∼0·1 Hz, high-frequency ∼0·25 Hz) changing in their power ratios continuously throughout the 24h period. The method described seems to provide a dynamic index of the sympatho-vagal balance at the ventricle that can be useful for a deeper understanding of ventricular repolarisation duration variability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahnve, S. andVallin, H. (1982) Influence of heart rate and inhibition of autonomic tone on the QT interval.Circ.,65, 435–439.b

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahnve, S. (1985) QT prolongation in acute myocardial infarction.Eur. Heart. J.,6, Suppl. D, 85–95.b

    Google Scholar 

  • Akselrod, S., Gordon, D., Ubel, F. A., Shannon, D. C., Barger, A. C. andCohen, R. J. (1981) Power spectrum analysis of heart rate fluctuation: a quantitative probe of beat-to-beat cardiovascular control.Science,213, 220–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazett, H. C. (1920) An analysis of the time-relations of electrocardiograms.Heart,7, 353–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi, A., Bontempi, B., Cerutti, S., Gianoglio, P., Comi, G. andNatali Sora, M. G. (1990) Spectral analysis of heart rate variability signal and respiration in diabetic subjects.Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput.,28, 205–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne, K. F., Zipes, D. P., Heger, J. J. andPrystowsky, E. N. (1982) Influence of the autonomic nervous system on the Q-T interval in man.Am. J. Cardiol.,50, 1099–1103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crampton, R. (1978) Preeminence of the left stellate ganglion in the long Q-T syndrome.Circ.4, 769–778.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furlan, R., Guzzetti, S., Crivellaro, W., Dassi, S., Tinelli, M., Baselli, G., Cerutti, S., Lombardi, F., Pagani, M. andMalliani, A. (1990) Continuous 24-hour assessment of the neural regulation of systemic arterial pressure and RR variabilities in ambulant subjects.,81, 537–547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayano, J., Sakakibara, Y., Yamada, M., Kamiya, T., Fujinami, T., Yokoyama, K., Watanabe, Y. andTakata, K. (1990) Diurnal variations in vagal and sympathetic cardiac control.Am. J. Physiol.258, H642-H646.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEC (1977) Safety of medical electrical equipment. International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC 601-1 Part 1.

  • Koeleman, A. S. M., van den Akker, T. J., Ros, H. H., Janssen, R. J. andRompelman, O. (1984) Estimation accuracy of P wave and QRS complex occurrence times in the ECG: the accuracy for simplified theoretical and computer simulated waveforms.Sig. Proc.,7, 389–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, S. (1985) The duration of the QT interval as a function of heart rate: a derivation based on physical principles and a comparison to measured values.Am. Heart. J.,110, 872–878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laguna, P., Thakor, N. V., Caminal, P., Jané, R., Hyung-Ro Yoon, Bayes de Luna, A., Marti, V. andGuindo, J. (1990) New algorithm for QT interval analysis in 24-hour Holter ECG: performance and applications.Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput.,26, 67–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ligtenberg, A. G. andKunt, M. (1983) A robust-digital QRS-detection algorithm for arrhythmia monitoring.Comput. Biomed. Res.,16, 273–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindecrantz, K. G. andLilja, H. (1988) New software QRS detector algorithm suitable for real time applications with low signal-to-noise ratios.J. Biomed. Eng.,10, 280–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merri, M., Benhorin, J., Alberti, M., Locati, E. andMoss, A. J. (1989) Electrocardiographic quantization of ventricular repolarization.Circ.,80, 1301–1308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merri, M., Alberti, M., Hall, W. J., Tiltlebaum, E. L. andMoss, A. J. (1990) Repolarization duration variability: a tool to quantify the autonomic balance at the ventricle. Proc. Computers in Cardiology Conf. 1989, IEEE Computer Society Press, 339–342.

  • Nollo, G., Speranza, G., Grasso, R., Bonamini, R. andAntolini, R. (1990) Dynamic measurement of the QT interval. Proc. Computers in Cardiology Conf. 1989, IEEE Computer Society Press, 463–466.

  • Nollo, G., Speranza, G., Grasso, R., Bonamini, R., Mangiardi, L. andAntolini, R. (1992) Spontaneous beat-to-beat variability of the ventricular repolarization duration.J. Electrocardiol.,25, 9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pagani, M., Lombardi, F., Guzzetti, S., Rimoldi, O., Furlan, R., Pizzinelli, P., Sandrone, G., Malfatto G., Dell'Orto, S., Piccaluga, E., Turiel, M., Baselli, G., Cerutti, S. andMalliani, A. (1986) Power spectral analysis of heart rate and arterial pressure variabilities as a marker of sympatho-vagal interaction in man and conscious dog.Circ. Res.,59, 178–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomeranz, B., MaCaulay, R. J. B., Caudill, M. A., Kutz, I., Adam, D., Gordon, D., Kilborn, K. M., Barger, A. C., Shannon, D. C., Cohen, R. J. andBenson, H. (1985) Assessment of autonomic function in humans by heart rate spectral analysis.Am. J. Physiol.,248, H151-H153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rompelman, O. andJanssen, R. J. (1982) Use of phase spectral information in assessment of frequency contents of ECG wave-forms.IEE Proc.,129A, 679–683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh, D., Shannon, D. C., Abboud, S., Saul, P., Akselrod, S. andCohen, R. J. (1987) Altered cardiac repolarization in some victims of sudden infant death syndrome.N. Engl. J. Med.,317, 1501–1505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sayers, B. McA. (1973) Analysis of heart rate variability.Ergonom.,16, 17–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayers, B. McA. (1980) Signal analysis of heart rate variability. InThe study of heart-rate variabilityKitney, R. I. andRompelman, O. (Eds.), Clarendon Press, Oxford, 27–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, P. J. andWolf, S. (1978) Q-T interval prolongation as predictor of sudden death in patients with myocardial infarction.Circ.,57, 1074–1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surawicz, B. andKnowbel, S. (1984) Long QT: good, bad or indifferent?.J. Am. Cardiol.,4, 389–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, D. E. (1988) Prolongation of the QT interval as an indicator of risk of a cardiac event.Eur. Heart J.,9G, 139–144.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Biophysics Area, Istituto per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica, (IRST), I-38050 Povo, Trento, Italy

    G. Speranza, G. Nollo, F. Ravelli & R. Antolini

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Trento, I-38050 Povo, Trento, Italy

    F. Ravelli & R. Antolini

Authors
  1. G. Speranza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Nollo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Ravelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Antolini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Speranza, G., Nollo, G., Ravelli, F. et al. Beat-to-beat measurement and analysis of the R-T interval in 24 h ECG Holter recordings. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 31, 487–494 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441984

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441984

Keywords

Search

Navigation