Short-term reproducibility of the time and frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability

The reproducibility of heart rate variability (HRV) from 24 hour recordings has been established. But it has not been evaluated in the time and frequency domain whether short electrocardiographic segments show reproducible measurements. The authors analyzed Holter recordings of 28 patients and HRV was estimated in two sequential 10 min segments. The analysis was performed with the Oxford Excell II ver. 7.1 system. Both time and frequency domain parameters were found to be highly reproducible in the two successive segments. Consequently, comparison of short electrocardiographic segments is valid and they can be used in order to assess the effect of various interventions on the HRV.