PMID 39529038

Research
All papers

Evaluation of photoplethysmography-based monitoring of pulse rate, interbeat-intervals, and oxygen saturation during high-intensity interval training

Vijgeboom T, Muller M, Ebrahimkheil K, van Eijck C, Ronner E

Question

Can a PPG-based wearable accurately measure pulse rate, interbeat intervals, and oxygen saturation during high-intensity interval cycling?

Summary

In 35 healthy adults performing a short stationary-bike HIIT test, the CardioWatch 287-2 wrist PPG device measured pulse rate, interbeat intervals, and oxygen saturation with low error compared with ECG and pulse-oximeter references. No adverse or unexpected events occurred.

Methodology

  • Healthy adult volunteers with targeted diversity by sex and Fitzpatrick skin type
  • 35 participants.
  • Stationary cycling.
  • Work intervals: Hold each target heart-rate range for 30 seconds.
  • Intensity: Bike resistance increased to elevate heart rate through target ranges.
  • 20 minutes.
  • Single visit.
  • Acute device validation.
  • Single-center non-randomized interventional device-validation study
  • Pulse rate accuracy, Interbeat interval accuracy, SpO2 accuracy, and Adverse events were tracked.

Outcomes

Pulse rate

Pulse-rate accuracy met the study criterion with low error.

7183 paired measurements; Arms 2.51 bpm; bias 0.05 bpm; LoA -4.87 to 4.97 bpm

Improved

IBI

Interbeat-interval accuracy met the study criterion.

22713 paired measurements; Arms 23.00 ms; bias about 1 ms; LoA -43.82 to 46.21 ms

Improved

SpO2

Oxygen-saturation accuracy met the study criterion.

41817 paired measurements; Arms 1.28%; bias 0.13%; LoA -2.37% to 2.62%

Improved

Subgroups

Results were consistent across sex and Fitzpatrick skin-type subgroups.

Subgroup Arms and LoA were similar to pooled results

Improved

Safety

No adverse or unexpected events occurred and no participants discontinued.

0 adverse/unexpected events; 0 discontinuations

Improved

Insights

  • A wrist PPG device can capture HR-related signals accurately during a short cycling HIIT simulation in healthy adults.
  • The study supports wearable measurement feasibility, not health benefits of HIIT.
  • The protocol targeted HR ranges rather than a training adaptation dose.

Limitations

  • Healthy adults only; not tested in heart disease patients, the intended clinical use case.
  • Single-center, small sample.
  • Short simulated HIIT session on one stationary bike modality.
  • Industry-funded study with multiple author conflicts.
  • Not designed to measure training outcomes.

Safety

  • No adverse or unexpected events occurred.
  • No participants prematurely discontinued.
  • No participants were excluded for poor data quality or technical errors.