Feasibility Considerations of 24-Hour Heart Rate Variability as a Wellness-Focused Biomarker

Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring for assessing morning, mid-day, evening, and sleep sample periods; (2) assess study-related procedures, personnel, and physical resources available at our institution; (3) identify potential problems and solutions associated with the use of 24-hour HRV at our institution. Methods: Six participants were fitted with 24-hour HRV recording devices (DMS myPatch-sl) and evaluated under 3 conditions; normal-daily-activity, treadmill-walking, and paced-deep-breathing. In addition, each participant maintained a written event-diary during the evaluation period. Tachograms for sample time periods were reported with representative Fast Fourier Transform Power Analyses. Results: We found that proper ECG electrode patch placement on study participants required specific training and written instructions. The DMS Holter monitor provided good-quality data over the 24-hour period without interfering with normal daily activities. However, there was data loss for 1 hour immediately following exposure of the device to water while showering. Also, there was a need to stabilize the V5 electrode wire to minimize disconnections during sleep. Participant diaries varied considerably in useful information content. Conclusion: The findings for the 6 participants in this study support the feasibility of and inform applying 24-hour HRV assessment in research studies at our institution.