Calculating stable reference potentials for measuring ECG wave amplitudes across a range of heart rates

Wenfeng Duan, Dingchang Zheng, Philip Langley, Alan Murray

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceedingpeer-review

Abstract

The UP segment is the normal isoelectric reference level for ECG wave amplitude measurements but becomes obscured at high heart rates. The aim was to identify alternative reference levels suitable for use across a wide range of heart rates. 12-lead ECGs were recorded from 10 healthy subjects before and immediately following exercise. Amplitudes of the UP segment, Q wave, end of T wave (Tend) and zero voltage level, all relative to PQ level were measured from V3. The performances of beat waveform averaging (AvgBeat) and mathematical averaging of separate beat measurements (AvgVal) on reducing the influence of noise and measurement errors were compared. Due to merging of P and U waves at high heart rates, the UP segment amplitude was measureable in only approximately 71% when the heart rate was over 120 b/min. Both the UP segment amplitude and Tend amplitude tended to be overestimated at high heart rates. The standard deviations (SDs) were 0.02, 0.005, 0.021 and 0.016 mV for UP segment, Q wave, end of T wave (Tend) and zero voltage levels over the range of heart rates when using AvgVal. The SDs of amplitudes measured by AvgBeat and AvgVal methods were significantly lower than those measured from single beats (p < 0.05) for almost all features. Generally, these two methods achieved comparable performance on reducing measurement variability.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComputing in Cardiology 2012, CinC 2012
PublisherIEEE
Pages57-60
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-4673-2077-1
ISBN (Print)978-1-4673-2076-4
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event39th Computing in Cardiology Conference, CinC 2012 - Krakow, Poland
Duration: 9 Sept 201212 Sept 2012

Publication series

NameComputing in Cardiology
Volume39
ISSN (Print)2325-8861
ISSN (Electronic)2325-887X

Conference

Conference39th Computing in Cardiology Conference, CinC 2012
Country/TerritoryPoland
CityKrakow
Period9/09/1212/09/12

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Computer Science
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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