The ePulse Personal Fitness Assistant accurately monitored heart rate at rest and low-intensity exercise (ICCs ≥0.85) but poorly estimated energy expenditure (ICCs 0.01-0.36).
Observational (n=46)
Does the ePulse Personal Fitness Assistant accurately measure heart rate and energy expenditure compared to EKG and indirect calorimetry during rest and exercise?
The ePulse device is valid for monitoring heart rate at rest and low-intensity exercise but is not valid for estimating energy expenditure.
Effect estimate: HR ICCs ≥0.85; EE ICCs 0.01-0.36
The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of the ePulse Personal Fitness Assistant, a forearm-worn device that provides measures of heart rate and estimates energy expenditure. Forty-six participants engaged in 4-minute periods of standing, 2.0 mph walking, 3.5 mph walking, 4.5 mph jogging, and 6.0 mph running. Heart rate and energy expenditure were simultaneously recorded at 60-second intervals using the ePulse, an electrocardiogram (EKG), and indirect calorimetry. The heart rates obtained from the ePulse were highly correlated (intraclass correlation coefficients ICCs ≥0.85) with those from the EKG during all conditions. The typical errors progressively increased with increasing exercise intensity but were <5 bpm only during rest and 2.0 mph. Energy expenditure from the ePulse was poorly correlated with indirect calorimetry (ICCs: 0.01-0.36) and the typical errors for energy expenditure ranged from 0.69-2.97 kcal · min(-1), progressively increasing with exercise intensity. These data suggest that the ePulse Personal Fitness Assistant is a valid device for monitoring heart rate at rest and low-intensity exercise, but becomes less accurate as exercise intensity increases. However, it does not appear to be a valid device to estimate energy expenditure during exercise.
Lee et al. (Fri,) reported a observational. ePulse Personal Fitness Assistant vs. Electrocardiogram (EKG) and indirect calorimetry was evaluated on Accuracy of heart rate and energy expenditure measurements (HR ICCs ≥0.85; EE ICCs 0.01-0.36). The ePulse Personal Fitness Assistant accurately monitored heart rate at rest and low-intensity exercise (ICCs ≥0.85) but poorly estimated energy expenditure (ICCs 0.01-0.36).